March 2gtk, i8g8.'\ PROCEEDINGS. xxxi 



next visit to Manchester, after an interval of a dozen years 

 or more, was to examine in the Museum some coal fossils 

 for the Geological Survey of Great Britain, to which institution 

 he was for a short time attached. Still later he had the 

 pleasure of the friendship of Mr. Binney, who asked his 

 assistance in investigating the flora of the coal measures. But 

 of all his Manchester fellow-botanists there was none to whose 

 friendship and correspondence he looked back with greater 

 pleasure than to that of the famous palaeo-botanist and accom- 

 plished naturalist Professor Williamson. It was indeed a privilege 

 to be consulted by Professor Williamson, and to be kept informed 

 of the progress of the wonderful collection he was making and 

 illustrating with a disinterested zeal that overcame all obstacles. 

 The magnificent series of papers on the organisation of the fossil 

 plants of the coal measures which Professor Williamson presented 

 to the Royal Society was unrivalled for the wealth of material 

 they contained on that subject. As further examples of the 

 influence of the Manchester school of botany, if he might so call 

 it, he mentioned the names of the Rev. the Hon. W. Herbert, 

 at one time Dean of Manchester, and the late Mr. Clowes, of 

 Broughton. In concluding, Sir Joseph said that in accepting 

 this gratifying assurance of the Society's sympathy for his labours 

 he was far fiom regarding it as solely personal. No man could say 

 that his merits, be they what they might, were all his own. For 

 his own part, he could claim to have had a persistent love of 

 knowledge for its own sake from his earliest years, but that 

 would have availed him little had he not felt from the first the 

 guiding hand of a parent who had himself attained eminence, 

 and who, by example, precept and encouragement, kept him to 

 his purpose, launched him in the fields of exploration and 

 research, and liberally supported him as occasion required. He 

 accepted the medal as a tribute to his father's memory as much 

 as to his own exertions. 



The President then presented to Dr. Edward Schunck, 

 Ph.D., F.R.S., the Dalton Medal — this being the first occasion 

 on which this medal has been presented — and said that Dr. 



