12 
Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. 
be hoped that a volume so far advanced may see the light, as it will 
assuredly give to the world another brilliant picture of Roman life, 
though wanting the finishing touches of the master. 
By the death of Sellar classical literature has sustained a severe 
loss, the University of Edinburgh has a Chair vacant, which he had 
ably filled for twenty-seven years, and his colleagues and all who 
knew him have to mourn their bereavement of a genial friend and 
accomplished gentleman. 
Mr Alexander Yule Fraser was born near Perth. He was edu- 
cated at the University of Aberdeen, where he distinguished himself 
specially in the departments of Mathematics and Physics, though 
he did not neglect the other subjects of the Arts course. 
After graduating with first-class honours in Mathematics and 
Physics, he was appointed second mathematical master in George 
Watson’s College, Edinburgh. When George Heriot’s Hospital was 
opened as a day-school, Mr Fraser was entrusted with the charge 
of the Mathematical and Physical Departments ; and it is not too 
much to say that not a little of the success of this school is due 
to the energy with which he threw himself into the work of his 
department. He spared no pains in providing for the due equipment 
of the Physical Laboratory, and in preparing courses of Practical 
Geometry and 'Experimental Physics suitable for boys. Just a 
little over a year ago, Mr Eraser was appointed Headmaster of Allan 
Glen’s Institution, Glasgow, one of the most important technical 
schools in the country • and it was hoped that he would now have 
an opportunity of displaying to the full his special qualifications for 
a post of this nature. But he had been at work little more than 
two months when he was attacked with pleurisy and threatened 
consumption, and felt compelled to tender his resignation. The 
governors of the school, however, were so much impressed with the 
value of his work that they declined to accept his resignation, and 
granted him instead nine months’ leave of absence, in the hope 
that a change of climate, and a complete rest for this period, would 
restore him to health. In search of health Mr Fraser visited South 
Africa, where he resided for several months. About three months 
ago he returned to this country, and resumed his duties at the 
beginning of the present Session. He soon found, however, that 
his health was again giving way, and he had to resign his position 
