l/t 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 RIVERSIDE 
 
 Ex Libris 
 ISAAC FOOT
 
 7* c. }*
 
 A MEMOIR 
 
 OF 
 
 WILLIAM PENGELLY, F.R.S.
 
 IP ' 
 
 A JVI^E M O I R OF 
 
 WILLIAM PENGELLY, 
 
 OF TORQUAY, F.R.S., 
 
 GEOLOGIST, 
 
 WITH A SELECTION FROM HIS CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 EDITED BY HIS DAUGHTER, 
 
 HESTER PENGELLY. 
 
 WITH A SUMMARY OF HIS SCIENTIFIC WORK 
 BY THE REV. PROFESSOR BONNEY, F.R.S., F.G.S., 
 
 HON. CANON OF MANCHESTER. 
 
 LONDON: 
 JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 
 
 1897.
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, 
 STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS
 
 TO MY MOTHER, 
 
 WHOSE LOVING AND UNFAILING SYMPATHY 
 
 MADE LIGHT AND PLEASANT TO MY FATHER 
 
 MUCH WORK WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE PROVED 
 
 LABORIOUS AND IRKSOME, 
 
 I DEDICATE 
 THIS BOOK. 
 
 a 3
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IT is to be regretted that circumstances have made it needful 
 for the author to put into other hands than her own the work 
 of setting a short preface to the grateful task which she has so 
 assiduously and lovingly laboured at, and so ably carried through. 
 
 The regret experienced is, however, somewhat softened by 
 the consideration, that one unconnected with the subject of 
 the memoir, except by the tie of friendship, is under less 
 restraint than his daughter has shown herself to feel, in esti- 
 mating his many sterling qualities, and remarkable capacity. 
 
 The biography has been written under no inconsiderable 
 disadvantage, from the fact that Pengelly was as little anxious 
 and careful for posthumous fame as he was for celebrity and 
 notoriety while living. Not only had he neglected to keep any 
 diary from which many valuable particulars of his life might 
 have been gleaned, which are now irrecoverably lost, but he 
 had moreover, in his latter years, destroyed a vast quantity of 
 memoranda and correspondence, which would have been of the 
 greatest service to his biographer. Happily, enough remains 
 to show what manner of man he was. 
 
 How excellent and entertaining a book would have been 
 given to the world, had Pengelly employed himself on an 
 autobiography or recorded his reminiscences, may be fairly 
 judged from the passages penned by himself concerning his 
 early life, with which the volume so happily opens. In their 
 transparent truthful simplicity they recall the inimitable veri- 
 similitude of Defoe. 
 
 But when one becomes awake to the high pressure under
 
 Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 which the most vigorous years of his life were passed, it will 
 be readily understood that Pengelly could have kept a diary 
 only at the sacrifice of some of the important work which he 
 continually had in hand. In truth, not a minute of his time, for 
 very many years, could be said to be unemployed, or employed 
 otherwise than usefully. 
 
 In his last days, the present writer, charmed by the interest 
 of his reminiscent conversation, asked to be allowed to bring 
 with him some one skilled in shorthand who should, for an 
 hour or so at a time, take down at least some occasional 
 recollections of his active years ; but he only shook his head, 
 and murmured, " Too late ! too late ! " 
 
 It can scarcely fail to force itself on the reader of the ensuing 
 pages, that the special note of William Pengelly's character, 
 apart from the energy, perseverance, clear-sightedness, wit, 
 and abundant good humour which distinguished him, was his 
 extraordinary unselfishness. This quality may sometimes be 
 esteemed to be engendered in people by a love of appro- 
 bation ; but this cannot be said to have been the case with 
 Pengelly. He " stood four-square to all the winds that blew." 
 No man was ever more ready to oppose what he deemed to be 
 wrong or erroneous, or more willing to espouse the cause of truth 
 and justice, as he saw it, at any cost or inconvenience to himself. 
 
 From the days when, as a cabin-boy, he was accustomed to 
 read aloud to entertain his messmates, to the time when, as a 
 popular lecturer, he had the power of holding large audiences 
 spell-bound by his eloquence, his first thought was the benefit 
 he was able to afford to others, his last consideration the 
 personal profit he might derive from his labours. 
 
 This it was that caused one who might have stood in the 
 first rank among men of science, in an age prolific of great men, 
 to confine his residence to the place of his adoption, though on 
 several occasions he was strongly urged, by those fully capable 
 of judging of his ability and capacity, to accept one of the 
 positions offered to him in London, at Oxford, or some other 
 great centre.
 
