EARLY CLERICAL LIFE 33 



which he was a life-member) in 1844, when its meet- 

 ing was held at York. This paper was written only 

 at the particular request and wish of one of the 

 most active of the leading members of the Associa- 

 tion. It was a short and practical treatise, the main 

 object of it being to create greater uniformity and 

 distinctness in the nomenclature of animated nature. 



Read at the same meeting of the British Associa- 

 tion, and published also in 1850, was a short paper 

 on a subject which for many years since must 

 have exercised the minds of successive Postmasters- 

 General, viz., " A Plan for the Detection of Thefts by 

 Letter-Carriers." The plan suggested was one which 

 might have worked satisfactorily in those days, when 

 the number of letters passing through the Post Office 

 was comparatively few, but the check recommended, 

 which involved the stamping and directing of a slip 

 attached to each letter, and afterwards torn off, filed, 

 and preserved at the Post Office, would be imprac- 

 ticable in these days. 



These writings are here alluded to in order to show 

 the varied character of the subjects in which he was 

 at that time interested. It is remarkable how this 

 mental habit was kept up all through his life. His 

 mind seemed ready to interest itself in almost any 

 matter that came before it ; perhaps it would be best 

 described by saying there was a wide-awakedness 

 about him which let nothing escape notice that came 

 within the range of his observation. 



The last year that he was at Nafferton 1853 

 he attended the meeting of the British Association, 



C 



