324 



a greater antiquity than Moses has assigned to them, and to 

 demonstrate hy a reference to facts (p. 431) that the earth has been 

 overwhelmed by an universal deluge. But there is no hint (at 

 least that I can see) as to how all this bookfull of information 

 bears on the question. 



If Mr. Townsend's usual style of arguing is so correctly por- 

 trayed in the " Spiritual Quixote " that his contemporaries regarded 

 him as the probable prototype of Wildgoose, then we can get an 

 insight into the man which lessens our wonder that he let his 

 geological work appear before the public in the form in which it 

 did. A great display of learning ; a slight regard to the accuracy 

 of his sequitur ; and he is satisfied. 



As geologists we may weigh the value of the geological part of 

 his work on its own merits, quite apart from its entourage. But 

 in regarding the man we cannot overlook the spirit in which he 

 wrote. It was the same as that which led him in his earlier days, 

 regardless of consequences, to address assemblies in the open air. 

 When he tells us that he looks on the truth of the Mosaic 

 account of the creation and deluge as intimately connected with 

 our immortal hopes, we see that to him the defence of Moses 

 would partake of the nature of a sacred duty. However we may 

 vary in our estimate of Townsend's power, we must all agi-ee in 

 our respect for his consistency. Whatever he did, it was, in his 

 sight, to the glory of God. 



Eev. Benjamin Richardson. 



Sources of Information. — It is difficult to get definite information 

 respecting Mr. Richardson up to the time of his being appointed 

 Rector of Farleigh. His name does not appear in the " 4-nnual 

 Biography and Obituary." The " Gentleman's Magazine" contains 

 only a brief notice under the date of his death 22nd Jan., 1832. 



There is an article in the " Bath and Bristol Magazine" for 1832, 

 p. 303, with the initials " H. J." * attached, but the writer has given 

 no exact information. 



* "H. J." is the Rev. Harry Jelly, M.A., of St. Albans HaU, Oxford, 

 minister of Trinity Church, Bath. [Book of Sermons preached at Walcot 

 and Trinity. Simms, Bath, ISiO. Ded. to Moysey.] This Mr. Jelly was 



