xlii 



times consisting of rings, sometimes separated by a dark interval from the 

 central star. Such facts do not well accord with the old nebular hypo- 

 thesis, but rather indicate a permanent state like that which last year pre- 

 vailed for a few days in the noted star of the Northern Crown, in which a 

 solid luminous nucleus is surrounded by an atmosphere heated to incan- 

 descence. It is far from improbable that such is also the case with many 

 of those minute stars which this telescope reveals in thousands in bright 

 nebulse, which it cannot entirely resolve. The stars and the nebula are 

 evidently connected, yet as evidently of different nature. As an example 

 may be taken the great nebula of Orion, in which, when the speculum is 

 in fine order, it shows these lucid points as thick as dust, while yet there is 

 manifestly a different source of light. In this case the nebula seems 

 brighter than the stars ; and so Mr. Huggins has found that the nebular 

 spectrum alone is visible. On this, and many similar questions, each new 

 observation opens an ever-widening field of inquiry ; and it is permitted 

 to us to hope that the unrivalled power of this might}^ instrument will 

 still be exerted in that field, and that the son and successor of him whom 

 we so deeply regret will follow his example in this, as in all else for which 

 he was honoured and loved. — T. E. K. 



James Smith, of Jordan Hill, near Glasgow, was born in Glasgov/ on the 

 15th of August, 1 782. He was the eldest son'of xlrchibald Smith, Esq., an 

 eminent West India merchant in that city, and of Isabella Ewing, who died 

 a few years ago in her 101st year. 



Mr. Smith was educated at the Grammar School and University of 

 Glasgow. He was for many years a sleeping partner in the Yv'est India 

 House of Leitch and Smith in that city, but never took any active part in 

 business. His tastes directed him to literary and scientific pursuits and 

 the fine arts. He was in early life an enthusiastic book collector, particu- 

 larly in the department of early voyages and travels, of which he has left 

 a large and valuable collection. His love of yachting w^as one of the most 

 prominent features in his life, and it was lifelong. His first cruise in a 

 yacht of his own was in the year 1806 ; his last in the year 1866. He was 

 one of the earliest m.erabers of the Royal Yacht Club, now the Eoyal Yacht 

 Squadron ; and was one of the earliest and latest Commodores of the 

 Royal Northern Yacht Club. 



Most of Mr. Smith's scientific and hterary researches were connected with 

 his love of yachting. His earliest paper in any scientific publication v/as a 

 notice in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh of an un- 

 described vitrified fort, in the Burnt Isles in the Kyles of Bute, disco- 

 vered by him in accidentally landing from his yacht. In geology, the 

 science to v/hich he was peculiarly attached, his attention was early directed 

 to the question as to the relative position of the land and sea which had 

 subsisted at remote geological epochs ; and the west of Scotland, the district 

 in which he resided, offered admirable opportunities for his inquiries. In 



