300 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



science as he had been in war and in the field, 

 Murchison allowed himself no rest, but started for 

 Germany via France to examine the red sands 

 and clays in those countries which, overlying the 

 carboniferous formation, resemble in position the 

 Permian of Russia. The geologist was treated like 

 a prince by kings, emperors, and a host of titled 

 people who were glad to welcome the perfect gentle- 

 man so full of good genial temper and amiability. 



At the same time Murchison did not forget the 

 British Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 with which he was officially connected. In 1843 

 he began to interest himself in the then little Geo- 

 graphical Society, which had been founded in 1830, 

 chiefly by members of the Rayleigh Travellers' 

 club. Murchison was chosen its president, and 

 he read an address to the fellows in 1844. This 

 society, now of great utility to science and civiliza- 

 tion, was fostered mainly by Murchison, and passed 

 through years of steady progress under his manage- 

 ment. In the same year, our geologist visited 

 Scandinavia, where he found science more honoured 

 than anywhere else on earth, and went on to St. 

 Petersburg. Returning to England, Murchison and 

 his fellow labourers. Von Keyserling and De 

 Verneuil, published the great work on " Russia, 

 and the Ural Mountains," and our hero became a 

 recognized pillar in geological science. 



Knowing the geology of the Ural Mountains 

 thoroughly, and having paid much attention to 

 those parts of them w^here gold is found, Murchison 



