GEOLOGY. 189 



him more than I did ; but your book has even exalted his 

 character in my eyes. From turning over the pages of the 

 latter half, I should think your account would be invaluable 

 to any clergyman who wished to follow poor dear Henslow's 

 noble example. What an admirable man he was." 



The geological work mentioned in the quotation from my 

 father's pocket-book was doubtless of importance as giving 

 him some practical experience, and perhaps of more im- 

 portance in helping to give him some confidence in himself. 

 In July of the same year, 1831, he was "working like a tiger" 

 at Geology, and trying to make a map of Shropshire, but not 

 finding it " as easy as I expected." 



In writing to Henslow about the same time, he gives some 

 account of his work : 



" I should have written to you some time ago, only I was 

 determined to wait for the clinometer, and I am very glad to 

 say I think it will answer admirably. I put all the tables in 

 my bedroom at every conceivable angle and direction. I will 

 venture to say I have measured them as accurately as any 

 geologist going could do .... I have been working at so 

 many things that I have not got on much with geology. 

 I suspect the first expedition I take, clinometer and hammer 

 in hand, will send me back very little wiser and a good deal 

 more puzzled than when I started. As yet I have only in- 

 dulged in hypotheses, but they are such powerful ones that 

 I suppose, if they were put into action but for one day, the 

 world would come to an end." 



He was evidently most keen to get to work with Sedgwick, 

 for he wrote to Henslow : " I have not heard from Professor 

 Sedgwick, so I am afraid he will not pay the Severn forma- 

 tions a visit. I hope and trust you did your best to urge 

 him." 



My father has given in his Recollections some account of 

 this Tour. 



There too we read of the projected excursion to the 



