Notes

Abstract

RIPE in years and in honours, his work done and his fame world-wide, amid the regrets of all ranks of his countrymen, Sir Roderick Murchison has gone to his rest. It is nearly a year since he was seized with an illness which disabled him from further active work. Yet in the interval he has shown all his old interest in the affairs of which he has so long been the heart and soul, keeping up his intercourse with the world of science by reading, and with many of his associates by personal interviews at his own residence, and by correspondence. To the last his wonderful memory remained true, even to trifling details of place and date. Within the last few weeks, however, the disease made sad progress, and though he continued to enjoy frequent carnage exercise, his physical strength became less able to withstand any malign effects which the chills of autumn bring with them. On Thursday last he was seized with bronchitis, and gradually sank under the attack, till he died at half-past eight on Sunday evening, the 22nd inst. We shall offer next week a fuller reference to Sir Roderick's life-work and scientific influence. For the present, and ere the earth closes over all of him that is mortal, let us only say that in him Science has lost a hard-working and distinguished cultivator, as well as an influential patron, and that to a narrower circle of mourners his loss is also one of a kindly large-hearted friendship.