98 
WILLIAM SMITH ! HIS MAPS AND MEMOIRS 
contra) y ; but tliat in each, particular part, how much soever they may- 
differ, yet they follow each other in a regular succession. And 
again* : "It is my intention to have deposited specimens of each 
stratum, with its productions, in the British Museum, arranged in the 
same order above each other as they are in the earth ; being persuaded 
that such a plan would convey a more perfect idea of subterraneous 
geography, and of the vai ious bodies enclosed in the earth, than words 
or lines can possibly express." This project was subsequently carried 
out by Smith ! 
JOHN SMEATON, 1788. 
In the Philosophical Magazine for 1810 (Vol. XXXVI., pp. 102-3) 
is a paper with the following somewhat remarkable title : — 
" Information that a further Publication of the late Mr. Smeatou's 
Eugineery Designs and Papers is in hand. Copy of a list of the 
principal British Strata by the late Rev. John Michel (of whose posthu- 
mos Papers on Geological subjects further information is requested) — 
with some experiments of Mr. Smeaton's on Limestones, and Queries 
respecting Mr. Tofield, communicated by Mr. John Farey to Mr. 
Tilloch." 
This contains a list of strata, with details of their thickness, circa 
1788, which is of interest for comparison with Smith's list dictated 
to Mr. Richardson in 1799. The following is an extract : — 
As my eldest son was a few days employed in examiniug the 
miscellaneous bundles of papers, which belonged to the late ingenious 
Mr. John Smeaton, the civil engineer, now in Sir Joseph Banks's 
possession, with a view to further publication by Messrs. Longman, 
Hurst, Rees & Co. of his Drawings and Reports on civil engineery, 
which so long and impatiently have been expected by those interested 
in this branch of the useful arts, he found a small scrap of paper (only 
four inches by three) in the handwriting of Mr. Smeaton. part of the 
cover of a letter, as appears by part of a seal and the London post-mark 
of November 21st, 1788, on the back of it, which, having obtained 
Sir Joseph's permission, I think of sufficient importance, in a geological 
point of view, to request the favour of you to lay before your leaders." 
" It relates to the order and thicknesses of the strata in England, as 
* 2nd ed., pp. 178 and 180. 
