4S Correspondence — Mr. Mitchell — BiograpJdcal Inquiries. 



in his opinion that the Leadhills shale is many thousand feet higher, 

 and therefore of much younger geological age, than that of Moffat. 

 John Hopkinson. 



BIOGRAPHICAL INQUIRIES. 



Sir, — The difficulty I found in getting together information about 

 Eichardson, Townsend, and Lonsdale,^ and the scantiness of the 

 records of many other of the early geologists, has led me to wish 

 that we had a recognized channel for Notes and Queries on subjects 

 of geological history. 



I venture to submit that a page or two of the Geological Magazine 

 given to this purpose would be welcomed by young geologists. There 

 are many of the older Fellows of the Geological Society who cherish 

 in their memories fragmentary reminiscences of some of the most 

 honoured and useful among the early workers in the science and 

 the founders of the Society. Some of these preserved, even as de- 

 tached records, would be of value. 



The method of working, opinions held, but never printed, journeys 

 taken, acquaintance with other scientific men, are facts about geolo- 

 gists which may often explain the meaning of their writings. 



The origin of many of our geological terms in use, the time and 

 reason of the abandonment of old terms and classifications, the 

 gradual growth and spread of opinions before any indication of 

 them appears in print, are all matters on which young geologists 

 can gain no information except they can be obtained from the 

 veterans of the science and placed on permanent record in print. 



A correct appreciation of what has been already done is the first 

 step to future work. Though your Magazine is devoted to the , 

 advancement of science, I beg your consideration as to whether such 

 notes as I suggest may not fitly find a place. 



New University Club, St. James's St., "W. S. M. 



London, S.W., December 18, 1872. 



1. Cuvier and Brongniart, in the first abstract they published of 

 their work, state that they made a hurried communication before 

 their investigations were complete because " some circumstances " 

 compelled them to publish at once, in order to claim priority of date. 

 Has it ever been openly stated what these circumstances were ? 

 Had they anything to do with William Smith's work in England? 



2. In Hamilton's Anniversary Address to the Geological Society on 

 February 15th, 1856, in the obituary notice of Greenough, is this 

 passage, " In that year (1807) he succeeded in associating with 

 himself several active and able advocates of the then infant 

 science, the result of which was a proposal to found a new society, 

 for the furtherance of geological and mineralogical sciences. A 

 printed list of geological queries was issued, and regulations for the 

 management of a new society were discussed and arranged." 



Is there any copy of this printed list in existence? It would be 

 interesting to know what were considered at that time to be impor- 

 tant geological queries. W. S. M. 

 1 See Proceedings, Bath Field Nat. Club, 1872. 



