SIR CHARLES LYELL, BART. 



his distinguished Scottish geologist 

 was born at Kinnordy, Forfarshire, 

 November 14th, 1797. His father, 

 Charles Lyell, was a man of literary 

 and scientific pursuits, and it may 

 fairly be inferred that the bent of 

 the mind of his son was somewhat 

 inclined by his own studies, he being 

 an ardent botanist and also trans- 

 lator of the " Vita Nuova ' and the 

 "Convito' of Dante. The subject of our sketch was 

 the eldest of ten children, two brothers andseven sisters, 

 who all lived to grow up. 



In a characteristic autobiography of his boyish 

 days, which he wrote for the " instruction and amuse- 

 ment' 1 of his wife, who was a daughter of the cele- 

 brated Leonard Horner, he thus records his entrance 

 into life. Premising that his mother was a Yorkshire- 

 woman, the daughter of a Mr. Thomas Smith, of Maker 

 Hall, Swaledale, gifted with strong practical common- 



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