42 Annual Meeting, 



A VALUABLE GIFT. 



Mr. Davies proposed — " That the most cordial thanks of this 

 meeting be tendered to Mr. S. A. Stewart, F.B.S.E., A.L.S., for 

 the donation of his exceedingly valuable herbarium and palseonto- 

 logical collections, formed during the many years of his long and 

 active life, that have been devoted to botanical and geological 

 researches in this country " He said it seemed right that some 

 expression should be made of the Society's sense of deep 

 indebtedness for the services Mr. Stewart had rendered. To have 

 had one of his wide general knowledge and scientific attainments 

 in the position he occupied had been a positive honour to the 

 Society. Not only was he an eminent botanist, as they all knew, 

 but he was possessed of a close acquaintance with almost every 

 branch of natural science, being indeed the very type of a true 

 field naturalist. To all beginners in natural history studies who 

 had sought help from his wide experience it had ever been 

 ungrudgingly given. Mr. Stewart remained an honorary member 

 of the Society. In recognition of his botanic work he was long 

 ago elected a fellow of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. More 

 recently, on the same grounds, he was unanimously chosen 

 an associate of the Linnsean Society, a distinguished honour 

 valued by him all the more since it was entirely unsought and 

 unexpected. His scientific publications, and in particular, the 

 admirable " Flora of the North-East of Ireland," would con- 

 tinue to be consulted by those interested in the natural produc- 

 tions of various parts of this country. In bringing his official 

 connection to a close Mr. Stewart continued to evince the 

 same interest in its aims that he had ever done and in the very 

 spirit of generosity had handed over to it, to be held in the 

 Museum, the greater part of his collections — collections of the 

 highest value, both botanical and geological. Concerning these a 

 letter was lately received from him, in which the motives by which 

 he had been actuated in making this gift to the Society were so 

 clearly explained in his own characteristic manner that no apology 

 need be made for reading it in its entirety. The letter was as 

 follows : — " Dear Mr. Davies, — Advancing years compel me to 



