LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. XXXIX 
that the flint implements belong to a period long antecedent to 
that usually attributed to man’s existence on the earth, though by 
no means so distant as some geologists suppose. 
“ Butit would be difficult to point out any branch of science in 
which Professor Henslow did not take an active interest; he 
attended the first meeting of the British Association, and was 
ever afterwards a stanch supporter, and frequently an officer of 
this body ; he was one of the. first examiners in the University of 
London, and till his death a distinguished member of its council ; 
he actively aided the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Know- 
ledge, the Ray Society, and the Paleeontographical Society, and was 
a most liberal contributor to the various charities and funds for 
the relief of the needy members of his own profession and natu- 
ralists in general. To poor authors, especially, he was a most 
generous subscriber, nor was he ever appealed to in vain in any 
cause the justice and expediency of which were duly authenticated. 
“ At several periods he took a most important part in public 
politics, being an active member of a party who pledged them- 
selves to suppress that system of bribery for which the town of 
Cambridge was long so justly infamous ; and though few of his 
University and scientific friends sympathised with him on these 
occasions, his conduct was so typical of his singleness of purpose, 
firmness of character, and abhorrence of foul play, that this por- 
tion of his career cannot be overlooked even in a brief review of 
his life. pais 
“On one occasion in particular, when no one else of sufficient 
position and character would come forward, he had the moral 
courage to brave, not only the public odium (for which in a just 
cause he never cared much), but the disapprobation of many of his 
most intimate friends, and offer himself as the nominal prosecutor 
in a case of gross corruption. In doing this he was actuated by 
a feeling of duty to his country, and beyond it he did not inter- 
fere ; neither attending the trials or committees, nor subscribing 
to any of the proceedings. The amount of abuse he received may 
be estimated by the fact, that upwards of a quarter of a century 
afterwards he smilingly pointed out to a friend the words ‘ Hens- 
low, common informer,’ on the walls in Cambridge, where they are 
still legible. His services were, however, deeply appreciated at the 
time, for he received three handsome testimonials, one from the 
town of Cambridge, another from the Town Committee for the 
suppression of corruption, and the third from a committee of noble- 
men and gentlemen ; all alike testify to the perfect disinterested- 
