134 FLINT IMPLEMENTS. [1859. 



been thrown out again. When I think about it, some 300 or 400 

 sections and facts flit before me, some tempting me one way and 

 some another, until I feel fairly bewildered. In the great coast 

 sections the matter is clear enough, but when we come inland the 

 confusion is great. You have given two or three of the leading 

 periods in your note, possibly correctly. I herewith give you 

 these and some minor ones. I do not attempt any order, but 

 give them in round-robin fashion, merely to show you what we 

 want room for. I do, however, hope this summer to reduce all 

 my observations, when I Hope all will fall into proper order ; and 

 I am, my dear Sir Charles, yours very truly, J. PRESTWICH. 



Satisfied by the success of his memoir to the Royal 

 Society, Prestwich addressed a letter to the French 

 Academy of Sciences urging the significance of M. de 

 Perthes' discoveries. The title of this paper was, 

 " Sur la Decouverte d'Instruments en Silex associes a 

 des Restes de Mammiferes d'Especes perdues dans des 

 Couches non - remaniees d'une Formation geologique 

 recente," and it was published in the ' Comptes 

 Rendus' for 1859. The effect of this communication 

 was that his friend M. Albert Gaudry, a distinguished 

 member of the Institute, visited Abbeville and Amiens 

 to examine the implements and the flint-bearing beds. 

 He found worked flints in situ, and his researches con- 

 firmed M. de Perthes' statements : his report had the 

 effect in Paris that the paper to the Royal Society had 

 in England, and a French pilgrimage to the valley of 

 the Somme began, headed by well-known members of 

 the Institute, among whom were MM. de Quatrefages, 

 Lartet, Hebert, and many others. 



J. Prestwich to Sir Charles LyelL nth August 1859, LONDON. 



MY DEAR SIR CHARLES, I was very glad to receive your 

 letter and account of your visit to Abbeville and Amiens. 

 I will answer your questions categorically. My Cyrena is 



