BUSTS OF GEOLOGISTS. 
3 
guilloche in Minton’s encaustic tiles. Similar tiles form a pave- 
ment at the top of the steps leading from the Vestibule, and 
also on the north of the tesselated pavement, around the 
statue of Hercules. The general pavement in the Hall is 
of Portland stone, a material which also forms the columns, 
supporting the floor above. 
The most prominent object in the Hall, immediately fronting 
the visitor on his entry, is a copy of the Farnese Hercules 
(No. 116), carved in Portland stone by the late Mr. C. H. Smith. 
For a description of this limestone, see p c 31. 
Busts of Geologists. 
Around the central tesselated pavement and in various other 
parts of the hall are appropriately placed busts of a few distin- 
guished men who have advanced the science of geology. To 
increase their interest to the visitor the following brief biogra- 
phical notices are introduced : 
Sir Henry Thomas He la Beche, C.B. — Copy by E. C. Pap- 
worth, from a bust by E. H. Baity, R.A. No. 198. 
This eminent geologist, the founder of this institution, was 
born in 1796. Having lost his father at an early age, he resided 
for some years with his mother in Devonshire, then at Char- 
mouth in Dorsetshire, and afterwards at Lyme Regis. To his 
early associations may be referred those studies which became 
the business of his life ; and it is interesting to note the love 
with which he always returned to the consideration of the rocks 
of Western England, amongst which in his boyhood he had 
rambled ; always finding, never seeking, pleasure. In 1810 
Henry de la Beche entered the Military School at Great Marlow ; 
but he never embraced the profession of arms, and in 1817, 
entering the Geological Society, he- enrolled himself in that select 
band, who were then struggling to establish geology as a science, 
and of which he soon became a guiding spirit, and eventually 
the leader. Mr. De la Beche always exhibited great activity of 
mind, and numerous memoirs and other publications were con- 
tinually proceeding from his pen. Among his larger works,, 
issued as independent publications, may be mentioned his 
Geological Observer and his Researches in Theoretical Geology. 
In 1835 was commenced the great work of the Geological 
Survey of the United Kingdom, which may be regarded as one 
of the first scientific inquiries fairly recognised by the Govern- 
ment of this country. Mr. De la Beche was attached to the 
Ordnance Survey, with power to carry out a geological survey 
of the western counties, and to publish his results on the one- 
inch Ordnance maps, by geological colouring. Upon this im- 
portant point the words of bis successor, Sir Roderick I, 
Murchison, spoken on receiving from the Geological Society the 
