XX 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



wisdom, knowledge of business, and tact which have always distin- 

 guished him in the Council, and for which I now beg leave to ex- 

 press most strongly my own obligations and those under which 

 the Society at large lies to him. I hope Mr. Bentham will accept 

 the assurance of my most earnest wishes that he may long continue 

 to occupy a chair which he is so well able to fill ; and that, while 

 the Society enjoys the benefit and prestige of his Presidency, he 

 may ever receive the same confidence, the same kind consideration, 

 the same affectionate attachment, as that with which for the last 

 eight years I have been honoured. 



OBITUAKY NOTICES. 



The Secretary then read the following notices of deceased 

 Members. 



George Earl of Aberdeen, whose name for the last twenty-five 

 years has stood at the head of the list of Fellows, died on the 

 14th December, 1860. 



The well-known public character and career of this distinguished 

 patron of literature and art, and the absence in him of any pre- 

 tension to scientific fame, render it unnecessary here to do more 

 than express the deep sense which this Society, in common with 

 the whole British Empire, cannot fail to entertain of the great public 

 loss sustained by the decease of one so long eminent as a states- 

 man and so distinguished by the excellence of his public and private 

 character. 



Robert John Ashton, Esq., was by profession a solicitor, residing 

 at Pelham Crescent, Brompton, and having chambers in New Inn. 

 He was the eldest son of Robert Ashton, Esq., of Brompton, by 

 Mary, daughter of J. A. Schwenk, Esq., and was born at Brompton 

 in 1812. Educated by the late Rev. Dr. Lewis at Twickenham, 

 he was admitted a solicitor in 183G. 



As he was possessed of good independent property, he followed 

 bis profession more as a means of occupation than of profit, and 

 in the exercise of his avocation the strong tendency of his 

 mind to scientific and antiquarian pursuits led him to cultivate 

 law as ;i science, and to investigate the intricacies of titles rather 

 than to engage in active practice. 



Mr. Ashton was a good classical scholar and well versed in the 

 German and French languages; but the natural bias of his mind 

 was better exhibited in scientific and antiquarian studies, a nd espe- 

 cially in that of natural history. Thus chemistry, botany, 



