Annual Meeting. 43 



cease my botanical and geological work in the field, and I have 

 been considering as to the best means of disposing of my accumu- 

 lated specimens, that they may be helpful to others who follow, 

 and carry on the local natural history studies. As the best means 

 of preserving these specimens and making them available for 

 future reference, I desire them to be kept in the Belfast Museum, 

 and I wish, through you, to present my flowering plants and fossils 

 to the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society as the 

 proper custodians of what relates to the natural history of the 

 North of Ireland. With regard to the botanical collections, I may 

 say the specimens represent the flora of the British Isles, not 

 completely, but the exceptions are not, however, very numerous. 

 The Irish specimes have mainly been collected by myself; those 

 of England and Scotland have mostly been received Irom corres- 

 pondents. The plants are not mounted in herbarium fashion, but 

 in loose sheets, furnished with localities and dates of collection. 

 As to the geological specimens, they are not so well authenticated, 

 but are mainly local. Those in the green sand and the hard white 

 chalk may be taken to be from the local cretaceous rocks, but 

 exact localities are often absent. Knowing your interest in natural 

 science and your success as a botanical expert, I would ask you 

 kindly to be the medium through which this transfer is made. — 

 S. A. Stewart. P.S. — I may mention further that it is my 

 intention later on to present your library with my " Journal of 

 Botany" (nearly 40 volumes) and some other of my scientific 

 books.— S. A. S." 



Mr. Robert Young said it was with very mixed feelings that he 

 desired to second the resolution. He endorsed all that had been 

 said by Mr. Davies. Mr. Stewart was so modest that, with the 

 exception of botany, they scarcely ever heard him mention any 

 scientific subject, but those who knew him best were aware that 

 he was also an excellent geologist, and had a very fair knowledge 

 of archaeology. On the whole, Mr. Stewart was a very exceptional 

 man, and their hope was that he might be spared for many years 

 to enjoy his well-earned leisure. 



