Ixiv PEOCEEDI>GS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [vol. Ixxiii, 



deprecated an}^ attempt to solve the problems of the earth's past 

 from geological data alone. He persevered to the end in his 

 self-appointed task, and his latest thoughts were still for his 

 work. [a. W. L.] 



The death of Bedeoed McNeill, at the age of 55, takes fi-om 

 us a prominent exponent of Applied Geology, and deprives the 

 Societ}^ of a valued officer. Trained at the Eoyal School of Mines, 

 Jermyn Street, he entered upon his profession of mining engineer 

 in 1880, and was employed to inspect and report on mines in 

 Mexico, Colorado, and other parts of the world. Settling later 

 in London, he became consulting engineer to a nmnberof important 

 mining companies, and attained a leading place in the profession. 

 In the year 1913-14 he w^as President of the Institution of Mining 

 & Metallurgy, and his Address on that occasion showed that he 

 held high views as regards the importance of geological science in 

 relation to all mining undertakings. His intervals of leisure Avere 

 employed during many years in compiling the Telegraphic Code 

 which has made his name widely known, a work of much careful 

 labour, which was first issued in 1893, and was revised and enlarged 

 in 1908. 



Bedford McNeill had become a Fellow of this Society in 1888. 

 He served on the Council in 1904-1907, and at the time of his 

 death had held for four years the important office of Treasurer. 

 His loss is deplored by a large circle of friends, to whom his happy 

 disposition and genial humour rendered him always welcome. He 

 died at his residence at Claygate (Surrey), after a short illness, 

 on September 18th, 1916, leaving a widow but no famil}^ 



Charles Barri:ngtox BuowiN- was born at Cape Breton (Nova 

 Scotia), and educated at Harvard University and at the Eoj^al 

 School of Mines in Jerm^^n Street. His father, Kichard Brown, 

 author of several papers on Cape Breton in the early volumes of om* 

 Quarterly Journal, was a close friend of Sir Charles Lyell, and it 

 was through Lyell that the younger Brown was appointed to the 

 Geological Survey of the West Indies (Jamaica) and of British 

 Guiana. The results of this work are contained in valuable reports, 

 written in conjunction with J. G. Sawkins and published in 1869 

 and 1875. Brown was an explorer as well as a geologist. In 1870 

 he discovered the famous Kaieteur Falls on the Potaro Kiver in 

 British Guiana, and between 1873 and 1875 he travelled 15,000 



