224 
industry and perseverance; and lie had a kindly and generous heart, 
which threw a sunshine around the circle of his domestic life. 
To those who had not the pleasure of his acquaintance, it is not 
easy to give a correct impression of what Lord Cathcart was to the 
Royal Society, and the scientific men of Edinburgh, from fifteen to 
twenty-five years ago. 
Under an exterior and with an address which did not adequately 
represent the qualities concealed behind them, he had a warmth of 
heart, a sterling modesty, a steadiness of purpose, and a love of 
science for its own sake, which are seldom combined in the same 
person. He was very retiring in his habits and conversation. 
Few could have imagined that he had gone through the amount of 
service detailed in the preceding narrative; and if it be considered 
how total a revolution of habits and employments was involved in the 
transition from his military to his civil life, it is remarkable what 
success and energy attended his scientific career during the years he 
spent among us. He was distinguished by persevering and acute 
observation in what regarded geological and mineralogical research, 
which he carried on in a minute, laborious, and systematic manner. 
He detected many interesting phenomena in the very neighbour- 
hood of Edinburgh, which had escaped those who had lived there 
always. His conversation on these subjects was pre-eminently in- 
structive ; and it is believed that he never took an ordinary walk 
without bringing home some specimen, or at least some remembered 
fact, which served him for subsequent meditation. He was fond of 
the society of men of science, and his continued interest in the Royal 
Society formed an essential element in its prosperity. 
Lord Murray, at one time a Vice-President of the Society, is an- 
other member whose loss we have to lament, in common with all 
who knew him, and in common, I may add, with very many whom 
he never knew. Though not specially devoted to science, he took a 
warm interest in its progress, and was himself an ardent and dis- 
criminating lover of literature, and an accomplished scholar. His 
high social as well as official position — his connection by relation- 
ship or friendship with many of the foremost men and families in 
the country — his cordial hospitality and polished manners — and, 
joined to these, the still higher qualities of large liberality of senti- 
ment, great moral courage, and Christian philanthropy and benefi- 
