L1N3TEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



XXXIX 



that the flint implements belong to a period long antecedent to 

 that usually attributed to man's existence on the earth, though by 

 no means so distant as some geologists suppose. 



" But it would be difficult to point out any branch of science in 

 which Professor Henslow did not take an active interest ; he 

 attended the first meeting of the British Association, and was 

 ever afterwards a stanch supporter, and frequently an officer of 

 this body ; he was one of the first examiners in the University of 

 London, and till his death a distinguished member of its council ; 

 he actively aided the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Know- 

 ledge, the Ray Society, and the Palaeontographical Society, and was 

 a most liberal contributor to the various charities and funds for 

 the relief of the needy members of his own profession and natu- 

 ralists in general. To poor authors, especially, he was a most 

 generous subscriber, nor was he ever appealed to in vain in any 

 cause the justice and expediency of which were duly authenticated. 



" At several periods he took a most important part in public 

 politics, being an active member of a party who pledged them- 

 selves to suppress that system of bribery for which the town of 

 Cambridge was long so justly infamous ; and though few of his 

 University and scientific friends sympathised with him on these 

 occasions, his conduct was so typical of his singleness of purpose, 

 firmness of character, and abhorrence of foul play, that this por- 

 tion of his career cannot be overlooked even in a brief review of 

 his life. 



" On one occasion in particular, when no one else of sufficient 

 position and character would come forward, he had the moral 

 courage to brave, not only the public odium (for which in a just 

 cause he never cared much), but the disapprobation of many of his 

 most intimate friends, and offer himself as the nominal prosecutor 

 in a case of gross corruption. In doing this he was actuated by 

 a feeling of duty to his country, and beyond it he did not inter- 

 fere ; neither attending the trials or committees, nor subscribing 

 to any of the proceedings. The amount of abuse he received may 

 be estimated by the fact, that upwards of a quarter of a century 

 afterwards he smilingly pointed out to a friend the words ' Hens- 

 low, common informer,' on the walls in Cambridge, where they are 

 still legible. His services were, however, deeply appreciated at the 

 time, for he received three handsome testimonials, one from the 

 town of Cambridge, another from the Town Committee for the 

 suppression of corruption, and the third from a committee of noble- 

 men and gentlemen ; all alike testify to the perfect disinterested. 



