OF MR. WILLIAM SMITH. 217 



for publishing by subscription, in 4 to., a work to be entitled 

 ' Accurate delineations and descriptions of the natural order 

 of the various strata that are found in different parts of Eng- 

 land and Wales ; with practical observations thereon/ For 

 this work a small and curious geological map was prepared, 

 and it was to have been accompanied by a general section of 

 the strata, showing their proportionate thickness. The pro- 

 spectus is itself a little essay on the practical applications of 

 Geology, and displays clearly the enlarged and precise mas- 

 tery of his subject, which finally led to the completion (in 

 1815 ! ) of the great ' Delineation of the strata of England and 

 Wales.' This document is curious and scarce enough to de- 

 serve to be re-printed entire. 



Mr. Smith's engagement as engineer to the Somerset coal- 

 canal ceased in 1799, and he was from that time, for many 

 years, almost continually travelling in various directions in 

 the exercise of his profession. To this he appears not to have 

 looked so much as a source of profit, as an occasion for seeing 

 new districts, and completing his general survey of England 

 and Wales. He was in the habit of attending the agricultu- 

 ral meetings called ' sheep-shearings,' at Wobum and Holk- 

 ham, to exhibit his maps and sections for the information of 

 the assembly. At one of these, in 1804, Sir Joseph Banks 

 originated a public subscription, to aid in defraying the cost 

 of publishing his ' Observations on the Strata of England and 

 Wales.' In 1804 he fixed his nominal residence in London, 

 (15, Buckingham St., Strand), re-arranged his collection there 

 on a new and curious plan, and received many distinguished 

 visitors. But his time was principally passed in Norfolk and 

 Suffolk, where he accomplished a remarkable work, — stop- 

 ping out the sea from a vast extent of marsh land. In 1806 

 the first of his publications appeared, — a ' Treatise on Irriga- 

 tion,' — from the Norwich press. For one of the successful 

 efforts at irrigation directed by Mr. Smith, the Society of Arts 

 awarded their medal. 



In 1808 the president and other members of the Geological 

 Society visited Mr. Smith, and saw his collection of fossils. 

 In 1811 appeared the first volume of the ' Geological Trans- 

 actions,' in which Mr. Smith's discoveries regarding organic 

 remains are noticed ; in 1813 the Rev. W. Townsend pub- 

 lished the first volume of his curious work, — ' The character 

 of Moses vindicated,' — containing much information commu- 

 nicated by Mr. Smith ; and at length, in August, 1815, ap- 

 peared the long-expected ' Delineation of the Strata of Eng- 

 land and Wales,' on a new map engraved for the purpose by 

 Messrs. Carey, of London. 



