168 Biographical Sketch of the [Sept. 



a view of comparing the characters of the indurated lias 

 shale (found in contact with the whin dykes) of the north of 

 Ireland, with those of certain rocks to which it had been sup- 

 posed to bear an analogy. The results tended, in Mr. Cony- 

 beare's opinion, to establish the identity of the Irish rock 

 with the shale of the lias formation, as occurring elsewhere, 

 rather than with the true flinty slate, or any other variety of 

 basalt : and lastly, two notices " On a recent Ligneous Petri- 

 faction." 



It will be sufficient to enumerate merely his papers in the 

 Annals : they occur in the following order, in the present series. 

 In vol. i. he described an inflammable substance found filling 

 small contemporaneous veins in the ironstone of MerthyrTydvil; 

 and to which, believing it to be undescribed, he gave the name 

 of Hatchetine, in reference to the eminent chemist to whom we 

 are indebted for so many valuable contributions towards the 

 history of the bituminous substances. In vol. v. he communi- 

 cated a further examination of this body ; but finding, subse- 

 quently, that it had first been mentioned by Mr. Brande, in his 

 Manual of Chemistry, under the appellation of mineral adipocire, 

 he withdrew the name of Hatchetine, and acknowledged Mr. 

 Brande's priority of observation. In the first volume, likewise, 

 is a short paper by Mr. Conybeare, " On the Red Rock Marie, 

 or Newer Red Sandstone ; " as it is presented in the strata 

 extending from Dawlish to Teignmouth : this contains a more 

 precise examination of the rolled masses of various rocks 

 included in the breccia of this formation than any account 

 hitherto published ; for which reason, the authors of the 

 "Outlines of the Geology of England and Wales," have given 

 it nearly entire in that excellent work. 



In vol. ii. is an article by our author, " On the Geology of 

 the Neighbourhood of Okehampton, Devon." In vol. iv. papers 

 "On Siliceous Petrifactions imbedded in Calcareous Rock;" 

 " On the Geology of the Malvern Hills ; " " On Works in 

 Niello and the Pirotechnia of Venoccio Biringuccio Siennese ; '' 

 and " On the Greek Fire." In vol. v. " Queries on the Plumbago 

 formed in Coal Gas Retorts ;" "Examination of Mumia ;" and 

 " On the Geology of Devon and Cornwall." In vol. vi. a con- 

 tinuation of the last-mentioned article, and an account of a 

 scarce and curious alchemical work, the " Symbola Aureee 

 Mensae Duodecim Nationum," of Michael Maier. 



The admiration excited by the talents which could be 

 directed, and so successfully, to such varied objects, has thus 

 far rendered the task of recording the life of their possessor a 

 pleasing one; but we now come to a painful part of the subject. 

 Early in the month of June last, Mr. Conybeare came to the 

 metropolis ; partly on business connected with the printing of 

 his " Illustrations of the Early History of English and French 



