1^13;] Mr. KarsteUi 163 



Karsten's learned labours kept pace with those in which he 

 was engaged on account of the State. As overseer of the Royal 

 Cabinet of Minerals, and as teacher of mineralogy, he promoted 

 the advancement of knowledge by similar methods. He be- 

 stowed much pains in increasing and improving the collection 

 entrusted to his care. He endeavoured to accomplish this bjNa 

 most indefatigable and disinterested correspondence through the 

 whole of Germany^ and most other countries of Europe ; while 

 his endeavours to render himself still better qualified for his 

 numerous lectures were unremitted and most successful. 



Karsten likewise promoted the advancement of knowledge by 

 his writings. Besides the works which we have already noticedj 

 besides many small dissertations in the Transactions of more 

 than J 6 learned societies of Which he was a member, and besides 

 his translations of some foreign books, he laboured witli great 

 success towards improving the classification of minerals. His 

 Talellar View of Simple Mineral Fossils, and its continuation 

 in his Mineralogical Tables improved by the latest Discoveries^ 

 are well known to mineralogists, and constitute a lasting monu- 

 ment of learning and industry* Of the last work he published 

 a second and much improved edition, two years before his death. 



Karsten likewise enriched the Transactions of our society** 

 with many learned treatises, Vvdiich deserve to be particularly 

 noticed as marks of his extensive knowledge and laudable 

 industry. 



How much soever we value Karsten as a learned and indus^ 

 trious naturalist, we value him still more as a man of a truly 

 noble character, as a true friend, and an agreeable companion. 

 We were the more shocked at his death, on the 20th March, 

 1810, because the short illness which preceded that fatal event 

 did not appear likely to lead to any such issue. After his death 

 his merit was publickly acknowledged by the State : the monarch 

 liimself wrote a letter of consolation to his disconsolate widow^ 

 and humanely took care of her and her family. 



Berlin, April, 1811. 



Article 11. 



On the Liquid Gmi from Bdtany Bay. By Thomas 

 Thomson, M.D. F.R.S. 



Tub vegetable substance which constitutes the subject of the 

 following experiments was sent to me by Mr. Knos of Glasgow^ 

 under the name of Liquid Gum from Botany Bay. 



* The Society of the Friends of Natural History in BerUflj from whoae 

 Transactions this life i» translated, 



Jt.2 



