17 
of Edinburgh , Session 1878 - 79 . 
memoir of his uncle George Combe, written by Mr Charles Gibbon. 
Sir James received the honour of Knighthood in 1843 — an honour 
well merited from the zeal and devotion with which he pursued a 
line of conduct which has resulted, spite of much opposition, in 
conferring great benefits on his country. The personal character 
and general bearing of Sir James were such as in a good cause to 
overcome opposition ; determined but quiet, armed at every point, 
but cautious in the use of his weapons, himself thoroughly convinced, 
but never treating lightly the opposite convictions of others, he was 
enabled to discharge his delicate and difficult duties in a manner to 
bear down opposition so softly and insensibly as to leave no trace 
of wounds behind. He was seized with illness in Paris, whither he 
had gone for relaxation, and died at Polkstone on the 9th of May 
last. 
Sir Richard Griffith, who has been styled “ the Father of Irish 
Geology,” was born in Dublin on the 20th of September 1784. He 
was descended from a Welsh family of distinction, his ancestors 
having come over to Ireland about the commencement of the seven- 
teenth century, and acquired considerable property in various parts 
of the country. The bulk of the property having lapsed from the 
family through failure of issue, the grandfather of Sir Richard dis- 
posed of the remainder, and settled in Mellicent, county Kildare, 
marrying a kinswoman (Miss Elizabeth Griffith, of Glamorganshire), 
by whom he had issue Richard Griffith, the father of the deceased. 
The son, also named Richard, was educated in Dublin, with a view 
to obtaining a commission in the Irish Artillery, in which he suc- 
ceeded in 1799 after passing the usual examination. He retained 
his appointment only a short time, the Act of Union having broken 
up the separate establishments of the two countries. The offer was, 
indeed, made him of an appointment in the British forces, but his 
father caused him to decline it, conceiving that a better opening was 
afforded him in the practice of civil engineering. He accordingly 
directed his attention to the study of mines, and at seventeen pro- 
ceeded to Cornwall, with the view of gaining a practical knowledge 
of mining. Here his assiduity attracted the attention of Sir Hum- 
phry Davy. On Mr Griffith discovering in the Dalcoath mine the 
rich ores of nickel and cobalt which were raised with the silver ore, 
VOL. x. 
c 
