2 AKNIVEESAET ADDBESS. 



In the year 1870 it was my duty to ask you, Grentlemen, to 

 record your sentiments on the death of my former colleague in 

 the office to which by your favour I have again been elected this 

 evening. 



It is no disparagement to the memory of the late Astronomer 

 to say that we have sustained a loss of an equally serious kind in 

 the decease of the young and ardent philosopher whom we 

 foEowed to the grave towards the close of our last session. The 

 pupil and the teacher now lie together in the same Cemetery. 



Although the regret of his personal friends and the respect of 

 the University in which he laboured so diligently have already 

 been testified, yet, considering his connection with ourselves, and 

 the contributions he gave to our Transactions, I could not, in 

 justice to my own feelings, nor to the esteem in which he was 

 held amongst yourselves, allow this occasion to pass without 

 expressing my hope that the name of Alexander M. Thomson 

 will not be erased from our list of members without a recorded 

 testimony to the value of his professional services and to the 

 many excellences of his private example. 



Death has also taken from us another of our members, who, 

 though not a frequent participator in our gatherings, or a frequent 

 contributor to our proceedings, is entitled to our respectful 

 mention, for the many good social qualities of his character, the 

 blamelessness of his hfe, and the length of time in which he held 

 an office in connection with one of the great sources of our 

 Colonial wealth, and who contributed considerable aid in the 

 perfection of our Colonial wines, — a matter of great importance to 

 the masses, who are exposed to intemperance from recourse to 

 foreign drinks. 



Mr. "William Keene, as Keeper of Mining Eecords, must have 

 died in possession of valuable facts relating to our Collieries, 

 which it is expected will be made available to the public by the 

 Gl-overnment hereafter. 



