June 21, 1917] 



NATURE 



327 



School of Geolog}', with a success which is fully 

 proved by the high position which that school 

 now occupies. 



Hughes's life-work may be conveniently re- 

 garded under two heads : his original work in 

 geology and archaeology', and his labours in con- 

 nection with the Cambridge School. The greater 

 part of his geological researches was carried out 

 during his period of service on the Geological 

 Survey and the earlier part of that of his occu- 

 pancy of the \\'oodwardian chair. The duties of 

 his professorship became heavier as time went on, 

 and the output of geological papers naturally 

 diminished, though it by no means ceased. Dur- 

 ing this time he found a pleasant relaxation from 

 official work in archaeological study, and enriched 

 many archaeological journals with contributions of 

 considerable interest and value, many of which 

 dealt with the antiquities of the Cambridge dis- 

 trict. 



His most important geological writings were 

 concerned with some of the earliest and the latest 

 deposits. He took a prominent part in the estab- 

 lishment of the pre-Cambrian age of certain rocks 

 of North and South Wales, and wrote much of 

 value concerning the Lower Palaeozoic rocks of the 

 Principality and of the borders of Lakeland. He 

 was greatly attracted by the many vexed ques- 

 tions connected with the Glacial and post-Glacial 

 deposits, especially those bearing upon the 

 problem oT the antiquity of man ; here, also, he 

 added much to our knowledge. 



The value of Hughes's Avork was gracefully 

 recognised by Sir Archibald Geikie when, as 

 president of the Geological Society, he presented 

 Hughes with the Lyell medal in i8gi : — "You 

 have not confined yourself ... to the rocks of 

 anyone system or period, but have ranged freely 

 from Archaean gneiss to raised beach, hovering for 

 a moment here and resting a little there, generally 

 critical, almost always suggestive, and with that 

 happy faculty of enthusiasm which, reacting on 

 younger minds, ' allures to older worlds, and 

 leads the way. ' " 



Turning now to Hughes's work in connection 

 with the Cambridge School of Geology, one was 

 struck by his many qualities making for success. 

 In addition to his scientific attainme'nts, he pos- 

 sessed an acute instinct for judging character, 

 unbounded energy, and an exceptional degree of 

 enthusiasm, which he retained to the end. Not 

 the least of his qualities were those social ones 

 which, causing him to be a favourite among all 

 ranks, \yere peculiarly valuable when dealing with 

 those with whom he was brought into contact in 

 Bis oflficial capacity. He exercised a wise control 

 over his department. Using much judgment in the 

 selection of his subordinates, he ever afterwards 

 allowed them a freedom of action which not only 

 ensured a smoothness in the working of the 

 machinery, but also greatly increased its efficiency. 

 Much of the teaching was left to the lecturers 

 and demonstrators, but his o<wn courses were 

 ^^^. . attractive and highly appreciated. His 

 qualities as a teacher stood out most prominently 

 when conducting field excursions, whether around 



Cambridge or in other parts of the country. Few 

 gatherings were more delightful than those at his 

 long excursions, and the amount of knowledge 

 acquired by his pupils was great, for Hughes was 

 at his very best on these occasions. 



Hughes was very successful in inducing people 

 to take up the study of geology, and was respon- 

 sible for the addition of many to the ranks of 

 that body which is now becoming all too limited 

 — that of the amateur geologists. To all students 

 alike he was accessible and ever ready with help 

 in the museum and at his home. Here he was 

 greatly aided by his accomplished wife, who died 

 last year. She was the daughter of the Rev. 

 G. F. Weston, Hon. Canon of Carlisle, and was 

 an able geologist and naturalist. 



Owing partly to Hughes's own exertions, partly 

 to his persuasive manner, he left the collections 

 in the Sedgwick Museum, already valuable at the 

 time of his election to the professorship, much 

 enriched by his labours. Especially noteworthy 

 is the collection of building stones, marbles, etc., 

 brought together by Mr. John Watson, M.A., 

 through the professor's influence, for he was fully 

 aware of the importance which economic geology 

 must assume in university study. Not only did he 

 add largely to the collections, but, after many 

 delays, he had the satisfaction of seeing them 

 housed in the magnificent Sedg^vick Museum, 

 which, largely owing to his unwearied efforts, 

 was completed and finally opened by King Edward 

 yn. in 1904. Another task which partly fell to 

 him was the writing of the life of his predecessor 

 in office. This was finished in 1891, when "The 

 Life and ' Letters of the Reverend Adam 

 SedgAvick," by John Willis Clark and Thomas 

 McKenny Hughes, appeared. 



For want of space, full notice cannot be taken 

 of his many activities unconnected or only in- 

 directly connected with geology, but mention must 

 be made of his interest in agriculture. He took 

 an active part in the proceedings of the Cambridge 

 and Isle of Ely Chamber of Agriculture, of which 

 he was a past-president. 



Some of the positions which Hughes occupied 



and the honours he received have already been 



j mentioned. In addition, he was a professorial 



I fellow of Clare College, F.R.S., and honorary 



1 member of many British and foreign learned 



societies. He was also a Chevalier of the order 



SS. Maurice et Lazarus (Italy). 



It is interesting to note that Hughes and his 

 predecessor occupied the Woodwardian chair for 

 ninety-nine years. 



He leaves three sons, all of whom are serving 

 in the Army. J. E. Mark. 



NOTES. 



A MEMORm. tablet, including a medallion portrait 

 of the late Sir William Ramsay, K.C.B., F.R.S., is 

 to be erected in the University of Glasgow, of which 

 he was a graduate and teacher. The University Court 

 has arranged that the memorial, which is designed by 

 Sir John J. Burnet, shall be placed in a conspicuous 

 position at the entrance to the Bute Hall. 



