Henry Benedict Medlicott. xxi 



recovered ; it was told to the present writer in 1866 by Colonel Baird Smith, 

 who commanded the Eurki Garrison in 1857. 



On October 27, also in 1857, Mr. Medlicott was married at Landour to 

 Louisa, daughter of the Rev. D. H. Mannsell. He has had three sons and 

 three daughters ; only one son and one daughter, together with his wife, 

 survive him. The surviving son is a Civil Engineer in the Pubic Works 

 Department of the Indian Government ; the two who have been lost were 

 one in the Civil Service of India and one in the Eoyal Engineers. 



After rejoining the staff of the Geological Survey in 1862, Mr. Medlicott 

 was engaged for many years, first in one part of the country then in another, 

 generally by himself, though occasionally in charge of a party, in enquiring 

 into economical problems or in investigating geological questions, and not 

 unfrequently in clearing up difficulties that had proved too serious for his 

 predecessors. In 1862 — 63 he was in South Eewah, in 1863—64 in Behar, in 

 1864 — 65 he traversed Assam, from the Khasi Hills to the farthest eastern 

 extremity of the province, in 1865 — 66 he was engaged in Central India and 

 Eajputana. In other years he examined various tracts of Northern India 

 from the Jamu Hills of Kashmir, the Satpura ranges of the Central Provinces 

 and Chattisgarh to the Garo Hills in Assam. Twice he officiated as Super- 

 intendent of the Survey during Dr. Oldham's absence on leave, once in 1870 

 for a short period, and in 1873 — 74 for 17 months. 



On April 1, 1876, Mr. Medlicott succeeded Dr. Oldham as head of the 

 Department, and from that time the duties of his office kept him mainly in 

 Calcutta. The title of Superintendent was altered to that of Director in 1885, 

 but the change was confined to the title. 



Dr. Oldham had been in weak health for some time before he retired, and he 

 naturally left many arrears for his successor to carry out. Foremost amongst 

 these was the preparation of a general account of Indian geology. This had long 

 been required ; a mass of scattered papers and reports, not a few of which were 

 in MS., represented about a quarter of a century's progress with the systematic 

 examination of Indian geology, and before those who had helped from the 

 beginning had left India for good, it was essential that they should prepare 

 for their successors a record of work in which they had taken part. Moreover, 

 until a general description of the country, as a whole, was compiled, it was 

 impossible for any one either in India or in Europe, without an enormous 

 amount of labour, to gain a correct idea of its geological features. Henry 

 Medlicott at once set to work at this general account, and dividing the 

 chapters between Mr. Blanford and himself, brought it to a conclusion in 

 1879 and published the ' Manual of the Geology of India/ with a map, in 

 that year. It is unnecessary to point out the great importance of this book, 

 nor the assistance it has afforded, not merely to Indian geologists but to those 

 throughout the world. 



This, however, is only one of the subjects to which the new Superintendent of 

 the Survey devoted his attention. Of the effect of his superintendence on the 

 work of the staff a fair example may be furnished by the survey publications. 



