572 Obituarij— William Topley, F.B.8., F.G.S. 



many warm discussions took place concerning the origin of escarp- 

 ments and other features, he joined in the fray on behalf of sub- 

 aerial agents. In confirmation of views that had been expressed 

 with regard to other regions, he pointed out how in East Yorkshire 

 anticlines, by their fissured summits, had been readily acted upon 

 by inland agents of erosion, whereas, in certain cases, synclines 

 had better withstood the assaults of rain and rivers. 



In 1880 Mr. Topley was called upon to abandon his field-work 

 in Northumberland in order to superintend the publication of Maps 

 and Memoirs at the Geological Survey Office in Jermyn Street. 

 This post, which for many reasons was congenial to him, he 

 continued to occupy ; and on the retirement of Mr. Edward Best 

 in 1893, Mr. Topley was entrusted with the entire charge of the 

 office. Throughout this period in London the multifarious duties of 

 the department gave but little opportunity for continuous scientific 

 work : ever busy, he was seldom able to do more than the routine 

 work of the office, but his wide knowledge and experience were 

 always at the service of his colleagues and of others who frequently 

 sought advice and information. 



Eager at all times to promote the progress of Geology, Mr. 

 Topley took a leading part in the work of that most useful com- 

 pendium of geological literature, the Geological Eecord ; and here 

 his extensive acquaintance Mnth bibliography was of great service, 

 Finally, in 1887, he undertook the post of Editor, at a time when 

 the Record was in a somewhat troubled condition, owing to delays 

 in publication. These had arisen, despite every effort made by 

 the untiring and disinterested exertions of the original Editor, 

 Mr. Whitaker. In labour which is arduous, by no means uni- 

 formly interesting, which brings but little credit, and is wholly 

 unremunerative, it is far from easy to gain and retain steady- 

 working contributors. Men may come to aid the work ; but too 

 often they go after dissipating a small amount of energy in 

 recording titles and making short abstracts of papers. Two 

 volumes, dealing with the literature of 1880-84, were brought 

 out in 1888 and 1889 ; but, even with the effective help rendered 

 by Mr. C. D. Sherborn, the Geological Eecord had ultimately to 

 be abandoned. 



Mr. Topley joined the British Association at the Meeting held 

 in Brighton in 1872, and was at once made one of the Secretaries 

 of Section (Geology) ; and from 1872 to 1888 he served this 

 office during no less than fifteen meetings. He was for several years 

 Secretary of a committee appointed by the Association to report 

 upon the Coast Erosion of England and Wales. He was also for 

 some years a member of the Councils of the Geological Society and 

 of the Geologists' Association. In 1885 he was elected President 

 of the latter body, and during his term of office he prepared the 

 interesting account of " The Life and Work of Professor John 

 Morris," which he read in 1886 in place of an Anniversary 

 Address. The long excursion of the Association for the same 

 year was made to the Ardennes on the frontier between Belgium 

 and France; and this, their second foreign excursion, was one 



