296 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
It will be well for religion, as, I may venture to add, it will 
be well also for learning, and science, and truth in all its forms 
and aspects, if the same spirit which breathed and spoke in all 
that Dean Bamsay did and said shall increase, and spread, and 
deepen among us, in our various spheres arid callings. We cannot 
but feel that in every point of view Dean Bamsay’s was a career 
which, as it was honoured while he was spared to us, and marked 
by such distinctions as befitted his position in the Church and 
in society during his life, so it demanded some tribute and notice 
in this place, now that his name is withdrawn from the roll of 
our living Fellows. If it was not given him to further the cause 
of science and learning, as many belonging to the Boyal Society 
have done, yet his teaching and example were such as all may 
profitably recall to memory and strive to follow and imitate. 
2. Obituary Notice of Professor Rankine. 
By Lewis D. B. Gordon, C.E. 
William John Macquorn Bankine was the son of Lieutenant 
David Bankine of the Bifle Brigade, younger son of Macorne or 
Macquorn Bankine, Esq., of Drumdow in Ayrshire, and thus of 
an ancient Scottish family. His mother was Hie elder daughter 
of Archibald Grahame, Esq., of Drumquhassel. He was born in 
Edinburgh, 5th July 1820. Bankine records of himself, “My 
earliest distinct recollection is that of my mother teaching me 
the Lord’s Prayer, next my father explaining to me the character 
of Jesus Christ;” and further he records, “ My early instruction 
in arithmetic and elementary mechanics and physics was mainly 
obtained from my father.” The mutual dependency thus begun 
continued through as beautiful a life of mutual self-devotion 
between parents and son as can be pictured ; for the three were 
rarely far separate during the fifty years the parents lived after 
his birth. 
Bankine went to the Ayr Academy in 1828, and afterwards to 
the High School of Glasgow in 1830, and thence to Edinburgh, 
where he studied geometry under Mr George Lees ; but his know- 
ledge of the higher mathematics was chiefly obtained by private 
study. He records that in 1834 “ My uncle Archibald Grahame 
