310 Notices respecting New Books. 



precession of the equinoxes during many millions of years, and 

 his book on the Philosophy of Theism, with his numerous published 

 papers, were duly accepted (after some pressure against "red 

 tape ") as sufficient evidence of arithmetical capacity, and proof of 

 ability to write good English. Thus the Director-General of the 

 Survey secured the services of a highly-prized scientific and philo- 

 sophic worker, in spite of the rigid rules of the Treasury and Civil 

 Service Commission. 



His researches on the causation of physical phenomena were 

 continued in his spare time, chiefly in his walks, and evenings at 

 home; and many other papers were published on the above- 

 mentioned and other subjects, as Gravitation, Denudation, Inter- 

 glacial periods, Glaciers, Gulf-stream, Oceanic Currents, Ice-sheets, 

 Thickness of Sedimentary Rocks, Age of the Earth, Molecular 

 Motion, Kinetic Energy, the Sun, Nebulae, Climate and Cosmology, 

 and Evolution. In 1875 the essence of his published notes and 

 memoirs, and the results of his observations, had been embodied in 

 the highly esteemed volume ' Climate and Time ; A Theory of 

 Secular Changes of the Earth's Climate.' This was written with 

 great difficulty, for the cephalic pains greatly limited his oppor- 

 tunities of writing down his thoughts, and his health often failed. 



In 1876 St. Andrew's University gave him the degree of LL.D., 

 he became a Eellow of the Eoyal Society, Hon. Memb. New York 

 Acad. Sci., of the Bristol Nat. Soc, Psychol. Soc. Gt. Brit., 

 Glasgow Geol. Soc, Lit. Antiq. Soc. Perth, and the Perthshire 

 Soc. Nat. Sci. The Geological Society of London awarded him 

 the balance of proceeds of the Wollaston Eund in 1872, of the 

 Murchison Eund in 1876, and of the Barlow- Jamieson Eund in 

 1884. 



In 1880 Dr. Croll got a strain in the office, which, with his 

 other painful affections, disabled him. On resigning his appoint- 

 ment he was, to his grief, not favoured with any more than a very 

 meagre pension fixed for his thirteen years' service on the most 

 stringent rules. Applications made to Government for a grant 

 from the Civil List were without effect. After giving to the world 

 a few more papers or memoirs on the physical subjects in which 

 he had been so much interested, Dr. Croll published in 1885 in one 

 volume, entitled 'Discussions on Climate and Cosmology,' 8vo, 

 Edinburgh, the results of his labours since the publication of 

 4 Climate and Time ' in 1875. 



With scrupulous and self-denying economy Dr. Croll utilized 

 the proceeds of his published books in procuring an annuity, small 

 as it was, for himself and his devoted and beloved wife. Some aid 

 came from friends and from the Eoyal Society's special fund ; and 

 he settled quietly at Perth not far from the place of his first home. 

 Suffering, but patient ; clear-headed and desirous of imparting his 

 knowledge, but unable to do so except by dictation to his always 

 helpful wife, he remained long enough to see the printed sheets of 

 his latest book. 



He was always amiable, candid, consistent, and conscientious. 

 The high respect with which he was regarded by all, and the warm 



