537 
of Edinburgh, Session 1871 - 72 . 
ulterior view, and from no love of being what our neighbours across 
the channel aptly call a “grand faiseur.” Hence we scarcely know 
how much we owe to him. His extensive acquaintance with the 
upper ranks of what it has become the custom to call the “ citizen 
class” in Edinburgh, enabled him often quietly to direct public 
opinion in the nice exercise of scientific, literary, and professional 
patronage, when sound direction was greatly needed; and his 
acknowledged prudence, probity, impartiality, and knowledge of 
men, never failed to guide himself soundly in such conjunctures. 
Throughout his whole life he was faithful and fruitful in his 
calling, and no less a sincere and active Christian. Seldom has 
there been a more affable, agreeable, and profitable companion in 
social life in all its phases. 
Although far from being a young man at his death, — for he 
died in his 67th year, — we have to lament that he was struck 
down while in full possession of his powerful intellect, and enjoy- 
ing shortly before a vigour which promised long continuance of 
his useful labours. 
Wilhelm Bitter von Haidinger, one of our Honorary Fellows, 
was a favourite pupil of Mohs ; who, during great part of the first 
half of this century, was celebrated as one of the foremost mineralo- 
gists of his day in Europe, and as the able Professor of Mineralogy 
in the University of Vienna. While yet a young man, William 
Haidinger possessed an extraordinary extent and accuracy of 
knowledge of minerals. On account of his talents as a descriptive 
mineralogist, he came to Edinburgh, about the year 1824, to 
arrange and catalogue the splendid mineralogical collection of a 
former curator of our Society, Mr Thomas Allan, banker in this 
city,— a collection unrivalled, for extent and careful costly selec- 
tion, among the private mineralogical museums of Europe. In 
discharging this duty Mr Haidinger was enabled to establish 
several species as new to science ; which he investigated and com- 
municated to our meetings in conjunction with the late Edward 
Turner, the chemist, at the time lecturer here, and soon after- 
wards first Professor of Chemistry in University College, London. 
Haidinger took the descriptive, Turner the analytical, part of 
these inquiries ; and, in both respects, their papers are models of 
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VOL. VII. 
