GEORGE ROBERT MILNE MURRAY 75 



Journal for 1897 (pp. 387-395) ; his last contribution to our pages 

 was on Atlantic Diatomacece (Journ. Bot. 1903, 275), the material 

 for which was collected by himself and Mr. Blackman in 1897. 



In 1901 Murray was appointed temporary scientific director 

 to the National Antarctic Expedition and edited the Antarctic 

 Manual for the use of the staff of the ' Discovery.' It had been 

 intended that he should accompany the ship to Melbourne, but 

 the decision to go direct to New Zealand compelled his return 

 when he had reached the Cape, on account of his official duties at 

 the Museum. The preparations attendant on the voyage, in which 

 Murray was keenly interested, necessitated much work on his 

 part and frequent absences from the Museum, and the consequent 

 excitement acted unfavourably upon his constitution. In the 

 earlier part of the year Murray had to give evidence on behalf 

 of the Department of Botany before the Committee appointed 

 to consider the relations between the botanical work and collec- 

 tions at the British Museum and Kew, and the knowledge that 

 there was in some quarters a strong feeling in favour of the 

 amalgamation of the two establishments naturally made this an 

 anxious task. On his return from the Cape, his excitable con- 

 dition was very noticeable, and the death of his wife in the 

 following year further affected his mental balance. He still con- 

 tinued his interest in matters botanical, notably those connected 

 with the Linnean Society ; but his power of concentration had 

 become seriously relaxed, and caused much anxiety to his col- 

 leagues. As time went on, the symptoms of strain became more 

 pronounced, and when, in July, 1905, he tendered his resignation, 

 their regret was accompanied with a certain sense of relief. 



On leaving the Museum, Murray abandoned botanical work 

 and retired to Stonehaven, where his holidays for many years had 

 been spent. From this time his former colleagues heard little or 

 nothing of him, and the announcement of his death, the immediate 

 cause of which was cancer of the throat, came as somewhat of a 

 shock. 



Those who knew Murray at his best period, at which the 

 accompanying portrait was taken, will endorse the estimate of the 

 writer in the Times already quoted: "He was an excellent com- 

 panion, very kind-hearted, always ready with help and sympathy 

 for those who needed it." He had a fund of amusing anecdote 

 with regard to himself and others; and if non e vero were objected 

 to any of his narrations the compliment e ben trovato could not 

 be withheld. He was a good lecturer and had an excellent literary 

 style. When he was appointed Keeper of his Department, I 

 said : ** His uniform brightness, his geniality, his readiness to 

 help, and his unfailing courtesy, will secure for him the good 

 wishes of his numerous friends " " ; and it is with a feeling of 

 sadness at the termination of what promised to be a long and 

 brilliant career that I lay down my pen. 



James Britten. 



* Journ. Bot. 1905, 185. 



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