The late Mr. H. M. Jenkins. 
175 
naturalists, and men of science, united their testimony to his 
possession of the knowledge, capability, and experience which 
seemed to fit him most remarkably for the position he sought. 
The Editor of the 'Jouenal.' 
The first important work on which Mr. Jenkins was engaged 
was the superintendence of the first part of the ' Journal ' of 
1S69. The material for it had no doubt been already arranged ; 
and beyond the growing appreciation of his duties as Secretary, 
and the gradual awakening to the possibilities of his position as 
both Secretary and Editor, his occupation in the outset no doubt 
seemed to him little but routine — routine, too, of not nearly so 
enarrossins or stimulating a kind as he had been accustomed to. 
During his first months, in fact, he felt himself to be imper- 
fectly engaged, and he used to return home with the feeling 
that he had not been fully occupied. His duties, which were 
originally mainly directed to correspondence, and to the editor- 
ship of papers for publication and subsequent correction of the 
press, culminated once a month in the arrangements for the 
Council and Committee Meetings held in Hanover Square — in 
keeping the minutes of all these meetings — and in preparing the 
usual reports for the weekly agricultural journals. The work 
of these committees had to be arranged by the Secretary- before- 
hand ; and it is well known in Hanover Square how their labours 
ultimately became lightened by his insight and his information, 
and I may add by his influence. The conviction of his extra- 
ordinary ability in organising and facilitating all such work — 
ultimately far heavier and more various than it was at first — 
only gradually became known. But in the outset his powers 
were tested by directions to investigate and report on the farm 
management of a number of English districts. This accord- 
ingly was done at intervals during 1869, and his reports of 
several farms in the north and east of England appear in the 
fifth volume of the second series of the ' Journal,' the first which 
he edited. 
Before I enumerate in succession the several tasks of this kind 
which he undertook and accomplished, it will, perhaps, be con- 
venient that some more detailed reference should be made to his 
duties, and his responsibilities, and his general official character 
as it came ultimately to be known. Let it be understood, then, 
in the outset, that from the first to the last of all those who were 
connected with him in Hanover Square, nothing but kindly, 
appreciative recollection of him exists. The house porter 
speaks gratefully of the holiday in the country which used 
