SIR CHARLES LYELL, BART. 181 



science of geology on a sound and philosophical basis. 

 His guiding star pointed to the uniformity of the laws 

 of natnre — a belief which led him to argne that by 

 studying the changes which are being wrought upon 

 the surface of the earth by the silent action of forces 

 now in operation, we put ourselves in possession of a 

 key to the interpretation of those ancient records which 

 it is the special business of the geologist to decipher. 



Prior to the death of Sir Charles Lyell, nearly all 

 the first generation of geologists had passed away — 

 Buckland, Conybeare, Sedgwick, Murchison, Phillips. 

 Prom the advent of the science knowledge has widened in 

 every direction ; larger views of nature and the universe 

 have gained belief everywhere, and geology has fully 

 shared in the general expansion. In this process it 

 cannot be questioned that no one had a greater share 

 than Sir Charles Lyell, for he was much more than 

 a mere geologist. He had a well- trained and scientific 

 mind, which enabled him to take large views of every 

 subject presented to his intellect, to see its various 

 bearings and its points of alliance or contrast with 

 other ranges of thought. All his work was done 

 leisurely, fully, and completely, in large books, and 

 not in fragments of essays and papers ; and every book 

 was absolutely finished up to the point which know- 

 ledge had reached when he put it forth. 



Sir Charles, in spite of his great age and pre- 

 eminent scientific acquirements, was singularly open 

 to fresh accessions of knowledge and fresh generalisa- 

 tions from the increasing store of facts ; and it is no 

 light testimony to the original soundness of his views, 



