216 
MR. J. MOTTRAM ON THE NORFOLK AND NORWICH 
Shortly after 1858 symptoms of cataract warned Mr. Brightwell 
that his labours must cease, and, practically, blindness ensued. He 
was a man of deep religious feeling, and bore his trial with all 
fortitude. In 1862 he intimated his wish to give his instrument 
and collection of objects to the Society, and further details of 
what was done follow at page 221. He was requested to be 
President of the Society for life, and for his satisfaction the 
monthly meetings were held at his house, at least two or three 
times a year, to his great enjoyment. His zest for his old studies 
was equally manifested at the scientific lectures which, in the 
winters of several of the ensuing years, were given in Norwich by 
Owen, Pengelly, Waterhouse Hawkins, Polleston, and others. 
In a year or two a successful operation restored his sight for 
ordinary purposes, for which he was deeply thankful, and he was 
able to attend some of the meetings of the British Association in 
Norwich in 1868. 
The Society’s September meeting of that year was held at his 
house, when he discussed with his friends all the recent interests ; 
but old age had come, a change ensued, and he passed away, 
without suffering, 17th November, 1868. His response, on hearing 
of inquiries from some of his old friends a few days before, being : 
“ Give my love to everybody.”* 
Rev. James Landy Brown, m.a. [Council, 1862 — 65, 1868 — 71, 
1872 — 75, 1876 — 79, 1880], son of the Rev. James Brown, who 
was for forty-eight years the respected incumbent of St. Andrew’s 
and Chaplain of the Prison at the Castle, is the sole survivor of 
the original members of the Society. He held curacies in Norfolk 
and London, but in 1852 returned to his native city, and succeeded 
his father in the chaplaincy. (I notice, by the way, that the 
senior gentleman is recorded as a visitor at the first meeting of the 
Society held at his son’s house.) 
He was an expert in metal work, and also an entomologist, and 
became very successful in his preparation of objects for the micro- 
scope, connected with that study and in other branches. Some 
weakness in sight induced him, about twenty years ago, to relin- 
quish his favourite pursuit, but he retains his cabinet of some 
* He was from the first the senior member of the Society, and from 1862 
till his death its first formally recognised President. See Memoir, with 
likeness, by his daughter, C. Lucy Brightwell. Fletcher, Norwich, 1860. 
