268 THE BIBLE AND GEOLOGY. [l877. 



publication of a sentence quoted by the Rev. Professor 

 Pritchard in a communication to the Institute, namely, 

 " My brother Professor of Geology tells me the geology 

 of the Bible is not the geology of nature." To this 

 Joseph Prestwich made reply : 



J. Prestwich to F. Petrie. OXFORD, 7th March 1877. 



SIR, I am obliged by your courtesy in submitting to me 

 before publication the words I am reported to have used in 

 conversation with my friend and colleague the Professor of 

 Astronomy. There must be some misunderstanding on the part 

 of Professor Pritchard in attributing the words to me, as the 

 association of the Bible and geology is one I never make, holding 

 the two to be perfectly distinct and to be studied independently. 

 I accept the truths concerning our moral and spiritual nature 

 from the Bible, but in all that concerns physical nature I look to 

 Nature herself for an explanation. 



I therefore always avoid controversy on a subject where the 

 terms are not equal, and which do not, I think, at present admit of 

 discussion. Wishing to adhere to this rule, kindly avoid bringing 

 my name forward in the matter, and I am, sir, yours faithfully, 



J. PRESTWICH. 



I have just seen Professor Pritchard, who will write to 

 you. In the general sense of my friend's remarks I quite 

 agree. 



In an article in 'Nature' (May 3, 1877), on "Deep 

 Well-Borings in London," Professor Judd, F.RS., re- 

 fers to our geologist's work 'The Water - Bearing 

 Strata around London, &c.' as 



A masterpiece of minute observations and close and accurate 

 reasoning. . . . After a most elaborate study of the nature and 

 relations of the various strata which crop out all around the 

 London Basin, and of the disturbances to which they have been 

 subjected since their deposition, Mr Prestwich ventured on a 

 bold prediction namely, that the Chalk beneath London would 



