Edward Claypole, The Scientist—Comstock. 3 
by himself, formed his laboratory equipment in physics and 
chemistry. Financial limitations and engrossing duties served 
apparently as spurs to his achievements. After his marriage, 
in 1865, to Jane Trotter of Coleford, Gloucestershire, England, 
we learn that his time was mainly given to educational work 
in classical and mathematical subjects. But he evidently found 
time to pursue scientific studies during these years, for his 
earliest publications, appearing in 1870, at the ripe age of 
thirty-five, manifest not only the scholarly language and precis- 
ion of thought which indicate the reflex influence of his own 
classical instruction, but also an array of facts and results 
of personal observation which seem little less than marvelous 
under all the circumstances. He toiled laboriously and waited 
patiently until the evidence was complete. Then he came forth 
with a series of papers so thoroughly digested that they are as 
worthy to stand as monuments to his fame as any of the long 
list of subsequent publications. 
The Proceedings of the Bristol (Eng.) Naturalists’ Society 
for the years 1871 and 1872 carry upon their title pages the 
name of Edward Claypole, as editor. In these were published 
his first scientific papers. It is very noticeable that with them, 
as with almost all the papers afterwards written by him, the 
titles are so worded as to modestly imply that his work is not 
exhaustive upon the subjects treated. During the three years, 
1870, 1871, and 1872, he read before the Bristol society the - 
following papers: 
“On some Evidence in Favor of Subsidence in the Southwest Coun- 
ties of England During the Present Period.” (Read Jan. 12, 1870.) 
“On the Development .of the Carboniferous System in the Neighbor- 
hood of Edinburgh.” (Read Jan. 10, 1871.) 
“On the Subsidence of the Southwest Counties of England During 
the Present Era.” Paper No. 2. (Read Jan. 12, 1872.) 
“On the Same Subject. No. 3. (Read May 2, 1872.) 
These contributions represent original work of a very high 
order, and could never have been written without a knowledge 
of the subject gained after years of observation. The reader 
cannot fail to be forcibly impressed with the pains-taking care 
and thoughtful consideration which had evidently been given 
before publication. To these articles might as fitly be applied 
as to any of his able writings, the remark once made by a 
brother geologist, ““Whatever he publishes is eminently Clay- 
