SKETCH OF WILLIAM PENGELLY. 121 



March, 1874, he was visited at Torquay by Professor Phillips and 

 others in behalf of a number of members of the British Association, 

 and presented with an illuminated parchment containing the signa- 

 tures of the contributors and a check, as a testimonial " in recog- 

 nition of his long and valued services to science in general, and 

 more especially for the exploration of Kent's Cavern. Replying to 

 the addresses, he said he had done the work in connection with Kent's 

 Cavern simply because he liked it. . . . He had experienced intense 

 pleasure in it, and he could assure them that, on his finding a 

 Machairodus latidus, after seven years and a half exploration, the 

 discovery of that one tooth, in his opinion, was worth all the money 

 that had been spent in the exploration of the cavern." 



Besides geology, Mr. Pengelly had a living concern with astron- 

 omy, on subjects of which he lectured and read papers, and in folk- 

 lore, and was " extremely interested " in the religious history of Corn- 

 wall. He became a member of the Society of Friends about 1853, 

 and married his second wife, Lydia Spriggs, in that body. She 

 assisted him in his scientific work, preparing diagrams. 



Of Pengelly's character as a man. Professor Bonney speaks of 

 the great charm in his personality, and the union in him of " such 

 strong mental powers, and no less strong sense of what was just, true, 

 and right, to such genuine humor and hearty enjoyment of wit." 

 Sir Archibald Geikie speaks of his " genial, kindly, and helpful nature, 

 and his invariably bright, cheery, and witty talk." Prof. Rupert 

 Jones characterizes him as " a good example of a religious man — ear- 

 nest, persevering, and exact in scientific research." The Rev. Robert 

 Hardy says, " He did not obtrude his theological opinions, but it was 

 easy to perceive that he was a man of true religious character." Sir 

 Joseph Lister, looking back to the times of his acquaintance with 

 him, recalled " vividly the impression of his great intellectual powers, 

 his genial benevolence, and his sparkling humor." 



As a lecturer his style is described as having been " most attract- 

 ive. It is incisive, clear, and at times there are touches of humor. 

 His perfect knowledge of the subject, combined with intense earnest- 

 ness, clothed his lecture with genuine eloquence." 



Miss Pengelly's biography abounds with illustrations of her 

 father's rare faculty of attracting and interesting workingmen. A 

 letter from one such man expresses gTatitude, mingled with great 

 pleasure, for the lasting happiness he was " so anxious and constant 

 to impart to us young men during the Young Men's Society and after- 

 ward at the Mechanics' Institute, . . . and I have often felt and said 

 I owe more gratitude for the small amount of knowledge I possess, 

 to Mr. Pengelly, of Torquay, than to any living man, and I think 

 there are a few now in Torquay who might truly say so too.'* 



