XXV 



and being elected Treasurer on the 30th of November, 1861, he served on 

 the Council in an official capacity till the time of his death. His metho- 

 dical and punctual habits, his knowledge of affairs, and his excellent 

 judgment, with the earnest and lively interest he took in the welfare of the 

 Society, rendered his special services as Treasurer of the utmost value ; 

 whilst the same high qualities, combined with his accomplishment in 

 science, singularly well fitted him for the various duties he had to perform 

 as Member of the Council and a chief Officer of the Society. The date of 

 his election to the Fellowship is 1845. 



Mr. Gassiot, who knew Miller intimate^, referring to his merits as 

 Treasurer, writes, " a more straightforward officer, or one more devoted to 

 upholding the dignity and promoting the usefulness of the Royal Society, 

 I do not know ; and there is probably no one with whom Dr. Miller com- 

 municated on the subject so freely as myself." Mr. White, the Assistant- 

 Secretary, who habitually had to transact business with him, adds, "My own 

 experience of Dr. Miller was, that on walking down to King's College I could 

 tell beforehand the mood in which I should find him — always uniform and 

 considerate. His decision on questions brought before him was generally 

 quick and sound, and he was ready in detecting the weak points of an 

 argument. In the whole period that he was Treasurer I never had a single 

 disagreeable word with him." 



In 1866 Dr. Miller was nominated a Member of the Committee then 

 appointed for the purpose of superintending the Meteorological Observations 

 made by direction of the Board of Trade, and served on it till the time of 

 his death ; he was also an active Member of the Committee of the British 

 Association for superintending the Kew Observatory, and devoted much time 

 to that work. The definition of the arrears to be executed under the 

 superintendence of Mr. Balfour Stewart, as entered on the Minutes of the 

 Committee, 9th March, 1870, was written by and. inserted at Dr. Miller's 

 particular request, in order specially to define the important work that has 

 yet to be completed by the time when the connexion of the Observatory 

 with the British Association shall cease. 



It may here be mentioned that whilst a Member of the Committee ap- 

 pointed to advise on the scientific arrangements for the marine researches 

 carried on during the voyage of the e Porcupine' in 1869, Dr. Miller was 

 happy enough to contrive a thermometer adapted for taking deep-sea tem- 

 peratures, which has been found admirably to fulfil its purpose*. 



Miller was one of the original founders of the Chemical Society, and 

 frequently presided over its meetings, as well as occupied a place at its 

 Council Board. Along with his other various occupations, Dr. Miller was 

 a Member of the Senate of the University of London, to which he was 

 appointed, on the recommendation of Convocation, early in 1865 ; and his 

 sound judgment and knowledge generally, as well as his accomplishment 

 in chemical and physical science and his experience as a teacher, gave 

 * Proceedings of the Eoyal Society, yol.' xviii. p. 408. 