 PREFACE. IX 
 
 It was indeed fortunate, for the cause of one branch of science, 
 that Pengelly was not possessed with the ambition to engage 
 in what might have been considered a higher or wider sphere. 
 In that case the important cave explorations at Brixham and 
 Torquay, to which he devoted himself heart and soul with 
 untiring energy for sixteen years, might have been indefinitely 
 delayed. The result of such delay must have been the post- 
 ponement of the evidence of the antiquity of man, which, by 
 the aid of the discoveries made in the course of his explorations, 
 Pengelly was able to set forth so fearlessly, and establish so 
 clearly, as to put it beyond all danger of refutation, and out of 
 the pale of reasonable controversy. 
 
 On this important point in the history of the world Pengelly 
 was one of the first to speak with no uncertain voice, when 
 many other men of science still held back from full expression 
 of opinion on the subject. 
 
 It will be well understood that a man so unselfish as 
 Pengelly, and so devoted not only to the increase of the sum of 
 human knowledge, but also to its diffusion among his fellow- 
 men, took little heed of the accumulation of worldly wealth, or 
 even of providing very amply for the day when his power for 
 work should fail him. It may, therefore, be told far more in 
 his honour than in his derogation, that his means, as old age 
 approached, were such as to cause him no little anxiety. This 
 induced some of his scientific friends to make appeal to the 
 Government of the day to place his name on the civil list. 
 Strange to say, although the memorial was signed by all the 
 names most eminent in the scientific world, its prayer was 
 refused by the Gladstonian Government. The only recognition 
 that was offered was a grant of a sum of money, which was 
 courteously declined. 
 
 Happily, by a circumstance so remarkable that if it were 
 introduced into a work of fiction it would be derided as a weak 
 way of making the story end happily, Pengelly was, during the 
 last decade of his life, placed in the ease and affluence he so 
 richly merited, without being beholden to any government aid.
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 Those persons living, and they are many, who had the good 
 fortune to hear Pengelly lecture, will bear ready witness to the 
 complete mastery he always had of his subject, and of the 
 faculty of imparting his knowledge. Even when speaking upon 
 abstruse subjects to a mixed audience, he would make his 
 matter perfectly clear without in any degree appearing to talk 
 down to the capacity of those he was addressing. In this 
 respect he would compare favourably with such masters of 
 elocution and exposition as Faraday, Tyndall, Huxley, and 
 Ruskin. 
 
 His manner was no less pleasing and attractive than the 
 language in which he clothed his ideas was grateful to the ear. 
 His voice, though not strong, was resonant and impressive. 
 Perhaps no man has ever passed through the fire of adulation, 
 flattery, and patronage, more completely unscathed than Pengelly, 
 or was rendered less vain by the success he met with, and the 
 society to which he was introduced. 
 
 Throughout the most prosperous part of his career he was 
 ever cordial to the humblest genuine inquirer after knowledge, 
 and as accessible as he had been when he himself was a 
 struggling and unknown student, ardently seeking his way 
 towards the light, destitute of patronage, and unacquainted with 
 people of wealth and influence. 
 
 In person Pengelly was tall, erect of carriage, spare of habit, 
 fresh coloured, without marked features, but with a countenance 
 indued with extraordinary mobility of expression, and lit up by 
 intelligent eyes that, incessantly twinkling with humour and 
 kindliness, seemed to speak the feelings by which he was 
 animated. It is not too much to say that, for nearly half a 
 century, the place which he had made his home, acquired a 
 special lustre and interest from being the residence of William 
 Pengelly. 
 
 The author desires to express her sincere thanks to all those 
 of her father's correspondents who have kindly permitted the 
 use of letters which add so greatly to the value and interest of 
 the work. F. S. ELLIS.
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 TO FACE PAGE 
 
 WILLIAM PENGELLY. From a portrait by A. S. Cope Frontispiece 
 
 LOOE, CORNWALL ... ... ... ... ... 2 
 
 PENGELLY'S HOME AT TORQUAY ... ... ... 16 
 
 LOOE ISLAND, CORNWALL ... ... ... 40 
 
 THE CHEESERING, NEAR LISKEARD ... ... ... 118 
 
 THE ENTRANCE TO KENT'S CAVERN ... ... ... 162 
 
 BONE NEEDLE AND OTHER PRE-HISTORIC IMPLEMENTS ... 182 
 A TYPICAL TRAY OF FLINT IMPLEMENTS PREPARED FOR 
 
 TRANSMISSION ... ... ... ... ... 208 
 
 THE CAVE AT MENTONE ... ... ... ... 214 
 
 THE MENTONE SKELETON ... ... ... ... 218 
 
 INCISORS OF HYAENA, MACHAIRODUS LATIDENS, AND WOLF 226
 
 A MEMOIR OF 
 
 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY YEARS AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA. 
 JANUARY, 1812-1830. 
 
