96 Memoir of the late 



ralogy and Geology," in two vols., and contained an account 

 of about fifty new minerals which he had discovered in a 

 period of little more than ten years. In 1830-31, Dr 

 Thomson published his " History of Chemistry," a master- 

 piece of learning and research. During these feats of philo- 

 sophic labour, the eyes of the community were attracted to 

 Glasgow as the source from which the streams of chemistry 

 flowed, the class of chemistry and the laboratory being 

 flocked to as to fountains of inspiration. Could the splendid 

 results of his teaching be more powerfully demonstrated 

 than in the enumeration of the faithful students of truth 

 who have emanated from his school ? Among his older 

 pupils, John Tennant of St Rollox, Walter Crum, Alexander 

 Harvey, Thomas Graham, Thomas Clark, Andrew Steel, 

 James F. W. Johnston ; and, of a junior class, Thomas An- 

 drews, R. D. Thomson, William Elythe of Church, Andrew 

 P. Halliday of Manchester, Thomas Richardson, John Sten- 

 house, John Tennent of Bonnington, &c., have all occupied 

 positions as chemical teachers or manufacturers of the 

 highest character in the kingdom. 



It would be a great omission not to mention that it was 

 Dr Thomson who introduced a system of giving annual re- 

 ports on the progress of science in his " Annals of Philo- 

 sophy ;'' the first of these was published in 1813, and the 

 last in 1819. These reports were characterised by his usual 

 perspicuity and love of suum cuique which distinguished his 

 conduct through life, and were composed with a mildness of 

 criticism far more conducive to the dignity of the science 

 than those which, three years after his reports had ceased, 

 were begun by the distinguished Swedish chemist, Berzelius. 

 In 1835, when Dr R. D. Thomson started his journal, " The 

 Records of General Science," his uncle contributed to almost 

 every number, and encouraged him by his sympathy in his 

 attempts to advance science. 



Dr Thomson continued to lecture till the year 1841, dis- 

 charging all the duties of his chair without assistance ; but 

 being then in his 69th year, and feeling his bodily powers 

 becoming more faint, he associated with him at that period 

 his nephew and son-in-law, Dr R. D. Thomson, who was 



