

538 Geological Society : — Anniversary Address. 



known to British mineralogists in 1820*, and afterwards more fully 

 explained in 182 If and 1822J. 



On the death of Werner, in 1817? he was called to the chair of 

 Mineralogy in the Mining Academy of Freyberg; but in 1826 

 went to reside at Vienna, as Professor of Mineralogy, and Super- 

 intendent of the Imperial Cabinet. In 1804 he published a volume 

 of practical importance, containing " A Detailed Account, illus- 

 trated with a Ground Plan, of the Mines and Mining Operations 

 at Himmelsfurst, near Freyberg." In this work he describes, not 

 only the geological relations and mineral products of these mines, 

 but gives full details as to the methods of working them ; their 

 buildings and machinery, ventilation and drainages, preparation of 

 the ores, receipts, expenditure, &c. 



H s great work on Mineralogy, or " the Natural History of the 

 Mineral Kingdom," is best known in this country by its translation, 

 published at Edinburgh, with considerable additions, by his pupil, 

 Mr. William Haidinger, in 1825, 3 vols. 8vo. In the method of ar- 

 rangement proposed by Mohs in this work, he founds his classification 

 solely on external resemblances and differences, and displays a most 

 profound knowledge of all the productions of the mineral kingdom. 

 This devoted pupil, friend, and successor of Werner died in Italy, 

 20th September, 1839, at Agardo, near Belluno, having undertaken 

 a tour into that country for the purpose of studying the pheno- 

 mena of volcanos§. He was an honorary member of the Royal 

 and Wernerian Societies of Edinburgh. 



It has been said of Mohs, and may be said of many distinguished 

 cultivators of this department of natural science, that he was too 

 consummate a mineralogist to be a good geologist. The sustained 

 attention to minute details, which is indispensable to the recognition 

 of individual minerals, gives such a habit to the mind, that it cannot 

 easily recoil from the state of tension, which is induced by the con- 

 tinual study of minutiae, to that expanded condition which is essential 

 to apprehend the magnificent generalizations of geology. For similar 

 reasons, an extremely skilful delineator of botanic details would pro- 

 bably be incapable of expressing the grand and general features and 

 effects of forest scenery, or landscape, from his habits of overstrained 

 attention to the details of individual trees and plants that occupy 

 the foreground of his picture. 



Captain Alexander Gerard, of the Bengal Native Infantry, 

 was one of three brothers, all distinguished by their enterprising 

 spirit, and zealous scientific researches in the Himalaya Mountains, 

 the sons of Dr. Gilbert Gerard, who wrote the well-known " Insti- 

 tutes of Biblical Criticism," and grandsons of Dr. Alexander Gerard, 

 author of works which have been translated into various European 

 languages, and of a standard " Essay on Taste." 



* Third edition of his System of Mineralogy. 



f Manual of Mineralogy. J Encyclopaedia Britannica. 



§ His funeral was celebrated with much ceremony expressive of public 

 respect, and attended by a long procession of miners, each bearing in his 

 hand a burning torch. 



