174 



cut the group off from the Trias — as it was palaeozoic. I assented at once, for 

 it was plain that we could not move on without making fossils the grand tests 

 of our group. Murchison objected! (he was the only one that stood out) and he 

 continued his objections, arguing that Reptiles were secondary groups. I wish 

 Phillips had given us a name for the group- he had a right to do so, and as his 

 uncle ("Father" Smith,) had called the lowest bed Pontefract Castle Kock, I 

 suggested the name Pontefract Group. But I have tired myself, and you also 

 I fear — so I must conclude with best thanks and congratulations. My working 

 days are done. I am within a few weeks (about five) of completing my eightieth 

 year, and since I came back (near the beginning of last week) after careful 

 exatnhiation I am proved to have an organic heart disease which will be my 

 companion through the coming remnant of my life. I have thoroughly disobeyed 

 my doctor's orders, and much tired myself. So, adieu. 



I am, faithfully yours, 



A. SEDGWICK. 



From certain evidence we have, it would appear that the 

 relations between the Professors at the Queen's Colleges in Ireland 

 and the governing bodies were not altogether satisfactory in every 

 respect. This may have been due to several causes that neither 

 the teaching- nor the administrative body were themselves answer- 

 able for. Things were not altogether as pleasant for Harkness as 

 he could have wished, which is hardly to be wondered at when it 

 becomes known that — whether it was from motives of economy, or 

 from motives of other kinds, does not seem clear — the Professor of 

 Geology was asked to teach not only his own subjects — Geology 

 and Mineralogy — but Physical Geography, Botany, and Zoology 

 as well. Harkness was perfectly competent to discharge these 

 multifarious duties as well as could be expected of any one man ; 

 but he must have been fully aware that to teach every one of these 

 subjects in the way he would prefer to see them taught, would 

 involve mental strain such as only a man in the full possession of 

 health and vigour could safely undertake for any length of time. 



Naturally enough Harkness wished to find himself in a position 

 where he would be required to teach only what he could teach 

 best, and where he should be allowed to teach that according to a 

 method of his own choosing. It is not, therefore, surprising that 

 when there appeared to be some prospect of a Chair of Geology 



