14 INTRODUCTION. 



treatises. He kindly showed and explained to me the principal objects in his cabinets, and 

 pointed out every source of information on fossil remains ; a department of natural knowledge at 

 that time but little cultivated in England, but which pecuhar circumstances had contributed to 

 render the engrossing object of my young and ardent mind. In after years Mr. Parkinson 

 warmly encouraged my attempts to elucidate the nature of the strata and organic remains of my 

 native county, Sussex, a district which was then supposed to be destitute of geological interest ; 

 and he revised my drawings, and favoured me with his remarks on many subjects treated of in 

 my first work — " The Fossils of the South Doums."^ 



In 1822, Mr. Parkinson published " An Introduction to the Study of Fossil Organic Remains, 

 especially of those found in the British Strata; intended to aid the Student in his Inquiries 

 respecting the Nature of Fossils, and their Connexion with the Formation of the Earth ;" 1 vol. 

 8vo. with ten plates, principally of the genera of fossil shells. He also contributed a few papers 

 to the early volumes of the Geological Society of London, of which he was one of the original 

 members. After Mr. Parkinson's death, his beautiful and choice collection was sold by auction, 

 and its contents widely dispersed. The fine series of silicified zoophytes was purchased by Mr. 

 Featherstonhaugh, and taken to America; and some years afterwards was destroyed by a fire 

 wliich consumed the museum in which it was placed. 



As illustrative of the pleasing style of Mr. Parkinson's work, I subjoin an abstract of the 

 chapter. On tke Pleasure and Advantages of a Knowledge of Fossil Remains. The epistolary style 

 was adopted ; and the first letter is supposed to be penned by a friend desirous of learning the 

 nature of certain fossils he had observed on his journey to Oxford : — 



" I have lived long enough to witness many sad disappointments to the fond dreams of 

 happiness indulged by persons who, only intent on the acquisition of riches, had neglected to 

 cultivate any intellectual or ennobling pursuit ; so that on retiring from active life, they were 

 unable to enjoy the leisure so dearly earned by years of anxiety and care, and either relapsed 

 into a state of miserable ennui, or gave themselves up to the excitement of frivolous or vicious 

 indulgences. 



" Aware of the necessity of devoting the few leisure hours, which the duties of my calling left 

 at my disposal, to some rational and amusing occupation, I have always cultivated, more or less 

 assiduously, some branch of art or science, and thence acquired an enthusiastic admiration for the 

 beauties of nature, and an insatiable curiosity to pry into the mysteries of the natural world. 

 With this state of mind, I have at length resolved to avail myself of the means my little 

 fortune affords me to indulge those feelings, and have, I trust, quitted the busy scenes of 

 the world for ever. 



" In pursuance of a plan long entertained of visiting the most interesting parts of our island, 

 I left London last week, accompanied by my daughter, and our old friend, Frank Wilton, whose 

 lively disposition and agreeable manners render him, as you well know, an excellent companion. 

 But he has made himself most acceptable to us on another account ; — his resolute scepticism with 

 respect to the more rational, and his submissive credulity as to the popular and traditional 

 explanations of such natural phenomena as are beyond his comprehension, are frequently 

 productive of remarks so quaint and humorous, as to contribute in no small degree to our 

 enjoyment. 



" Ere our first day's journey was completed, I discovered how insufficient was the know- 

 ledge I possessed to enable me to form even a conjecture, as to the nature of the very first 

 objects which particularly arrested our attention. We were within a few miles of Oxford, when 



' Published in 1822. 



