2BT. 39.] BUSINESS AND GEOLOGY. 85 



of benefit and advantage to my fellow-men, but more especially 

 do I hope and trust that it may lead to some amelioration in the 

 condition of those who, by circumstances, are placed in a position 

 of toil and hardship which we who are in a more fortunate posi- 

 tion should as a duty alleviate as far as lies in our power. The 

 misery I see around me is indeed sad, it makes my heart bleed. 

 It is on this account that I must feel my dependent situation 

 my inability to assist more effectually in the improvement and 

 welfare of the poorer classes. Then again, with reference to 

 Clapham, I deeply feel the responsibility to maintain a proper 

 provision for them such as they have been accustomed to. 

 It is these considerations, and not a mere question of s. d., 

 that lead me to hope, as a possible contingency, that some change 

 in my present position may result from this work. Then again, 

 as a secondary consideration, I feel that I am out of place here 

 that my time and labour are not employed in those channels in 

 which they might yield their proper return. I feel that I could 

 make more of them, not only for my own benefit, but also in that 

 of which I feel the paramount importance the progress of 

 science and its application to our improvement, intellectual and 

 physical. 



It is therefore with regard to the public advantage, which I 

 hope would result from the carrying out of my plans, that I 

 should feel disappointed if my calculations should not prove 

 correct. Their success would be an ample reward to me, and no 

 disappointment should I experience on my own account by that 

 proving the only one. In haste, I remain, my dearest Isabella, 

 ever your affectionate brother, J. PRESTWICH. 



Nothing came of the project mentioned in the above 

 letter. Before long Prestwich was again taking one 

 of those business journeys during which he contrived 

 to make fresh geological observations, as may be 

 inferred from the following letter : 



J. Prestwich to Sir Charles LyelL DORCHESTER, 21st June 1851. 



MY DEAR SIR, I shall be most happy to take a short excursion. 

 I fear that we cannot reach the Eeculvers or Sandwich, but there 



