114 Geological Remarh on the 



lions Individual to state, that most ot" the important geolo- 

 gical conchisioiis whidi our ingenious neighbours on the 

 continent have deduced from their recent survey, were ar- 

 rived at by Mr. William Smithy from an examination of 

 the strata in the environs of Bath, of which he completed 

 a coloured Map, such as M. Cuvier and M. Brogniart de- 

 scribe, and correct Sections also, about the year 1795 ; and 

 that the same principles and conclusions were in the sub- 

 sequent years applied and verified, in a general survey made 

 by Mr, Smith, of nearly all the south aud east and midland 

 parts of England, and of parts of Wales and Scotland, as 

 many hundred besides myself, who have seen Mr. Smith's 

 Maps and collection of focal Specimens, can testify*, 

 as well as the printed accounts which have repeatedly 

 appeared in our newspapers and magazines of Mr. Smith 

 having publicly exhibited these Maps, acccmipanied by 

 Sections of the British strata, at the Duke of Bedford's and 

 Mr. Coke's sheep-shearings, Lord Somerville's agricultural 

 fetes, the meetings of the Smithfield Club, the Bath So- 

 ciety, &:c. Mr. Smith's extensive collection of specimens, 

 of Organic Remains in particular, which were collected by^ 

 himself from all the various districts which he visited for 

 forming his Maps, were for several years exhibited to hisr 

 friends in Bath, and have now for seven years past, been 

 accessible in the same way, at his house, No. 15, Bucking- 

 ham Street, York Buildings, London, 



An opportunity having presented itself in 1801 f, of my 

 studying this subject practically under Mr. Smith, and 

 having since amply verified the truth and ascertained the 

 great value of his discoveries in several Surveys of my own ; 

 I ventured, in June 1806, to present the public with a con- 

 cise sketch of part of Mr. Smith's discoveries, when speak- 

 ing pf the intended Thames Archway^ vol. xxv. of your 

 Magazine, and some months after to enlarge somewhat 

 further on these discoveries, in something more than two 

 quarto pages, which are inserted into an article on Coaly 

 previously written by some other person, for Dr. Rees^s 

 New Cyclopcedia : to these publications, and those which 

 have followed J, I was principally prompted by the solici- 

 tations of the frienfis and well-wishers of Mr. Smith, who, 



* The Rev. Joseph Townscnd, rector of Pewsey in Wiltshire, was among 

 those who thus profited by Mr. Smith's labours, almost froirv their com- 

 *icncfment. ^ 



■}• This was after Mr. Smith had issued printed proposals for the publicaV 

 lion of his work and maps of the J3ritish strata, by Debrett, in Piccadilly. '-' 



^ Among these are, Clay Straui, Co?icmlricity of Strata, Continent, Dtnuda* 

 tivn, A'jcaia^iVw of Valleys, E.ilraueoiis Fossils, &c., in the Cyclopaidia ; aud 

 d L«ttf r OH ff-'dls and Springs iq the Monthly Magjaine (or April 1807. 



laiiieuttng 



