330 PROFESSOR C. LAPWORTH. [l886. 



The woman then explained that some years before, 

 during a dark night, they had all without any warning 

 slipped down into the sea. Previous to this occurrence 

 a field had intervened between the churchyard and the 

 edge of the cliff, but owing to the encroachments of 

 the sea the field disappeared, also the churchyard 

 with its contents, and the church was then pulled 

 down, being considered unsafe. As we looked down 

 a height of nearly 165 feet, a talus stretching out at the 

 base was to be seen on the beach, the fallen fragments 

 composed of soil, of London Clay, and of what else 

 we dared not conjecture. Our geologist, however, was 

 not deterred from descending some 20 or 30 feet, so as 

 to examine the recently exposed section. There was 

 no danger of falling down that awful clay cliff, but the 

 sun which beat upon it was sickening, and his com- 

 panion, who remained helpless on the summit, made an 

 inward resolution as had been often made before 

 never to encourage excursions on cliffs beyond the reach 

 of aid, of a strong arm to help in case of need. 



Professor Lapworth, in an appreciative letter ac- 

 knowledging the first volume of ' Geology/ also 

 remarks : 



C. Lapworth to J. Prestwich. 



MASON COLLEGE, BIRMINGHAM, Oct. 21, 1886. 



DEAR PROFESSOR PRESTWICH, ... I have read, too, your 

 paper on" Underground Temperatures," with wonder and admira- 

 tion at the great mass of material you have collected upon the 

 subject, and the clear and convincing way in which it is laid 

 before the reader. This is certain to be one of your future 

 classic papers of reference. 



In the matter of the " agency of water in volcanic eruptions," 

 I see at present little chance of escape from your conclusions. I 

 read the paper on the subject with exceeding pleasure, as your 



