Bibliographical Notice. 313 



Tertiariea resulted in a complete knowledge of their natural history 

 and structure, freely communicated to the world, and useful in both 

 scientific and economic aspects. Among other results he recognized 

 in detail their capability of collecting and storing rain-water and of 

 yielding water-supplies at different localities. Hence his personal 

 value as one of the Koyal Commissioners on the supply of water to 

 the Metropolis (1866-18G9) and the importance of his remarks on 

 springs and wells in his Presidential Address to the Geological 

 Society in 1872, and his papers on the Oxford Water-supply in 1876. 

 He had long been F.R.S., F.G.S., and F.C.S. 



The Quaternary deposits necessarily had his attention at the same 

 time with the Tertiary and other strata on which they lie, and 

 enabled him to describe with precision the successive stages of denu- 

 dation that gave origin to the vallej's in North-western France and 

 in the South and East of England. Many of his memoirs elucidate 

 different aspects of this subject. Some gravel-beds yielding stone 

 implements of Early Man, and various cave-deposits containing 

 remains of prehistoric people, and relics of animals now extinct or 

 limited to other climes, were carefully studied by him. In these 

 researches he was specially associated with the late Dr. Hugh 

 Falconer, one of whose nieces Prestwich married in 1870. This 

 talented and amiable lady, after twenty-six years of devoted com- 

 panionship in happy domestic life and useful scientific labours, survived 

 him until August 31st, 1899. The widow's pen, indeed, has given us 

 the Biography under notice : and her well-sustained energy collected 

 the numerous letters to or from eminent men, often dealing clearly 

 with controverted subjects, and illustrating his wonderful scientific 

 activity, his charming sociability, and the lifelong friendships in a 

 very wide circle, at home and abroad, around the now lamented 

 friend and husband. 



His happy marriage in 1870 made an opportunity for an excursion 

 on the continent, longer than usual and brightened with the com- 

 panionship of his sympathetic bride, whose account of this visit to 

 Paris and Naples is given in Chapter viii. in her usual lively and 

 charming style. After forty years of City-life he retired from 

 business in 1872. In eighty books, memoirs, and lesser papers he 

 had published the results of observations made, mostly alone, but 

 sometimes in company with geological friends, in his short business 

 visits and occasional holiday (Easter) excursions. This useful 

 application of scattered leisure hours was as fertile in geologj' as the 

 whole lifetime of some others. His intention to utilize a more 

 continuous leisure time was only partially realized at Aix, the 

 Boulonnais, and elsewhere abroad ; at Weymouth, Dorchester, 

 Lulworth, and Portland ; and at Settle, Ingleborough, &c. in York- 

 shire. After the Report on Brixham Cave he finished his great 

 paper on Deep-sea Temperature and a memoir " On the Geological 

 Conditions affecting the Construction of a Tunnel between England 

 and France." In respect of this the Telford Gold Medal and 

 Premium were awarded to the author. 



