Mii PEOCEEDIXGS OP THE GEOIOGICAX SOCIEIT. ^ay I907, 



his companionship for still some years to come. It had been in- 

 tended to celebrate last year the fiftieth anniversary of his academical 

 work, and we can believe that the occasion would have called forth 

 a world-wide expression of appreciation of the extent and value of 

 his geological achievements as teacher and investigator, and of 

 affectionate regard for him as a man. But the weakness of his 

 eyesight seems to have led him to mistake the door of a lift for the 

 exit 01 the house in which he was. He fell to the bottom, and 

 died next dav. TTe can now only look back upon the remembrance 

 of his friendship, and on the bright example which he has left of a 

 life unceasingly and cheerfully devoted to the cause of science and 

 the furtherance of good works. - 



No more serious blow has for a long time fallen upon the 

 chemical and mineralogical side of geology than that arising from 

 the death of Sameel Lewis Pexeield. the distinguished Professor 

 in the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale. He was born on 16th 

 January, 1856, at Catskill, on the Hudson Paver, where his father 

 was a prominent citizen, engaged in mercantile and shipping 

 business. He studied at Yale University, and. after taking his 

 degree with honours in 1S77. devoted himself to original research 

 in the department of analytical inorganic chemistry. The researches 

 of Prof. Brush and Edward Dana at Branchville (Connecticut), 

 revealing a remarkable assemblage of new minerals, afforded 

 Pen field the opportunity that ultimately settled his future career. 

 The determination of these minerals was entrusted to him. and gave 

 him a keen interest in the chemical problems which their analysis 

 suggested. Although it was from the chemical side that he 

 approached the subject, and though in 1880-81 he spent some time 

 in Germany, under Fittig of Strassburg, in researches among 

 organic compounds, thus enlarging his grasp of both sides of 

 modern chemistry, it was not strictly as a chemist that he was to 

 attain the position to which he rapidly rose in the scientific world. 

 In the autumn of 1SS1 a fortunate opening occurred in the Sheffield 

 Scientific School, when G. W. Hawes was transferred to the National 

 Museum, and Penfield was appointed to the vacancy as Instructor 

 in Mineralogy. From that time he continued to be actively 



1 Pur some of the personal details contained in this notice I am indebted to 

 the kindness of my friend Prof. Lngeon, the devoted pupil and successor of 

 Eenevier. 



