380 Obituary — The Rev. W. Bnmwhite Clarke. 



Mr. Clarke's literary labours were numerous and varied. In 1829 

 a series of poems and translations were published, entitled " Lays 

 of Leisure," in 1819 a poem, entitled "Pompeii," in 1822 -'The 

 Eiver Derwent, and other Poems," and in 1828 " Eecollections," a 

 poetic commemoration of a visit to Mont Blanc ; and other works of 

 a religious nature. Mr. Clarke's valuable services to the Govern- 

 ment commenced in 1840, when he made his first journey to the 

 southward, through the Illawara district. The result of this, and 

 his other journeys, geographical as well as geological, will be found 

 recorded in a clear and concise manner in his chief work,' and in 

 the various Parliamentary Blue Books ^ published by Authority, to 

 say nothing of the fifty-three papers accredited to his name in the 

 Catalogue of Scientific Papers^ of the Koyal Society, In addition 

 to the list there given, we are acquainted with many others, and it 

 may be mentioned that some of Mr. Clarke's most interesting com- 

 munications were made to the leading Sydney newspaper, the Sydney 

 Morning Herald, which we regret are not preserved in a more 

 lasting form. 



Mr. Clarke's labours as a geologist and zoologist commenced some 

 time before his departure from this country, for in 1828 a paper, 

 "On the Construction of Geological Hammers," appeared, and again 

 in 1837, "On the Geological Structure and Phenomena of Sufi'olk, 

 and its Physical Eelation with Norfolk and Essex," with several 

 others. One of his first papers on Australian geology was, we 

 believe, " On the Occurrence of Atmospheric Deposits of Dust and 

 Ashes ; with Eemarks on the Drift Pummice of the Coasts of New 

 Holland," in 1842. 



With the ' Discovery of Gold in Australia,' and the ' Age of the 

 N, S, Wales Coal-beds,' the name of W, B. Clarke will always be 

 associated. This is not a fitting time to enter into the merits of his 

 controversies respecting his claim for priority to the former, or his 

 views on the latter question ; let it suffice, however, that excepting 

 Count de Strzelecki, the palm has been awarded him in the Gold 

 question by Prof. Geikie, F.E.S,, in a late work,^ whilst the second 

 may, to a certain extent, still be said to remain an open question. 

 Some of the more important subjects which engaged Mr. Clarke's 

 attention were the occurrence of gold in granite, the occurrence of 

 the diamond in N. S. Wales, and the discovery of tin in Australia. 

 The occurrence of the diamond appears to have been known to 

 Clarke as early as September, 1859 ; whilst under this head may be 

 mentioned a most exhaustive and critical paper, the Natural History 

 of the Diamond, delivered in the form of two Anniversary Addresses 

 to the Eoyal Society (N. S. Wales) on the 25th May, 1870, and 22nd 

 May, 1872, respectively. Little doubt appears to exist that we owe 



^ Eesearches in the Southern Goldfields of New South Wales. 2nd ed. 8vo. Sydney. 



^ Papers relative to the Discovery of Gold in Australia, presented to both Houses 

 of Parliament, by Command of Her Majesty. Pari. Blue Books. Folio. London, 



2 Catalogue of Scientific Papers, Eoyal Society, vol. i. 1867 ; vol. vii. 1877. 



* Life of Sir Eoderick I. Murchison, Eart., KC.B., etc., by Archibald Geikie, 

 LL.D., F.E.S., etc. London, 1875. Two vols. 8vo. (vol, ii. p, 135), 



