CHAP. xxii. PEACH'S JOURNEYS. 391 



We return to Charles Peach's history. We have 

 already stated that he was stationed at Wick as Comp- 

 troller of Excise. Part of his business was to inspect 

 the coast of Caithness from Wick round Noss Head, 

 Duncansby Head, John o' Groat's, and Dunnet Head, to 

 Thurso, and from thence to Cape Wrath and Rhu-Stoir 

 in Sutherlandshire. The east coast, from Dornoch 

 Firth north to Wick, was also within his beat. 



When he travelled by land, he went by mail-coach, 

 mail-gigs, or carts, whichever was most convenient. 

 Sometimes he went by boats along the coast. He was 

 often very much exposed, especially in winter, to wind, 

 frost, and snow always bitter cold. When he heard of 

 a wreck having taken place, he was off at once ; his 

 object being to save the ship and the crew, and to 

 reward those who had been instrumental in saving life. 

 He communicated with the Wreck Department of the 

 Board of Trade, and recommended those who had acted 

 gallantly. "I proposed," he said, "that medals and 

 money should be publicly given, and I am proud and 

 happy to say that the Board almost always attended to 

 my recommendations. I always pushed hard for 

 decorations ; and many a man has been made proud of 

 his bravery for life." Amid such harassing, distressing, 

 and dangerous scenes, did Charles Peach carry on his 

 researches into the Geology and Natural History of the 

 northernmost counties of Scotland. 



Peach was now getting an old man not old in 

 spirits, but old in years. He was constantly subject to 

 attacks of cold and bronchitis. Indeed, he was often 



