6 
before the Linnean Society shortly before his death, being his last 
work. 
We might now indicate what"" influence Mr. Darwin has had on 
mental and other sciences : how that, through his general nobility 
of character, and his moral attributes rising pre-eminently above his 
intellect, he has been able to effect the greatest revolution of 
modern times without creating more than a passing show of strife 
and bitterness : and how all his work was accomplished under 
physical difficulties which an ordinary man would have considered 
excuse enough to regard himself as a confirmed and helpless 
invalid ; but feeling intensely how difficult it is to express in words 
what one feels regarding Mr. Darwin, we shall refrain from saying 
more. Those who knew the chaotic condition to which Biology 
had been reduced before the appearance of the Origin of Species in 
the memorable year of 1859, and who have had the opportunity of 
observing order take the place of confusion, and light that of dark- 
ness, can best testify to the mighty influence of Mr. Darwin and to 
the loss the cause of science has sustained in his death. As we lament 
our loss, let us however remember that, in one sense, the hero so 
many of us worshipped is still with us, and that he lived to see his 
great life-work completed and justly appreciated in all parts of the 
civilised world. J. Cossar Ewart. 
Emile Plantamour. By the Astronomer Boyal for Scotland. 
On September 7th of the present year, at the age of 67, died our 
Foreign Associate, Emile Plantamour, director of the Observatory 
of Geneva, and professor of both astronomy and physical geo- 
graphy in the university of the same city. 
Victim at last to a sudden accession of consumptive disease, he 
died in full possession of his admirable mental faculties, and as 
universally regretted as he had lived generally respected, not only 
in his own, but in every other country where science is known and 
civilisation appreciated ; for well had he exhibited throughout his 
whole career how much of kindly goodness, as well as intellectual 
ability, does so often characterise those who are snatched out of this 
world immaturely by that insatiable malady of the lungs. 
