xxiii 



" I can't go on." He sat down next to Herschel, and another paper was 

 proceeded with ; but Herschel after a little began to whisper to him : at 

 first, in his agony of confusion, he seemed not to hear ; but Herschel per- 

 severed, asked what his views were, spoke well of them, and, as his coun- 

 tenance brightened, asked leave to look over his paper, and having done 

 so, encouraged him to bring it forward next day. But for this wise kind- 

 ness that man might have relapsed into obscurity ; but, as it was, he became 

 ultimately a Fellow of our Society, and one of the highest authorities in a 

 very important branch of mechanical engineering. 



Herschel married Miss Stewart in 1829, and had a large family, of whom 

 two sons are well known to us — Professor Alexander by his study of Me- 

 teorites, and Captain John, attached to the Indian Survey, distinguished 

 by spectroscopic observations of the sun and other heavenly bodies. 



He was created a Baronet in 1838. In 1850 he, as Newton before him, 

 was appointed Master of the Mint. That establishment was undergoing 

 an important change, its emancipation from the old Corporation of 

 Moneyers ; and the whole of its reorganization devolved on him. He also 

 introduced an important check, which, however, has been discontinued since 

 his successor's death. The official assays were controlled by others, made 

 by two unofficial chemists, those whom he employed being Graham and 

 Allen Miller. This office his failing health obliged him to resign after 

 five years. 



He was a President of the British Association and of the Astronomical 

 Society. In 1 855 he was nominated one of the eight Foreign Associates 

 of the French Academy of Sciences, and was a member of almost every 

 Philosophical or Literary Society of Europe. 



His mind continued as clear and active as ever to the very last. He 

 died on the 1 1th of May, 1871, and he was buried in Westminster Abbey 

 by the side of Newton. — T. R. R. 



William Baird, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c, was the youngest son of 

 the Rev. James Baird, and was born at the Manse of Eccles, in Berwick- 

 shire, in 1803. He was educated at the High School of Edinburgh, and 

 afterwards studied medicine and surgery in the University of that city, 

 and in Dublin and Paris. 



In the year 1823, Dr. Baird, having previously made a voyage to the 

 West Indies and South America, entered the maritime service of the East- 

 India Company as surgeon, and remained in that service until 1833. 

 During this period he visited India and China five times, also other 

 countries ; and in all his voyages availed himself zealously of the oppor- 

 tunities for studying his favourite science of Natural History which his 

 position presented to him. In 1829 Dr. Baird assisted in the foundation 

 of the well-known Berwickshire Naturalists' Club (to the publications of 

 which he was afterwards a frequent contributor). The admirable example 

 afforded by that institution has led to the formation of similar Associations 



VOL. XX. d 



