312 



least, in which we now understand the word. He gives, in his 

 Introduction to the " Vindication of Moses," thus a brief account 

 of his tour : — 



"In 1786 he ag<ain crossed tho Channel, examined the cabinets in Franco, 

 and had access to the most distinguished mineralogists, Dauhanton, De Rome, 

 De Lisle, the Abbe Haiiy, Bosson, Hassenfratz, Chaptal, and Stoutz. 



"In Spain ho met with few men of science; but in every part of the 

 Peninsula he had opportunities of tracing the effects of the grand revolution 

 which has happened to our globe. 



" Whilst traversing the mountains and viewing the lakes of Switzerland, 

 he saw innumerable vestiges of the universal deluge, and he is happy to find 

 his opinions confirmed by the two most experienced naturalists, who received 

 their education in the Alps. In their works the suggestions of his mind met 

 with support and his deductions from multiplied observations have been 

 confirmed." 



We are not informed over what period of time this tour extended. 

 The death of his brother in July, 1787, may have recalled him, but 

 we know that in 1788 he published his " Plan for the removal of 

 the Poor" when he was probably in London. 



In 1790, he married Lydia, the widow of Admiral Sir John Gierke, 

 Knt.* 



His "Journeys through Spain," published in 1790-91, 3 vols. 

 8vo., at once gave him the reputation of a high position as an author. 

 Though he had given so much thought to traces of the Universal 

 Deluge, this by no means however occupied his entire attention. In 

 1791 he published " Free Thoughts on Despotic and Free Govern- 

 ments," and in 1794 the " Physician's Vade Mecum," which by 1807 

 had reached a tenth edition. In 1795 he published " A Guide to 

 Health," 2 vols. 8vo. How much time he devoted to the care of 

 his parish we cannot now tell, but the church books at Pewsey show 



* Friday, March 26th, 1790, was married at St. James's Church, the Rev.' 

 Joseph Townsend to Lady Lydia Gierke. — Bath Chronicle, April 2, 1790. 



Friday, June 3rd, 1814, died at his house in Great Pulteney-strcct, Lady 

 Clarke, wife of the Rev. Joseph Townsend, Rector of Pewsey, Wilts. — Bath 

 Chronicle, May 2Qth, 1814. 



John Clarke, Capt. R.N., May 26th, \-&\.— Beaton's Index II.,p.iS. 



Captain John Clarke, of the Prudent, Man-of-War, received the honour of 

 Knighthood at St. James's, Jan. 31, 1772, by the name of Sir John Clarke. 

 Ho is to sail as Commodore of a squadron to the East Indies to observe the 

 motions of the French in that quarter and to protect trade. — G. Mag.. \n2,p. 80. 



