144 
Ordinary Meeting, October 4tli, 1859. 
Wm. Faiubairn, Esq., F.R.S., &c., President, in the Chair. 
The President delivered an address on the occasion of 
the opening of the session. 
He commenced by adverting to the loss which had been 
sustained by the Society by the death of two of its Ordinary 
and two of its Honorary Members. 
Mr. Laurence Buchan was elected in November, 1810, 
and was at the time of his death the oldest member of 
the Society. He was a man of liberal views and large 
intellectual capacity, and was for a long succession of years 
devoted to the well-being of the Society, on the Council of 
which he served for several years. He died at the advanced 
age of eighty-four years, deeply regretted by all who had the 
advantage of his friendship. 
Mr. John Ashton Nicholls, F.R.A.S., was on the other 
hand suddenly called away in the prime of life. He had 
early manifested a taste for Astronomy, and although his 
time was chiefly occupied with public affairs, he continued to 
cultivate and to aid in the promotion of his favorite science. 
The educational establishments of the city have lost in him 
an able and most zealous supporter. 
The Honorary Members who have passed away are 
Alexander von Humboldt and the Rev. William Turner. 
The world-wide fame of the former renders it unnecessary to 
dwell upon the immense services he has rendered to science. 
He died in his ninetieth year covered with honors and 
followed by universal regrets. The Rev. William Turner, 
uncle to the Member of Parliament for this city, was one 
of the Founders of the Society. He contributed a paper 
to the Memoirs, entitled “ An Essay on Crimes and Punish- 
ments,” as early as March 24, 1784. After his removal to 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he spent the greater portion 
of his useful life and formed the friendship of Dalton and 
Proceedings — Lit, & Phil. Society— No. 1 .— Session, 1859 - 60 . 
