SIR CHARLES LYELL. 271 



Lyell divided the Tertiary strata into three 

 groups : Eocene, recent dawn ; Miocene, less re- 

 cent ; Pliocene, more recent. In the Eocene Age 

 Great Britain was sub-tropical, and, in North Amer- 

 ica, Vermont was like North Carolina in tempera- 

 ture. Then came the Glacial Period, with ice 

 probably five thoiisand feet thick over New Eng- 

 land. Then the Ghamplain Period, with its floods, 

 continents depressed, and climate warm, followed 

 in Europe by a second Glacial Period. 



The " Antiquity of Man " had an extensive sale. 

 Honors were now showered upon Sir Charles Lyell. 

 He was offered the Presidency of the Koyal Society, 

 and a seat in Parliament for the University of 

 London, but declined both. Oxford University 

 had already conferred upon him the degree of D. 

 C. L., and the Institute of France had made him 

 corresponding member. By request of the queen, 

 he visited her at Osborne, she having made him a 

 baronet. Emperor William conferred upon him 

 the Order of Merit, given also to Humboldt, and 

 the London Eoyal Society, its highest honor, the 

 Copley gold medal. 



In the spring of 1873, his " dearest Mary " died, 

 leaving him heart-broken. She was mourned in 

 America as well as Europe. The "Boston Adver- 

 tiser " said, " Strength and sweetness were hers, 

 both in no common measure. . . . She became to 

 her husband not merely the truest of friends, and 

 the most affectionate and sympathizing of compan- 

 ions, but a very efficient helper. She was frank, 



