MT. 59.] JOHN MORRIS. 229 



perties of plants, and was conversant with habits of 

 beasts and birds and creeping things : an expert 

 chemist, he was unconsciously a teacher "a born 

 teacher," as Canon Bonney, in an interesting notice, 

 describes him ever ready, when appealed to by the 

 uriinstructed, to explain the why and wherefore of 

 common things. When ordered out for health's sake, 

 he was to be found in the garden tracing earth-worms 

 and mole-hills, or with his host he walked backwards 

 and forwards discussing the marvellous mechanism and 

 adaptation of natural objects, perhaps speculating on 

 the formation of dew. 



The following note was an acknowledgment to Sir 

 Roderick Murchison of his last public address. The 

 veteran several months previously had been struck by 

 paralysis, and had partially recovered, but this address 

 to the Royal Geographical Society was felt to be a 

 farewell to public life. 1 



J. Prestwich to Sir E. I. Murchison. 



SHOREHAM, near SEVENOAKS, 9th June 71. 



MY DEAR SIR RODERICK, I am much obliged by the copy of 

 your Address, and still more pleased at the evidence it affords 

 of your continued mental activity, notwithstanding the severe 

 illness you have undergone. 



I cannot tell you how much I, in common with all your geologi- 

 cal friends, rejoice at your recovery, and at the same time how 

 much we have missed you at our Council and [evening] meetings. 



Believe me to be, my dear Sir Eoderick, very sincerely yours, 



Jos. PRESTWICH. 



Early in August Prestwich attended the meeting of 

 the British Association in Edinburgh, where perhaps 

 he was less attracted by papers in the various Sections 



1 Murchison died in the eightieth year of his age, on October 22, 1871. 



