137 
of Edinburgh^ Session 1863 - 64 . 
In 1817 Mr Connell passed advocate at the Scotch Bar, but he 
had from boyhood a remarkable turn for science, especially botany 
and chemistry, and he ultimately devoted himself exclusively to 
the latter science. 
In 1840 he was presented to the Chair of Chemistry in the Uni- 
versity of St Andrews. 
In 1843 Mr Connell was candidate for the Chemistry Chair at 
Edinburgh, vacant by the death of Dr Ho^, and though not suc- 
cessful, produced a collection of testimonials of the highest charac- 
ter. Most of these were the more worthy of attention as not 
made for the occasion and so in some degree influenced by private 
friendship. They are for the most part notices in the published 
works of eminent chemists and in scientific journals, of Mr 
Connell’s chemical labours, and the papers in which these were 
announced and described. 
Having failed in this object of his ambition, Mr Connell con- 
tinued to study and teach his favourite science at St Andrews till 
1856, when the fracture of a limb, and its effects upon a constitu- 
tion already long enfeebled, completely incapacitated him from 
active duty. 
Mr Connell became a member of this Society in 1829, from which 
time till 1843 he contributed to the Transactions, or published in 
the pages of the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal,” memoirs to 
the number of 29. 
His chief merit lay in his skill and unrivalled accuracy as a 
mineral analyst. To him we are indebted for several new mineral 
species — for the discovery in the minerals Brewsterite and Harmo- 
tome of the earth barytes in combination with silicic acid — that 
earth previously having been found combined only with the 
sulphuric and carbonic acids ; while his ascertaining the constitu- 
tion of the mineral C-reenockite, on one grain of the substance, 
displayed a dexterity seldom if ever surpassed. 
Mr Connell also engaged in somewhat more ambitious researches 
on the voltaic decompositions of alcohol, ether, and other liquids, and 
has presented us with an instrument for ascertaining the dew point, 
superior in several respects to that generally used. 
Mr Connell was of a very retiring nature, modest, gentlemanly, and 
gentle in disposition. He expired peacefully on 31st of October last. 
VOL. V. 
