380 Reviews — Life of Sir Joseph Prestivich. 



South of England. In the last-named paper he gave a resume of 

 all that had been ascertained up to the year 1866 regarding the 

 possible extension of the Coal-measures, and gave good grounds for 

 supporting the conclusions of Godwin-Austen, and for believing in 

 * the high probabilit}' of the existence of basins [of coal] under the 

 Secondary and Tertiary formations of the South of England.' This 

 opinion, and the reasoning on which it was based, have recently 

 acquired fresh interest and value from the successful borings for coal 

 in Kent." (p. 418.) 



" It may not be inappropriate to refer here to the influence which 

 Prestwich exerted on his scientific contemporaries. The writer of 

 these lines, who knew him well for many years, may perhaps be 

 permitted to bear his testimony to the remarkable and perennial 

 charm of his personality. While we revered him as one of the last 

 of the old heroic race of geologists ; while we honoured him for 

 the endless enthusiasm and perseverance with which, often in the 

 midst of many hindrances, he devoted evei'y leisure moment to the 

 cause of geology ; while we admired him for his infinite patience, 

 the scrupulous caution, and the laborious exhaustiveness of his 

 researches, we loved him for the gentle, child-like simplicity of 

 his heart, his unaifected modesty, and his genuine goodness. His 

 bright sunny temperament always found out what was best in 

 those with whom he came in contact. His unfailing sympathy 

 delighted to find expression in active helpfulness. The smile that 

 lighted up his handsome features seemed to reveal at one glance 

 the tenderness, kindliness, and truthfulness of his nature. One felt 

 after an interview with him cheered and brightened by contact with 

 one whose serene old age seemed to place him so far above the 

 littleness and troubles of life. While his writings will perpetuate 

 his scientific achievements, it should be placed on record that it was 

 not these achievements alone which gave Sir Joseph Prestwich his 

 pre-eminence among his contemporaries, but that he owed this 

 position in large measure to the integrity and charm of his 

 character." (p. 421.) 



Sir Joseph Prestwich's career most aptly illustrates the proverb — 

 " The child 's the father of the man." Beginning from his earliest 

 youth with remarkable habits of application to study, with great 

 industry and self-denial, coupled with an intense love of science 

 and a keen desire to be a geologist, he yet submitted, from a strong 

 sense of duty and obedience, to work at his father's city business 

 from 18, and so went on until he was 60 years of age. During 

 those forty-two years of uncongenial mercantile cai'es, Prestwich 

 squeezed into their leisure hours a lifetime of scientific work, such as 

 few men could have accomplished had they devoted all tiieir existence 

 to it, unhindered by any business calls or anxieties whatever. 



The following are a few of Sir Joseph Prestwich's leisure- 

 hour achievements: — 138 published scientific books, memoirs, 

 and papers. Elected an F.G.S. in 1833, elected and served on 

 the Council of the Geological Society 1846-68, one of the 

 founders of the Palteontographical Society 1847, elected an F.R.S. 



