246 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



randa, from which the progress of his geological 

 studies can be gathered. 



That in January, 1796, he had begun to commit 

 his thoughts to paper, in a lucid arrangement for 

 publication, the written proofs remain. In 1797 he 

 drew a larger general plan for such a work ; but 

 not till 1799, after his engagement ceased with the 

 Coal Canal Company, did he make public his 

 intention to compose a general work on the strati- 

 fication of Britain, or enter on the prosecution of 

 an actual survey of the geological structure of the 

 whole of England and Wales. 



In the execution of the canal, Mr. Smith had 

 found the means of applying his newly acquired 

 knowledge to useful practical problems, such as 

 how to draw the line through a country full of 

 porous rocks, so as best to retain the limited supplies 

 of water which frequent mills left to the navigation, 

 where to place bridges on a good foundation, how 

 to intercept and conduct the springs, and where to 

 open quarries of proper stone. We find him also 

 engaged, as early as 1796, in the short intervals 

 which could be snatched from the main business 

 before him, in putting to practical proof his theo- 

 retical views of the earth's structure and the pro- 

 perties of the mixed calcareous and argillaceous 

 strata in the hills near Bath, by a new and successful 

 process of land-draining. 



The earliest connected remarks which have been 

 found, bear the date of January, 1796, and relate 

 to organic remains and their distribution in the 



