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XXIX. Mr. Smith's Geological Claims stated. 



To Mr. TiUoch. 



Sir, — In the month of November last, a gentleman to whom 

 the cau'^e of Geological Investigation was long ago under obliga- 

 tion, called on Mr. William Smith, in Buckingham-street, and 

 after mentioning, that some differences of opinion seemed to pre- 

 vail, as to the priority of investigation and discovery, of several ot 

 the principal geological facts of England and Wales, requested 

 Mr. Smith to show him Documents, and give him such Memo- 

 randums and References, as would enable himself, and some 

 Friends who felt a like interest, to state the case, so fully, as would 

 he hoped, put an end to these differences, by assigning to the 

 earlier English Geologists, and to the followers of M. Werner 

 and others, their respective shares of merit herein ; which would 

 leave Mr. Smith, in undisputed possession of what really might 

 appear to belong to him. 



To which request and proposal Mr. Smith so far assented, as 

 to promise to consult some of his Friends thereon ; which having 

 done, and it appearing, that nearly all the earlier and the most 

 explicit notices which had appeared in print, and could thus be 

 adduced as published testimonies, regarding the principles, prac- 

 tice, localized results, and dates of Mr. S.'s investigations, haa 

 been pvUished by me, as well as Mineral Stirveywg liavmg beer. 

 the most u'idely and minutely practised by me, of any one, I was 

 requested by Mr. Smith, to give assistance to the gentleman al- 

 luded to, and Ills Friends, by looking out and arranging my va- 

 rious publications hereon, and in drawing up a Statement ; and 

 having assented thereto, the gentleman alluded to, and any of 

 his fri'ends, were requested by Mr. Smith to call on me. 



I begaii immediately to look out the works and passages re- 

 quested, and to minute down from my original Letters, Papers, 

 Maps and Memorandums, all .such particulars as I judged could 

 :«sist, in preparing the Statement which was wished, as far at 

 least as fell within the knowledge of or concerned myself or Mr. 

 Smith ; but no one calling, as was expected, I took the oppor- 

 tunity wliich presented itself on the evening of the 3Utli of No- 

 vember, of meeting the gentleman alluded to and several of hi-« 

 friends, and Mr. Smith and several of his friends, at Sir Joseph 

 Banks's Conversazione; when by myself and Mr. S., and by more 

 than one of his friends, the gentleman alluded to and Ins friends 

 were invited and pressed, to attend a meeting next day at my 

 House, for deliberately considering and finally adjusting such a 

 Statement of Mr. Smith's claims, as could be borne out by un- 

 deniable testimonies. _, . 



This 



