42 Hevietcs — The Geological 8itnr!/. 



Surveyors were not allowed to reside long in the same locality, but 

 were kept actively moving to and fro," whereas now they often I'eside 

 for a considerable time at one station. 



Writing in 1861, Prof. A. Greikie says : " At present, the 

 Surveyors work singly, each taking his own district, but at the period 

 in the Survey's history to which reference is now niade [1844], the 

 geologists surveyed in parties of two or three, or even more. Sir 

 Henry [De la Beche] used to be much with them, generally leaving 

 London about the 1st of April. Hence, at little out-of-the-way 

 villages, there would sometimes be collected half a dozen stalwart 

 hammerers, who took up all the beds and devoured all the provisions 

 the resources of the place could supply." ^ When so many worked 

 one district, no wonder the ground was somewhat rapidly surveyed ! 

 Now that the men work singly, they naturally stay much longer, 

 and with the advantage of railways (of little use in the earlier days 

 of the Survey), it is of course possible for them to remain a con- 

 siderable time at one station without detriment to the Survey, and 

 considering the poorness of the pay, with less disadvantage to 

 themselves. We have written thus much because " Observer " should 

 have been more careful to write in a spirit of fairness to those who 

 devote their lives to carry on the work of the Geological Survey. 



In reading the Memoirs of Edward Forbes or of Jukes we may 

 glean many interesting facts concerning life on the Survey. Knit 

 together by a spirit of good-fellowship, the occasional meetings and 

 consultations over difficult tracts of ground, and the enthusiasm with 

 which the band of " Eoyal Hammerers" has carried its operations, 

 under its able Directors, over hill and mountain, across moor and 

 vale, seem to picture a life of thorough enjoyment. But it must be 

 remembered that carried on year after year in all seasons, often 

 isolated from friends and congenial society, and with no settled 

 home, the Survey presents another aspect which for its success 

 demands a love of the work, and needs a certain amount of sympathy 

 from those interested in the science. What is to be the end of it all ? 

 is a question that naturally arises. In time of course the field- 

 labours of the Survey must become restricted, but even " Observer " 

 says, "The utter extinction of the Survey is not to be recommended, 

 as it will always be desirable to retain a small staff of well-trained 

 men to examine and record the results of futui'e geological dis- 

 coveries." Jukes thought that, "in addition to the Head Office in 

 London, it will ultimately be found necessary to establish Local 

 Geological Offices for each of the districts of the present Mining 

 Inspectors, the Eesident Geologist of the district working in com- 

 bination with the Inspector in the collection and registration of all 

 geological information, which may have either a scientific or practical 

 value, and holding himself ready either to receive or impart geological 

 information from or to all persons who may be interested in it." ^ 



The importance of some such plan would be apparent to any one 

 who would pass two or three days in the Office or Inquiry-room at 



1 Memoir of Edward Forbes, pp. 377-378. 



^ Address at the Museum of Irish Industry, 1867. 



