COUNCIL FOR 1859. 
19 
age^ and served for many years with great distinction. During 
the latter part of his military career he paid much attention to 
Astronomy, which he continued to study with much zeal and 
success to the close of his long life; his position as Governor 
of New South Wales enabled him to found the Observatorv at 
Paramatta, from which most important results have been 
obtained; and on his return to this country, he established a 
magnificent Observatory at Makerstoun, near Kelso, where 
astronomical and magnetical observations of the highest value 
have been carried on for many years. Our Library contains 
several volumes of Observations made at this Observatory, and 
presented by Sir Thomas Brisbane. 
The list of Foreign Honorary Members of this, as of many 
other Societies, has, during the year 1859, sustained the loss of 
one of its brightest ornaments, in the name of Alexander Yon 
Humboldt. The Council feel it to he unnecessary to pronounce 
any eulogium upon this illustrious philosopher, whose labours, 
extending to the very close of a life of 90 years, have been 
subservient to the progress of almost every branch of science. 
His wonderful work, entitled Cosmos,” contains a physical 
description of the Universe, which must astonish every one by 
the extraordinary grasp of mind which it exhibits. 
Five members of Council, Mr. Davies, Mr. Ford, Rev. Henry 
Short, Mr. Edward Swaine, and Mr. George Wilson, retire by 
rotation, and as Mr. Noble was also a member of Council pre¬ 
vious to his undertaking the duties of Secretary, there are in 
all six new members to be elected. The Council propose the 
Earl of Zetland as a Vice-President in the room of the late 
Lord Londeshorough. 
