112 BIOGRAPHIES OF SCIENTIFIC MEN 



passed through many editions, the gist of his doctrines 

 and discoveries may be found. 



During the seventy-eight years that he lived on this 

 mundane sphere, he published seventy - six memoirs 

 or nearly one every year of his existence. Lyell was a 

 philosopher in every respect, sound to the core, free from 

 bias, a respecter of other men's opinions, although a critic 

 where criticism was thought to be just. He was " the 

 most philosophical and influential geologist that ever 

 lived, and one of the very best of men." 



Sir Charles Lyell received almost every honour which 

 usually falls to scientific men from his own and other 

 countries. He was a member of nearly every academy 

 and scientific society in the world, and many degrees and 

 medals were awarded to him. 



During the later years of his life his sight, always weak, 

 failed him altogether. Although very feeble, the actual 

 cause of his death was a fall down the stairs of his house, 

 75 Harley Street, London, W. This took place on 22nd 

 February 1875. 



During his long life, as the late Dean Stanley said, 

 " it was to him a solemn religious duty to be incessantly 

 learning, constantly growing, fearlessly correcting his own 

 mistakes, always ready to receive and reproduce from 

 others that which he had not in himself." 



Sir Charles Lyell was buried in the nave of Westminster 

 Abbey, where the well-known gravestone of fossil marble 



