dern EurOpean science. He was also the first person who main- tained, from his own observations on the plains of Hindostan, the supen'or elevation of the Himalayan mountains above the Andes of America, in opposition to the opinions generally entertained at that period, and which had been sanctioned by the great authority of Humboldt’s theory of the range of the curve of perpetual congela— tion. The complete confirmation which his opinion afterwards received, from accurate barometrical and trigonometrical measure— ments, was always referred to, in his later years, with particular sa- tisfaction and triumph.
Mr. Colebrdoke continued the steady pursuit of his oriental and scientific studies until nearly the close of his life, and even when the progress of his infirmities confined him almost entirely to his bed. He was one of the founders of the Asiatic and Astronomical Societies, and ashort time before his death he gave to the library of the India House his incomparable collection of Sanscrit and Asiatic manu- scripts, which had been collected at an expense of nearly 10,000l., with the noble view of preserving them for ever from the danger of dispersion by the fluctuating accidents of inheritance.
Mr. Colebrooke was probably, with one single exception, the greatest Sanscrit scholar of his age; and when we take into account his great. acquirements in mathematics and philosophy and in almost every branch of literature, combined with the most accurate and severe judgement, and also his great public services in situations of the highest trust and responsibility, we shall not hesitate to pro- nounce him one of the most illustrious of that extraordinary suc‘ cessiou of great men who have adorned the annals of our Indian empire, the deaths of so many of whom it has been my misfortune to record in my recent addresses from this chair.
Dr. John Latham reached the extraordinary age of ninety-seven years, having enjoyed the full possession of his faculties and almost unbroken health until within a few days of liisdeath : he was the father of the Royal andAntiquarian Societies, and it is sixtyvseven years since his first paper, on a medical subject, was publishedin ourTransactinns. He was the author of many papers on antiquarian subjects; but his favourite study throughout life was natural history, and particularly nrnithology. He published, in 17 81, his General Synopsis of Birds, in six volumes quarto, and afterwards twn supplementary volumes. In 1792 he published his Index Ornithologicus, a complete system of ornithology, arranged in classes, orders, genera and species, in two volumes quarto. At the age of 82, be commenced his General History of Birds,a magnificent work in eleven volumes quarto. He was a man of very systematic habits and most amiable character, the tran- quil course of whose long lifewas neitherdisturbed by scientific or pro- fe nal jealousies, nor embittered by the want of those enjoyments w uh competence and domestic happiness andvirtue alone can confer.
Dr. Tiarks was born at Jever in Oldenburg, and came to England in 1810, when he was appointed Assistant—librarian to Sir Joseph Banks, through whose influence he was nominated Astronomer to the Commission for settling the North American Boundary, under
