536 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
before for carrying on the business of engraving and printing, in 
which they have been long famous among the skilful engravers of 
Edinburgh. In his thirty-ninth year he attracted the regard of 
scientific geographers at large by the publication of his “National 
Atlas,” and still more, five years later, by his “Atlas of Physical 
Geography,” For the task he had thus set himself he had been 
thoroughly prepared by assiduous study of the best works in the 
various languages of Europe, by frequent visits to many European 
countries, and by acquaintance and personal intercourse with the 
greatest continental geographers and travellers. Not long after¬ 
wards Mr Keith Johnston brought out in succession a “ Dictionary 
of Geography,” a “Military Atlas” for Alison’s “History of 
Europe,” the “Royal Atlas of Modem Geography,” and subse¬ 
quently a variety of cheap atlases for the use of schools. By these 
productions he raised himself to a position in which he had no 
superior rival as a geographer in this country; and his merit in 
this respect received the stamp of the Royal Geographical Society 
of London in the last year of his life by the award of the Geo¬ 
graphical Victoria Medal. 
But Mr Johnston took also great interest in almost every branch 
of physical research, with many of which he had no mean acquaint¬ 
ance, and whose cultivation in this city he seized every opportunity 
to encourage and promote. Among other obligations to him, we 
are greatly indebted for the foundation of “ The Meteorological 
Society ” of Scotland,—an institution which, under the able direc¬ 
tion of its present Secretary, promises important results, certain, 
indeed, to be realised if the Society receive due public support in 
the line of inquiry in which it has already been for some years 
successfully engaged. It is also known to me that the city and 
University are mainly indebted to him for the early foundation of 
the Chair of Geology, through the munificence of his friend the 
late Sir Roderick Murchison. At the direct instance of Mr John¬ 
ston, and through the weight which his genuine love of science 
commanded with many men of influence, Sir Roderick was induced 
to alter his intentions, from a “ post-obit ” foundation, to an im¬ 
mediate gift, of the Chair, in conjunction with a Royal Foundation 
and additional endowment. 
In such proceedings as these Mr Johnston did good with no 
