MELVILL : LOVELL REEVE — A BRIEF SKETCH. 345 



the material in her possession, the publication of which is likely to be 

 interesting now to conchologists, she very kindly forwarded to me 

 after having taken especial trouble to read through a voluminous 

 diary, and cull therefrom certain extracts bearing upon his favourite 

 study, for which I am very much indebted to her. 



These excerpts I purpose to print a little later on, together with one 

 or two letters, which may be interesting, as giving his views upon two 

 meetings he attended of the British Association, viz. : at Southampton, 

 in 1846, and Birmingham in 1849. Meanwhile it will be well to give 

 a slight sketch of the career and labours of one who, living, fortunately 

 for himself, during the very hey-day of acute systematic research, 

 applied himself so steadfastly and earnestly to his work, that it is to 

 be feared he early overtaxed his health and strength. 



A serial, edited by him, entitled 'Portraits of Men of Eminence in 

 Literature, Science and Art,' contained in the number for December, 

 1865, a sketch of his career, written by a friend immediately after his 

 decease. For some of the facts here given I would express my 

 indebtedness to this account. 



Lovell Augustus Reeve, born at Ludgate Hill, on April 19th, 1814, 

 was the son of Mr. Thomas Reeve, draper and mercer in the City of 

 London, who was brother-in-law of Alderman Waithman, M.P.. 1 they 

 having married sisters. It is somewhat melancholy reading to find 

 that though young Reeve distinguished himself very praiseworthily at 

 school, having obtained in eight terms as many prizes for proficiency 

 in Greek and Latin, he was, notwithstanding, removed at the early age 

 of thirteen from academic influence, and at once bound apprentice to 

 a grocer at Ludgate Hill. It is not difficult to forsee that had he 

 been granted a Public-school and University career he would have 

 obtained unusual distinction. Senior classics or Wranglers have 

 been formed before now out of less promising material! But it is a 

 depressing sight to contemplate, in imagination, a boy with this refined 

 and classic mind set down to weigh out a pound of molasses or dis- 

 pense a packet of tea. Still the silver lining that proverbially belongs 

 to every cloud made its appearance in the grocer's shop in the shape 

 of a sailor who entered "with a pocket handkerchief full of shells," 

 perhaps to barter them for produce, but this is not clear. To say that 

 they soon became the property of the young enthusiast, is perhaps 

 superfluous. Having acquired these, he at once became a staunch 

 devotee of conchology, the serious study of which had hardly before 

 been more than attempted. A friend, alluded to in the autobio- 



1 Subsequently first Sheriff, then Lord Mayor of London. M.P. also for the City of London 

 during four successive Parliaments. The granite obelisk at the foot of Ludgate Hill perpetuates 

 his memory. 



