6i6 
THE LATE SAMUEL C. SOTHERN. 
XV. 
THE LATE SAMUEL C. SOTHERN. 
By Horace B. Woodward, F.R.S., F.G.S. 
In the death of Samuel C. Sothern, at the advanced age 
of 84, on the 30th September, 1907, Norwich lost a citizen 
who had done much, in a quiet way, to advance interest in 
literary and scientific pursuits. In early manhood, prior to 
about the year i860, he had been a bookseller at Yarmouth, 
and in this occupation, so congenial to his tastes, he acquired 
a knowledge and love of English literature, more usual with 
those who conducted business according to the methods of 
fifty years ago than with the majority of present dealers in 
books. In science, Natural Philosophy as it was understood 
at the same period, occupied much of his attention. Soon 
after he settled in Norwich, about the year 1864, he came 
under the influence of John Ellor Taylor, and attending the 
classes and excursions conducted by that genial and popular 
naturalist, he acquired a keen interest in geology. Then 
was formed, mainly through the influence of the Rev. John 
Gunn and J. E. Taylor, the Norwich Geological Society, of 
which S. C. Sothern was one of the original members, and for 
some time Honorary Secretary. 
In 1870, Taylor founded the Norwich Science Gossip Club, 
with a nucleus of his “ old boys,” among whom S. C. Sothern 
became an active member, and, during the Session 1876-77, 
