210 
WILLIAM SCURESBY, THE YOU^'GER. 
agitated state. Chartism was starting- into life. The rains of 1836 
recalled to men's memories the old history of the deluge. Wheat 
reached a prohibitory price, and in 1840, when the agitation for the 
repeal of the corn laws sprang into being, born out of the suffering 
of an impoverished kingdom, the discontent of the people was 
universal and intense. And in few places did it take an angrier form 
than at Bradford. Still tlie vicar persevered, and wrestled with un- 
swerving courage against his difficulties. It was without avail. 
The antagonism between him and the people manifested itself in 
many ways. The local gentry and clergy opposed him. Between 
the vicar and the pronounced dissenters there was a great gulf 
drawn. The working people saw in him an embodiment of authority 
and power which they believed to be ruinous, and which they 
heartily and openly detested and fouglit against. In 1844 the 
conflict had passed beyond his entlurance His health, if not bis 
spirit, gave way, and he resigned his charge. He was induced to 
withdraw his resignation, and for six months he sought change and 
rest in America. He returned only to find himself in the old vortex 
of contention, and be finally gave up the struggle in 1846, thus bring- 
ing to an end the seven stormiest and most painful years of his life. 
Whilst he was on a visit to America in 1847 his wife died in 
Ireland. It was on his return journey in 1848 that he accomplished 
the feat, so graphically described at the time in " Household Words," 
of measuring, whilst lashed to the mast of the vessel, the height of 
the stormiest Atlantic waves. He was married for the third time, in 
September 1849, to Georgiana, the youngest daughter of William 
Ker, of Roxburgh and Torquay. At Torquay he built himself a 
house, and spent in scientific and religious work the tranquil evening 
of his life. 
Dr. Scoresby's published works, including his papers contributed 
to the Philosophical Journals, exceed a hundred in number. Those 
by which he is most generally known are, of course, the Account of 
the Arctic Regions, and his Memorials of the Sea. But his scientific 
observations and enquiries were unusually wide and far reaching. 
Including his "Journal of a Voyage to Australia and Round the 
World for magnetical research," which was published in 1859, two 
