332 OXFORD MEMORIES. [1887. 



that prolonged conversation, even on his own special 

 subjects, was a fatigue : an over-active brain taxed his 

 energies, so that at the end of the ever arduous day he 

 was capable of enjoying evening society only in a rest- 

 ful fashion. Yet his personality was so marked that 

 in no crowd, in no company, could Joseph Prestwich 

 pass unnoticed. 



Residence in Oxford had been such a happy time that 

 year after year the- decision as to his resignation of the 

 Professorship had been postponed, so reluctant was he 

 to sever his connection with the University and leave 

 the Oxford friends. In taking the appointment he had 

 hoped to hold it for a few years perhaps as many as 

 five, but the fascination of the Old University held 

 him, and the five years had run on to thirteen. On 

 the score of years alone, for he was now 74, he felt 

 that the time had arrived for him to take the step, and 

 as he thought of his unpublished notes, remarked with 

 sadness, " There is so much to be done and so little 

 time to do it." In sending in his resignation he ex- 

 pressed a hope to be allowed to retain the Professor- 

 ship until the end of the year, and that he might have 

 the work of the last term done by deputy, so that 

 Vol. II. of his ' Geology ' should be published while he 

 was still Professor, His wishes were met in the kind- 

 est way, and he pressed forward with his book, resolv- 

 ing to stay during the long vacation in order to finish 

 it, and then to retire to his dear home among the hills 

 of Kent. (Mr W. W. Watts, M.A., acted for a time 

 as Deputy-Professor after Prestwich had retired.) 



J. Prestwich to J. Evans. OXFORD, 31s March 1887. 



MY DEAR EVANS, Many thanks for your letter. I am glad 

 you agree with me in the step I have taken. I think also it is 



