153 



I am quite well iu liealth at present, but last winter, I had a complaint begun 

 in my hand, which deranged my whole frame, and summer was considerably 

 advanced before I regained my usual strength. Although, as Dr. Southey says, 

 passing into "the sere and yellow leaf," I am still proud to be acknowledged as 

 one lit to be spoken with on a subject of science ; and shall always be glad if I can 

 answer any question you may honour me with. 

 I am, Sir, 



Your obliged and obedient servant, 



JONATHAN OTLEY. 



From Professor Sedgwick. 



Cambridge, February 14th, 1847. 



My dear Sir, — 



I do not know how many years have passed away since I last saw you ; 

 but I continue to remember, with iindiminished pleasure, the happy days I spent 

 with you among the Cumbrian mountains in the summers of 1823 and 1824. Then 

 I was a vigorous walker and climber among the mountains. But alas ! twenty-two 

 years have taken away from the strength and activity of my limbs, and I, year by 

 j'ear, find myself less equal to those robust tasks I formerly set myself. In short, 

 1 have nearly done my field work, and all I hope to do now is, to draw up a 

 systematic account of our older rocks, in two parts. The first part is to include all 

 the slate rocks, and the sporiated unstratifled rocks below the old red sandstone. 

 The second part is to include the old red sandstone — the rocks of Devon and Corn- 

 ^^'all — the carboniferous series — and the magnesian limestone. There the work is 

 to terminate ; for the secondary rocks, including the new red sandstone, do not 

 come within my plan. 



My health is not good, for (not to mention the influenza, which I regard as an 

 accident, tho' a bad one, as it has kept me indoors for two months, ) each spring 

 and part of each summer, ever since 1830, have I been attacked by rheumatic gout ; 

 and while it hangs about me, I am hardly good for anything ; but I do trust that 

 within twelve months I may finish the first and hardest part of the work I have in 

 hand. Three plates of fossils, come to me by post, from my artist and naturalist 

 in London, remind me that it is high time to rouse myself, if possible, from this 

 long and weary fit of influenza, and resume my labours. 



In describing Cumberland, I shall have to give profiles and sections in various 

 directions ; and I should feel greatly indebted to you if you could lend me a helping 

 hand in finishing the profiles ; for you know the heights of the hills and irregulari- 

 ties of surface far better than I can do, especially after the lapse of so many years. 

 Any help I receive from you shall be faithfully acknowledged. Should you kindly 



