XXXii PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCTETT. 



subjects of their studies ; and in the ensuing year he followed up 

 his Mayence paper by another, on the " Tertiary Formations of the 

 North of Germany," with especial reference to those of Hesse Cassel 

 and its neighbourhood, together with, somewhat later, observations 

 accompanying a notice of Professor Beyrich, on the position of the 

 " Brown Coals of IS'orth Germany." 



In the same year, 1855, he accepted the office of Juror at the 

 International Exhibition of Paris, offered him by virtue of his posi- 

 tion as President of the Society ; and as I was appointed joint Juror 

 for the same department, we passed some weeks in examining toge- 

 ther the various mineral and geological contributions brought together 

 at that great gathering. It was on this occasion that I had for the 

 first time the opportunity of becoming acquainted with our late Pre- 

 sident's many sterling quahties ; and, thrown together with him day 

 after day into positions which caUed for much exercise of kindly 

 feeling, and for a knowledge of divers languages, amid discussions in 

 which Prench, German, and Italian came into play, I found it most 

 satisfactory to be associated with a man of so catholic a spirit and so 

 complete a knowledge of the diverse nationalities which were there 

 brought into contact. 



His two successive Anniversary Addresses were also examples of 

 the conscientious labour with which he applied himself to the in- 

 terests of the Society ; for he had carefully read and condensed almost 

 every paper and book which had been published on geological sub- 

 jects during the term of his Presidency. 



During the latter portion of his career Mr. Hamilton occupied himself 

 much with Indian affairs, and served as Director and as Chairman 

 of the Board of the Great Indian Peninsula Eailway Company from 

 1849 to 1867. In scientific matters he was interested especially in 

 the Tertiary deposits, and, with a view of furthering his studies in 

 that dii^eclion, entered with gTcat zeal into recent conchology. He 

 also paid a lengthened visit to the Channel Islands, and collected an 

 extensive suite of rock- specimens ; but, although he had prepared 

 ample notes, he never, I believe, published on the subject. 



In several successive years Mr. Hamilton took part in excursions 

 made by several Pellows of the Society, generally under the guidance 

 of Mr. Prestwich, to parts of France and Belgium. And it would 

 surprise those who, as strangers, complained that his manner was 

 cold, to find that no one contributed more than our late President, 

 by his unselfishness and unflagging good humour, to the success of 

 these Easter expeditious. 



Soon after his election to the Presidency of our Society, in 1865, 

 it became evident that Mr. Hamilton, although a man of athletic 

 frame, and one who had hitherto looked younger than his years, was 

 suffering from an internal complaint which greatly reduced his 

 powers. He visited the German baths, and passed some months in 

 Italy ; but, although for a time he appeared to improve in health, 

 the insidious disease was advancing upon him. He was able, in 

 tolerable strength and good spirits, to give his Anniversary Address 

 and to resign his Presidency in 1866, but was sadly weakened when 



