DAVIS: HUGH EDWIN STRICKLAND, F.R.S., ETC. 153 
Society of Worcester, and other kindred bodies, knew him well. He 
frequently conducted the members of societies to the field, and 
explained, by open-air lectures, the geology of the country around, 
and in a variety of ways extended a knowledge of geology amongst 
the people. His connection with the University, his public vocations, 
and private scientific pursuits, together with the exercise of his 
duties as a country gentleman and magistrate, which began gTadually 
to fall upon him, with occasional excursions before or after the 
meetings of the British ^Association, fully occupied his time. 
In September, 1853, he attended the British Association with his 
father-in-law. Sir William Jardine. The meeting was below the aver- 
age in numbers, but was otherwise an interesting one. Professor 
Sedgwick presided over the Geological Section. Strickland occupied 
the chair during some portions of the meeting as a vice-president, and 
he contributed a paper on pseudo-morphous crystals in new red sand- 
stone. To the Zoological Section he read a notice on the mode of 
growth of Halichondria suberea, and another on the partridges of the 
great watershed of India. On the Saturday he joined an excursion 
under the charge of Professor Phillips to Flambro' Head. This was 
Strickland's early country, always famihar to him, and remarkable 
sections, well known, were in their turn pointed out. The walk was 
much enjoyed, and at the termination of the cliffs the Speeton clay 
was inspected. Some of the party walked on to Scarborough, others 
returning to Hull. The next week the business of the Sections was 
resumed and the meeting terminated in the usual way. After its 
close, Strickland was anxious to examine the cuttings in the Man- 
chester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, near Retford, in reference 
to which some discussion had taken place in the Geological Section. 
For this purpose he left the train at Retford, intending to join a 
succeeding one at Gainsbro'. He walked along the line to a poi.it 
near Gringley Balk Bridge, where there is a pretty sharp curve. 
" Here two trains were coming up in opposite directions, the one a 
coal train, which was seen, and to avoid this he stepped upon the 
other side, on which an unseen passenger train was approaching 
round the curve at a speed of 25 or 26 miles an hour, at a distance 
from him of less than one hundred yards. The driver of this train 
