38 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Yery early in life he evinced a decided taste for scientific studies ; 

 and the training wliich he received at school only served to increase 

 this preference, and enabled him to obtain a sufficient knowledge of 

 mathematical science, which he turned to good account in after years 

 in the various branches of physical research to which he gave atten- 

 tion. A certain weakness of constitution which prevented him in 

 his youth from great physical exertion, only seemed to stimulate his 

 mental activity ; and when, in search of change of climate with a view 

 to invigorate his health, he undertook a voyage round the world, 

 the training which he had received and the bent of his mind enabled 

 him to record his observations in a journal which is a storehouse of 

 scientific facts and notices, and which, had his modesty not shrunk 

 from having it printed, would have proved the record of a "Scientific 

 Expedition " when such journeys were far less numerous than at 

 present, and attended by far greater inconveniences. During this 

 voyage, his love of nature and the wide range of his scientific tastes 

 acquired an increased stimulus ; and when he returned home his 

 experience in observation and his knowledge of natural phenomena 

 in different parts of the world enabled him to enter with renewed 

 pleasure into the less active study of the physico-mathematical 

 sciences. 



He established an astronomical and meteorological observatory, 

 and in connexion with the latter published a few years ago a com- 

 plete work on the Meteorology of Halifax ; which will continue to 

 be a model for all such local observations. 



Practical botany also engaged his attention ; and his gardens were 

 distinguished throughout the neighbourhood for the rich variety ot 

 their contents, especially in rare plants and exotics, of which he 

 was justly proud. 



His favourite studies were astronomy, geology, electricity, and 

 light ; and in connexion with the latter he was identified with the 

 early progress of photography, and with the discovery by the E-ev. 

 J. B. Eeade, F.R.S., of the method of taking portraits first upon 

 leather, and afterwards upon paper, instead of silver plates or glass, 

 and also with the chemical means of giving permanence to such 

 images. 



He was specially interested in the progress of microscopy, and 

 was himself both a skilful observer and an adept at those manipu- 

 lations which are necessary in the preparation of objects for exa- 

 mination. He was also extremely fond of music, and was a skilful 

 performer on the violoncello. Indeed he seemed able to turn his 

 hands to any pursuit ; and such was the aptitude which he possessed 

 for grasping the general principles upon which any practical opera- 

 tion depended, that he speedily was enabled to do with proficiency 

 work which required, under ordinary circumstances, years of patient 

 labour and practice. 



As might be expected, he was also identified with those movements 

 which had for their object the spread of scientific knowledge, and, 

 in connexion with the local Literary and Philosophical Society (of 



