22 APPENDIX. 



tion. I defy his threats, and in a few weeks I receive a com- 

 munication from Mr. Lyell, by which I am given to under- 

 stand that Dr. Buckland undertakes to arrange the matter, 

 upon my making some sort of verbal apology. I reject the 

 overture, and the next thing I learn is, that there lies in Mr. 

 Hawkins's solicitor's hands a letter written by Dr. Buckland, 

 advising that the action be dropped altogether. It is hardly 

 necessary to add, that upon the perusal of the above document, 

 the materials I had collected for the purpose of substantiating 

 my opinion were laid upon the shelf, where they have ever 

 since quietly reposed. 



Before quitting this subject, I must remark, that the inter- 

 ference of the distinguished Geological Professor at the Ox- 

 ford University, in the transaction above detailed, has alone 

 involved the necessity for the appearance of so much of this 

 Appendix as relates to the case of ^ Hawkins versus Charles- 

 worth.' The part which he has taken upon himself, has giv- 

 en an air of importance to that, which I might otherwise have 

 regarded as a mere piece of chicanery, aiming under a threat 

 of legal proceedings, at a particular purpose, and about the 

 ultimate consequences of which a moment's consideration 

 would be thrown away. Dr. Buckland, hearing of the cir- 

 cumstances, was of course at liberty to enter into communi- 

 cation upon the subject with Mr. Hawkins, and if he felt so 

 disposed, to supply him with the resources for carrying on 

 the action. The step taken by the Professor wherein I con- 

 ceive he has laid himself open to animadversion, was the as- 

 suming certain consequences towards myself, as the defend- 

 ant in the action, and the conveying to me the nature of that 

 assumption through the agency of other parties. If Dr. Buck- 

 land thought I stood in need of his counsel, the direct and 

 only legitimate course for him to follow, was that of commu- 

 nicating with me in person or by letter ; in which case, either 

 as the President of a scientific body to which I have the ho- 

 nour to belong, or upon the strength of occasional intercourse 

 which had previously arisen between us, he could, without 

 in any way committing himself, have tendered me such ad- 

 vice as he might consider the occasion to warrant. I do not 

 say that the object he had in view was illegitimate, but I com- 

 plain of the machinery put in motion, by which it was hoped 

 that object might be secured. 



The sounding the alarm-bell in so many quarters has been 

 followed, as a natural consequence, by the question being 

 put, why have not Professor Buckland's anticipations been 

 realized, and what has been the nature of the compromise ? 

 There is no occasion for me to hint at the manner in which 



