329 



by the extent of his knowledge, -not drawn from books, but from an examina- 

 tion of nature in her own domains. In the pursuit of Geology he was weU 

 instructed from his own researches; but he was ever delighted to teU that he 

 owed his first clear ideas of the subject to Wm. Smith, and his latter days 

 were gladdened by knowing that the merits of Hs friend had been acknowledged 

 by this Society. To his generosity of disposition our museum, and those of 

 many local institutions, are deeply indebted. He coUected only that he 

 might give away; and, regardless of all personal fame, he never failed, when 

 a discovery was made, to caU around him those who could profit by it. 

 Thus, though he was never seen among us, and though his name was rarely 

 heard, he was steadily labouring in our cause, and silently, but efi'ectuaUy, 

 urging it on." 



His Works.— li does not appear that he ever wrote any Geological 

 paper, nor made any communication to the Geological Society. 



Rev. John Josias Contbeare. 

 Sources of Information. — 



1. An article in the " Bath and Cheltenham Gazette" for Tuesday, 22nd 

 June, 1824, by Moysey, Archdeacon of Bath. 



2. The " Gentleman's Magazine" for August 24th, 1824, p. 187. 



3." The BiograpHcal sketch in the "Annals of Philosophy,'- new series, 

 vol. 8, September, 1824, p. 162. 



4. The " Gentleman's Magazine" for October, 1824, p. 376, being an 

 abridged reprint of the article in the " Annals of Philosophy." 



5. The " Gentleman's Magazine " for December, 1824, p. 482, which has 

 a further notice of his publications. 



6. " Dodsley's Annual Kegister" for 1824 [published in 1825], p. 225. 



The article in the " Annals of Philosophy," is by far the most 

 complete. 



His Family.— ms grandfather, Dr. John Conybeare [M,A. in 

 1716 • D.D. in 1729], was some time Fellow and Rector of Exeter 

 CoUege, Oxford,and Rector of St. Clement's, Oxford. He owed 

 his preferment chiefly to his whig principles, and was the only 

 -whig head of a house of his day at Oxford. January 27th, 1732, 

 he was appointed Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and January 

 14th, 1750, Bishop of Bristol He held these two posts in com- 

 mendam. Britton states that he died at Bath. He is buried in 

 Bristol Cathedral, next to Bishop Butler, his grave being ahnost 

 immediately under the present throne for the Bishop. The tablet 

 to his memory has been removed to the gallery. 



