Obituary — David Forbcs. 
47 
pearance. (See tbe Edinb. Pbil. Journ., 1856-57. and Quart. Journ. 
Geol. Soc. Lond., 1855.) 
His cabinets are replete witb abundant and carefully selected 
rocks and xninerals, all intended to illustrate tbe association, para- 
genesis and mode of occurrence of minerals in connexion witb tbe 
orig-in and formation of tbe rock-masses or mineral veins in wbicb 
the}' are found imbedded. 
On bis return from Bolivia in 1860, he was requested, previous to 
his departure, by a Committee representing tbe cbief commercial and 
mininginterests of that country, to address a letter to Lord John 
Russell urging the re-appointment of a representative of tbe British 
Government to protect British interests. This letter was aceompanied 
by a memorandum on the resources of the Republic. Althougb tbe 
official appointment was not tben deemed necessary, it must have 
been sorne satisfaction to Mr. David Forbes to know that a number 
of influential persons connected witb mining enterprises requested 
Sir Roderick Murebison to use bis influence to secure tbe appoint- 
ment of Mr. David Forbes to tbe vacant post in that country. 
Igneous and Metamorphic pbenomena and tbe resulting changes 
in rock-formations were among David Forbes’s especial and favourite 
studies, and he lost no opportunity, during bis extensive travels in 
Europe and Africa, but especially in Mexico and South America, of 
observing tbe efifects of modern volcanic action, and their relation to 
similar pbenomena in past time. 
Having ample opportunities in Norway, in connexion witb metal- 
lurgical operations, be was enabled to submit various rocks to very 
high temperatures and pressures for longer or sborter periods, and 
tbus imitate metamorphic action in the production of various forms 
of rock-structures. The results of tbese experiments were partly em- 
bodied in his paper to tbe Geological Society in 1855, “ On the 
Causes producing Foliation in Rocks.” Bearing also on this subject 
are bis papers “ On tbe Chemical Composition of sorne Minerals 
from tbe South of Norway ” (Brit. Assoc. Rep., 1854, Edinb. New 
Pbil. Journ., 1855-57), “ On tbe Igneous Rocks of Staffordsbire ” 
(Geol. Mag. Yol. III. p. 23) and “On tbe Contraction of Igneous 
Rocks in Cooling ” (Geol. Mag. Yol. VII. p. 1). 
Mr. Forbes was a Fellow of the Royal, tbe Chemical, and tbe 
Geological Societies. Of tbe latter be bad been tbe active Honorary 
Secretary for sorne years past. As Foreign Secretary of tbe 
Iron and Steel Institute, be has prepared for six years (1871-76) 
careful and elaborate details of tbe progress of tbe iron and Steel 
industries in foreign countries, in wbicb bis knowledge of lan- 
guages materially assisted bim. Nor did geological Science and 
mineralogy alone interest bim, for as a member of tbe Etbnological 
Society he contributed an interesting and elaborate paper “ On tbe 
Aymara Indians of Bolivia and Peru.” 
Upwards of fifty papers have been communicated by Mr. David 
Forbes to the Scientific Societies and Journals, besides a long series 
of articles in the “Chemical News,” tbe Transactions of tbe “Iron 
and Steel Institute.” Sixteen of Mr. Forbes’s articles and lettei's 
