II 



Channel Isles," and wrote, in 1866, npon the " Physical Geography 

 and Geology of Leicester." In the Great Exhibitions of 1851 and 1862 

 he contributed to the " Reports." His latest and one of his most im-. 

 portant works was on " Water and Water Supply," published in 1878. 

 Though for several years, owing to pressure of business and the 

 advance of age, he had ceased to take an active part in the proceedings 

 of the scientific societies of which he was formerly an energetic 

 member, he did not lose that cordiality of manner and kindliness of 

 disposition, which have left a pleasant impression on the memory of 

 his friends. 



William Hallowes Miller was born, April 6, 1801, at Velindre, near 

 Llandovery, in Carmarthenshire. At this pretty spot, on the upper part 

 of the strath of the Towey, his father, Captain Miller, had a few years 

 previously fixed his residence. The associations of the family were essen- 

 tially military. Captain Miller served through a part of the American 

 War ; his house was burnt by the rebels, and he was in other respects 

 a heavy loser. All the family papers were destroyed in this conflagra- 

 tion ; but Captain Miller is believed to have been a descendant of a 

 distinguished officer who was Adjutant- General to General Wolfe. 

 He was twice married. Of his family by the first wife, two sons 

 were killed in action — one in the act of leading a storming party; 

 another, though crippled by wounds, lived to be a Lieutenant- 

 Colonel, and to receive the distinction of C.B. His daughter also 

 married an officer in the Artillery. Captain Miller, after his return to 

 England, and comparatively late in life, for he was then full sixty 

 years of age, married the daughter of a Welsh clergyman. She was 

 the mother of William Hallowes Miller, and died a few days after his 

 birth. 



After receiving his earlier education at private schools, he proceeded 

 to St. John's College, Cambridge, and in the year 1826 graduated, 

 being fifth among the Wranglers in the Mathematical Tripos. In the 

 earlier part of 1829 he was elected a Fellow of his College, and pro- 

 ceeded in due course to the degree of M. A. For some time he filled the 

 office of a College tutor, and his first literary work was mathematical— a 

 " Treatise on Hydrostatics," published in 1831, and followed a few 

 years subsequently by one on " Hydrodynamics." The two were after- 

 wards republished in one volume, and formed for many years the 

 chief text-book on that subject in the Cambridge lecture-rooms. This 

 treatise is conspicuous for its exactness and lucidity, though its terse- 

 ness — a distinguishing feature in all the author's writings — makes it 

 a rather difficult book for a student of only average ability. At this 

 time, the Chair of Mineralogy at Cambridge was occupied by Dr. 

 Whewell, who, on his election to that office in the year 1828, had 

 thrown himself energetically into its duties, and had especially de- 



