22 
Proceedings of the Poyal Society 
this work that his friends specially alluded when, in 1864, on 
the jubilee of his graduation at the Academy, a medal was struck 
in his honour, dedicated “ Palmarum Patri,” with the motto “ Tu 
Palmis Resurges and the same idea was followed when, four years 
afterwards, on 13th December 1868, his bier was bedecked with 
palm leaves, and a similar motto inscribed on his tomb. 
The last great work in which Martius was engaged is the 11 Flora 
Brasiliensis,” which was continued, from time to time, upon a scale 
worthy of the subject, and at his death had reached its forty-sixth 
part. It is to be hoped that it will be continued in the same spirit 
in which it was begun. 
Martius was a most popular lecturer, and in every way a superior 
man. His general intellectual powers were very great, and his 
readiness to communicate his knowledge was unfailing. His 
hospitality was liberal, and his best recreation, after the labours of 
each day, was the reception in his house of scholars, travellers, and 
men of science, and more especially of young inquirers after know¬ 
ledge, whose projects and aspirations he delighted to encourage and 
direct. He died in his seventy-fifth year; but I regret that I am 
unable to state any particulars as to that event, or his last illness. 
Among those members whom we have this year lost by death is 
the late venerable and excellent pastor of St Stephen’s Church, in 
this city. He took no prominent part as a man of science, but he 
felt an interest in its progress, and watched its rapid advance ; and 
though not mixing actively in the proceedings or debates of this 
Society, he strongly approved of its objects and recognised its 
benefits. It is an honour to have such men enrolled among us, 
and when they are removed in the course of nature, they should not 
be deprived of the just tribute to which their virtues and talents 
are entitled. 
Dr William Muir was a native of Glasgow, the son of a Glasgow 
merchant. He was a distinguished student at Glasgow University, 
and having chosen the Church for his profession, he was ordained in 
the year 1812. It is said that his own predilection originally was for 
the Church of England, and that he entered the Scotch Church in 
deference to his father’s wish. However this may be, the choice 
then made by him was fully ratified by his ultimate convictions. 
