Sir Charles Lyell. 275 
fellow-laborer in science, Sir John Herschel, in Westminster 
b e ” 
We add the following appreciative remarks from Nature of 
March 4th. : 
‘“Lyell’s claim to fame lies in this, that he organized the 
whole method of inquiry into the history of the formation of 
the crust of the earth, and established on a sound footing the 
true principles of geological science; his theory being that, by 
the uniform action of forces such as are now in operation, the 
visible crust of the earth has been evolved from previous states. 
“Lyell was not only a keen investigator of natural phenom- 
ena; he was also a shrewd observer of human nature, and his 
four interesting volumes of travel in America are full of clever 
criticism and sagacious forecasts. His mind, always fresh and 
open to new impressions, by sympathy drew towards it and 
quickened the enthusiasm of all who studied nature. Had he 
done nothing himself, he would have helped science on by the 
warmth with which he hailed each new discovery. How many 
a young geologist has been braced up for new efforts by the 
encouraging words he heard from Sir Charles, and how many 
a one has felt exaggeration checked and the faculty of seeing 
things as they are strengthened by a conversation with that 
keen sifter of the true from the false 
“Though by nature most sociable and genial, yet Sir Charles 
often withdrew from society where the object of his life, the 
pursuit of science, was not promoted; but when anything inter- 
esting turned up he always tried to share his pleasure with all 
around. Many of us will remember the cheerful and hearty 
here’—‘ Have you shown it to so and so? ’—‘ Capital, 
capital.’ 
“The little wayside flower, and, from early happy associations, 
still more, the passing butterfly, for the moment seemed to en- 
gross his every thought. But the grandeur of the sea impressed 
him most; he never tired of wandering along the shore, now 
speaking of the great problems of earth’s history, now of the 
little weed the wave left at his feet. His mind was like the lens 
that gathers the great sun into a speck and also magnifies the 
little grain he could not see before. He loved all nature, great 
and small. 
“Much we owe to Leonard Horner, himself a good geologist, 
for having inspired the young Charles Lyell. In after years, 
when already well known, Charles Lyell chose as his wife the 
eldest daughter of his teacher and friend. Many have felt the 
charm of her presence—many have felt the influence of the 
soul that shone out in her face; but few know how much science 
directly owes to her. As the companion of his life, sharing his 
