432 OBITTJ.^JB'Sr. 



HENRY JOHNSON, F.G.S., 



BORN 1823 ; DIED 1885. 



Mr. Henry Johnson, of Trindle Eoad, Dudley, civil and raining 

 engineer, well known in the Midland Counties, and beyond, for his 

 skill, energy, and successful appliance of knowledge and experience, 

 has succumbed to a long infliction of sciatic rheumatism and ultimate 

 prostration. Born iu 1823, he was in his 63rd year when he died 

 early in July last. Articled to a surveyor, he soon became success- 

 ful in land and mining surveying, in railway work, and colliei'ies. 

 The great Sandwell Colliery, in particular, was re-established and 

 extended by his labour and influence. The Watling-Street Colliery 

 near Wilnecote, and the Peel Colliery, near Tamworth, with its 

 extensive clay works, were won and established by him. He was 

 also actively and successfully engaged with the South Staffordshire 

 Mines' Drainage Scheme, and in the South StaiFordshire and East 

 Worcestershire Mining Institute. He contributed some good and 

 useful papers to Societies with which he was connected, — as, for 

 instance, that " On the Working of Thick Coal," to the Midland 

 Institute, Birmingham, and " On the Geological Features of the 

 South Staffordshire Coalfield," to the Iron and Steel Institute at 

 Dudley, treating of the practical development of the Coal-field and 

 improved working of the Mines. His services on Commissions, 

 Trials, etc., connected with mining affairs, were highly valued and 

 much sought after. He was ever ready to help his professional brethren, 

 especially the younger engineers, with his counsel and practical aid. 

 His talents as a draughtsman and in penmanship were appreciated 

 from an early date. In a geological point of view Mr. Johnson had 

 a ready and firm grasp on the bearings of geology on mining; and 

 he particularly utilized his many opportunities, and gratified his 

 natural taste, by collecting and preserving almost innumerable gooil 

 specimens of fossils and minerals. The former he cherished with 

 personal care and skilful manipulation, exhibiting their parts 

 and characters clearly and with judgment, so that the palaeontologist, 

 visiting his wonderfully rich collection, not only saw specimens 

 better than he had seen before, but always found a judicious selec- 

 tion of doubtful or unknown forms, of both animal and vegetable 

 remains, which the energetic collector had saved and separated for 

 examination by the specialist. As Mr. Johnson cheerfully exhibited 

 whatever his visitors wished to see, so he gratefully accepted such 

 information about his treasures as they were able to give. Not only 

 his minerals and fossils, but his mining records and curiosities, are 

 valuable memorials of his good taste, common sense, and acumen. 

 He has left three sons and two daughters ; and his long and fatal 

 malady deprived him of the power of making such a provision for 

 them as once he had a right to hope for. — T.R.J. 



Professor H. Milne-Edwards. — It is with profound regret we 

 have to record the death of one of the most eminent Naturalists of the present century, 

 one too, who has witnessed its eventful history from its commencement. Born on 23rd 

 October, 1800, he passed away in his 85th year, on the 29th July, 1885. Although 

 resident in Paris, he was by origin an Englishman. We hope to give a suitable notice 

 of Prof. Milne-Edwards in our next Number. 



