IOO 
LIFE OF DEAF BUCKLAND. 
[CH. IV. 
is thus described by Mr. Thomas I. Sopwith, the famous 
mining engineer, who visited it in the “thirties”:— 
“ Dr. Buckland’s house is one of those venerable fabrics 
which form the principal quadrangle of Christ Church. 
As soon as the old-fashioned door is opened, abundant 
evidence is presented that the residence is that of a zealous 
disciple of Geology. A wide and spacious staircase has 
its floor and even part of its steps covered with ammonites, 
fossil trees and bones, and various other geological fragments, 
and in the several apartments piles upon piles of books 
and papers are spread upon tables, chairs, sofas, book¬ 
stands, and no small portion on the floor itself.” 
Writing when he was again the Canon’s guest, and had 
the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ruskin, Mr. Sopwith says :— 
“ Dr. Buckland’s house is truly characteristic as the 
residence of a geologist and scholar. . . In the breakfast- 
room was a series of piles of books, boxes, and papers ; in 
short, such a combination of book-stands, chairs, sideboards, 
boxes, all blended together in one mass of confusion, 
which I was informed had not been invaded by the dust- 
cloth for the last five years. The drawing-room at Dr. 
Buckland’s had its share of variety, and the great interest 
of a tolerable deal of confusion through which a person 
might range a whole day and find some new index every 
moment pointing to weeks and months and years of 
occupation. One of the round tables is formed entirely of 
coprolites. Another presents on its highly polished sur¬ 
face all the variety of lava, etc., found at Mount Etna.” 
Mr. Sopwith adds that “ the most interesting part of 
this interesting mansion is the domestic comfort which so 
eminently prevails.” The writer judged truly that the 
Christ Church home was a happy one. Buckland and his 
wife had a large family,—nine altogether, four of whom 
