314- 



by Smith that an entirely new direction was given to his observa- 

 tions, and frooi him his tirst idea of regularity in the order of the 

 succession of strata was obtained, — 



" But the person by whom he wa3 first led to trace and clearly to ascertain 

 the succession of strata in our Island, is William Smith. The discoveries of 

 this skilful engineer have been of vast importance to Geology, and will be of 

 infinite value to this nation. To a strong understanding, a retentive memory, 

 indefatigable ardour, and more than common sagacity, this extraordinary man 

 unites a perfect contempt for money when compared with science. Had he 

 kept his discoveries to himself, he might have accumulated wealth : but with 

 unparalleled disinterestedness of mind ho scorned concealment, and made 

 known his discoveries to every one who wished for information." 



" It is now eleven years since he conducted the author in his examination 

 of the strata which are laid bare in the immediate vicinity of Bath. Subsequent 

 excursions in the stratified and calcareous portion of our island have confirmed 

 the information derived from this examination." 



However much he may have consulted, and obtained information 

 from, Smith as he went on, or how far he can-ied out his observa- 

 tions independently, we have no means now of ascertaining. The 

 drawings of the fossils for the plates were made by himself, and 

 fully attest his skill as a draughtsman. 



There is no indication of his having left England after 1786, 

 yet he devotes a chapter to the "succession of strata of other 

 countries." The numerous foot notes and references indicate this 

 portion is a compilation. In the chapters on England he writes as 

 if from his own observations. The immediate neighbourhood of 

 Pewsey and the West of England supplied him with far the larger 

 portion of his facts, so there is no inference that he travelled much 

 through England. We are not told when his " Moses " was com- 

 menced, but it could not have been written without much time 

 occupied in the study. 



While this work was in preparation he brought out in 1805 

 a volume of sermons on various subjects. His second wife, who 

 still retained her title and was known as Lady Gierke, died in 1814. 



His own death occuiTed in 1816 at Pewsey.* 



* " On the 9th inst., at his Parsonage House, Pewsey, Wilts, aged 78, the 

 Eev. Joseph Townsend Townsend, a gentleman of varied talent and extensive 

 information. . . . As an author, the work which chiefly established 

 his celebrity was his " Travels in Spain," — Bath Journal, Nov. 18, 1816. 



