THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 
181 
Although he was not a member of this Society, I cannot refrain 
from alluding to the great loss which literature (more especially 
archaeological and topographical literature) has sustained in the 
death of my friend Richard John King. The simplicity of his 
character, and his singular modesty, combined with many amiable 
traits, endeared him to the somewhat restricted circle which was on 
terms of intimacy with him, and his readiness to impart to others 
any information sought, and his encouragement to perseverance given 
to those who were endeavouring to follow in the paths pointed out 
by him, were characteristics not always found, even in those 
interested in archaeological research. He was born in Plymouth, 
and going to Oxford, graduated at Exeter College. Always studious, 
the work which he was compelled soon after leaving the University 
to devote himself to was not found irksome, and thousands have 
derived pleasure and profit from the writings of the author who 
preferred that his name should not be known to the world. He 
was always much interested in the work of this Society, and one 
of the last letters which I received from him was to thank me for 
a part of our Transactions which he had expressed a wish to see, 
and to congratulate all connected with the Society upon the pro- 
duction of what he termed a most valuable volume. 
Art, too, records the death of another Devonshire man, Frederick 
Richard Lee, a Royal Academician up to 1871, when he resigned 
in favour of a younger man. He was well known to many in 
Plymouth, passing much of his time, between his numerous 
yachting voyages, in the town. 
And yet another, Thomas Wills, Demonstrator of Chemistry at 
the Royal Naval College, a young man of great promise, who had 
already done much good work, although he had not attained the 
age of thirty at the time of his death in May last. He had recently 
been devoting himself to the application of chemistry to the manu- 
facture of gas ; and on questions connected with this subject he 
was rapidly becoming an authority. 
I may also mention William Crabb, of Heavitree, an anti- 
quary of no mean ability, and one possessed of much information 
connected with the archaeology of Devonshire. His principal work 
is that on the Brasses of the County, published in the Transactions 
of the Exeter Diocesan Architectural Society. In these communi- 
cations every Brass is described and very many figured, and the 
papers are very valuable contributions to local history. 
