THE 



GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE. 



NEW SERIES. DECADE III. VOL. II. 



No. I.— JANUARY, 1885. 



oi^iC3-i2<rj^Xj .A.iaTiox.sis. 



ROBERT ALFRED CLOYNE GODWIN-AUSTEN, 



B.A., F.R.S., F.G.S. 



AS Time progresses, Geology, although comparatively a modern 

 Science, yet looks back upon its early and honoured leaders, 

 much in the same way as Art regards its •' Old Masters." Those 

 pioneers have all left us, and, alas ! few even of the distinguished 

 men who belong, as it were, to a second generation now remain. 

 Of these, who in their turn have become veterans in the science, we 

 have recently to deplore the loss of Mr. Godwin-Austen. 



The rapid progress of geology has been largely due to the labours 

 and influence of particular individuals ; men who, while diligent in 

 the observation of fact, have by a wide grasp of the subject been 

 able to apply their detailed knowledge to the solution of the larger 

 problems of Nature ; who by their enthusiasm have kindled a love 

 of science in others, and by their philosophical and suggestive 

 writings have served to direct the inquiries of less gifted students. 

 Among such individuals no one takes higher rank, or was more 

 cordially respected, than Mr. Godwin- Austen, while his genial and 

 courteous manners endeared him to all who had the privilege of his 

 acquaintance. 



" Pre-eminently the physical geographer of bygone periods " (to 

 use the words of Murchison) was the subject of our present sketch. 

 And we cannot do better than quote other words of the same 

 authority spoken in 1862, on handing to Mr. Godwin-Austen the 

 Wollaston Medal. 



" Yon have distinguished yourself during a long series of years 

 by your successful inquiries into the former changes of land and 

 water from the Palgeozoic age to modern times. 



" Persistently keeping that great object in view, you have put 

 forth well-founded hypotheses, based on actual and numerous obser- 

 vations, which have raised the philosophical character of our 

 science. Your sedulous study of the organic remains, as well as the 

 materials of the beds themselves of each formation which you have 

 examined, and your laborious tracings of various lines of disloca- 

 tion, have all been made subservient to that one great end." 



Mr. Godwin-Austen was born in the year 1808, and was the 

 eldest son of the late Sir Henry E. Austen, who died in 1871. In 

 1833 Mr. Austen married Maria Elizabeth, only daughter and 



DECADE III. — VOL. II. — NO. I. 1 



