Herbert Rix

“ The Royal Society possesses a half-length life-size portrait of Oldenburg, painted by John Van Cleef. He is represented in black coat, broad white bands, and plain sleeves sewed to the narrow armholes. The head is massive, and wears a long flowing peruke ”

“ In a letter dated London, 7 April 1654, preserved in the 'Acts of the Senate 'at Bremen, he announced the conclusion of peace between England and Holland on 5 April, and offered his further services. This offer the council accepted when Sweden attacked Bremen in the summer of that year. Oldenburg's new letters to Cromwell were dated 22 Sept.
While diplomacy occupied a part of Oldenburg's time in England, he chiefly devoted himself to scientific study or to literature. In 1654 he made the acquaintance of John Milton, then Cromwell's Latin secretary. ”

“ White entered upon his duties at the Royal Society's rooms in Somerset House on 19 April 1844, and was officially confirmed in the appointment on 2 May, at a salary of 80l. a year. His work was at first largely mechanical, but increased in importance. When Weld retired in 1861, White was at once elected to the post of assistant secretary and librarian. In this position he met and conversed with many eminent men ”

“ Finally, on 20 May 1839, he returned with his family to the old world, where he rejoined his father's business. In October 1842 he went to London, and, the cabinet-making trade being still in a depressed condition, he accepted a situation as clerk to Joseph Mainzer [q. v.] , author of ‘Singing for the Million.’ In the following year he accompanied him to Edinburgh, where Mainzer was candidate for the chair of music. ”

“ White resigned the assistant-secretaryship of the Royal Society on 18 Dec. 1884, and received a pension to the full amount of his salary. He resided at Brixton until his death, 18 July 1893. In 1830 he married Maria Hamilton. His domestic lot was not happy. His wife left him in 1845 (Journals, pp. 67, 95) , his sons emigrated, and for the last thirty years of his life he lived quite alone.
Besides contributions to magazines, he published: 1. ‘To Mont Blanc and Back Again,’ London, 1854, 12mo. 2. ‘A Londoner's Walk to the Land's End,’ London, 1855, 8vo; 2nd ed. 1861. 3. ”

“ Q. Whether such a person ought to be left vn-assisted?' It was with the intention that the sale should procure him a remuneration for his gratuitous services that he was authorised in 1664 to publish the ' Transactions of the Society;' but the net profit seldom amounted to 40l. ”