325 



His Family. — I have been told that he was probably of an 

 Uphill family and that hia father was a farmer. He had a 

 brother, a surgeon, who went to Egypt, and had a great idea of a 

 mathematical system in which 8 was the normal. Mrs. Richardson 

 was a daughter of Mr. Whatley, steward to the Duke of Kingston. 



His Life. — I have not been able to learn, even approximately, 

 the date of Mr. Richardson's birth. The earliest period of his life, 

 of which I have found any record, is that of his college days, 

 H. J., in the " Bath and Bristol Magazine," says he was a member 

 of Christ Church, Oxford, that he graduated, and left the University 

 somewhere about 1778. This is the only place known to me in 

 which he is styled " M.A." His name does not appear in the list 

 of graduates of Oxford of those who have regularly proceeded or 

 been created between Oct., 1659, and Oct., 1814. The " Bath and 

 Cheltenham Gazette," July 10, 1832, speaks of him as M.D. In 

 the obituary notice in the " Gentleman's Magazine," in the tablet 

 at Farleigh Church, and in the list of rectors of Farleigh in Mr. 

 Jackson's " Guide to Farleigh Hungerford " (May, Taunton, 1853), 

 Benjamin Richardson's name appears without any degree. H. J, 

 may perhaps have been as inaccurate about his M.A. as he was in 

 describing him as rector of Farleigh Castle. I draw attention to 

 the discrepancies in the hope that someone may settle the question 

 whether he graduated in medicine or arts. A medical course would 

 probably have accorded with his love for the study of the natural 

 sciences. 



H. J., speaking of Richardson while at Oxford, says — 



" His predilection for the pursuits of science was early marked. I have oftea 

 heard him speak of the superior pleasure he received from attending the mathe- 

 matical lectures of a brother of the celebrated Dean Jackson when contrasted 

 with the critical disquisitions of his classical tutors ; and this feeling of the higher 

 value of science when compared with polite literature, never deserted him in 

 after life. In this as in all other subjects of rational investigation he kept 

 steadily in view the great purpose, as he conceived, of social life — the advance- 

 ment of human good, and constantly referred every inquiry to that great end. 

 His favourite pursuit however was the study of Geology, and for the advance- 

 ment of this important science he spared neither personal exertion nor 

 pecuniary assistance to the utmost extent of his means. 



cousin of Mr. John G-resley Jelly, of Caroline Buildings, and a distant 

 relation of Mrs. Kichardson. 