 WILLIAM PENGELLY was born at East Looe, in Cornwall, on 
 January 12, 1812, and christened shortly afterwards at the 
 Parish Church of St. Martin. His father, Richard Pengelly, 
 was captain of a small coasting vessel, while his mother, whose 
 maiden name was Prout, belonged to the same family as 
 Samuel Prout, the famous water-colour artist. She came from 
 Millbrook Creek, in the parish of Maker, Cornwall. The name 
 Pengelly is, as the sound implies, Cornish. It is interpreted 
 in Bannister's " Glossary of Cornish Names " as signifying "head 
 of the hazel grove." Though an uncommon surname in other 
 parts of England, it is not unfrequently met with in Cornwall, 
 and occasionally in Devonshire. 
 
 Passing his early years in the picturesque fishing village of 
 Looe, it is not surprising that Pengelly acquired a strong 
 attachment to the sea, which was rendered doubtless the more 
 intense through hereditary influences, for on his father's side he 
 was descended from a long line of sailors. 
 
 It is, however, needless to attempt to trace back the ancestry 
 of the subject of this memoir, for no one ever took less heed of 
 the matter than himself. In later years he was constantly 
 written to about it, as people persisted in supposing that he be- 
 longed to the same family as Sir Thomas Pengelly, who rose to 
 be Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1726, and left certain sums 
 for the discharge of debtors from the gaols of Bodmin and Laun- 
 ceston. In answer to one of the many letters addressed to him 
 
 B
 
 2 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. I, 
 
 on this subject, Pengelly sent the following characteristic reply : 
 " With regard to Sir Thomas Pengelly, I had some years ago a 
 ' correspondence respecting him with Mr. Peter Taylor, M.P., whom 
 I put on the trail of a picture-dealer in London, named Bryant, 
 who had a portrait of Sir T. Pengelly, and was wont to write me 
 about it very frequently. I have an impression that Mr. Taylor 
 bought it. I declined to do so, as I don't care to claim any 
 connection with him." Later on, he writes, " The Parish of 
 Whitchurch, near Tavistock, appears to have been a great home 
 of the Pengellys, and the church, I am told, is rich in their 
 monuments, but I have never seen it." 
 
 When little more than an infant, he was sent to the Dame's 
 school in his native village, where his progress in learning was so 
 rapid that, before he was five years old, his mother betook herself 
 to Mr. Rundle, the master of a school for bigger boys, to arrange 
 for her son being taught there, with the result that he declined to 
 take so young a pupil. Not long afterwards, when walking down 
 the street the schoolmaster happened to pass the Pengellys' 
 house at the open door of which the child was sitting, engaged 
 in his favourite occupation of reading the Bible aloud, and the 
 wonderful fluency and accuracy of the reading so greatly im- 
 pressed the pedagogue, that he entered with the announcement, 
 " Mrs. Pengelly, you may send your son to me at once, I was 
 not in the least aware that he was so advanced." 
 
 The life destined to endure for upwards of fourscore years, 
 and to be productive of so much valuable work, ran the risk of 
 being cut short by an accident at a very early period. 
 
 The particulars of the occurrence have been preserved by 
 a friend who heard them from Pengelly's own lips, when he was 
 one day descanting on the fact that circumstances which appear 
 in themselves trivial may materially affect the whole course of 
 a man's life. The trivial circumstance referred to in his own 
 case was the arrival of an aunt, on a visit to his parents, one day 
 sooner than she had been expected. Early the following morning, 
 when sitting at her bedroom window, wrapped in a thick woollen 
 shawl, she was horrified to see her little nephew Wiliam rushing 
 out of the house enveloped in flames. She hurried after him, 
 and managed to stifle the fire with her woollen garment, and 
 thus saved the child's life, though she was so badly burnt her- 
 self, that she carried the scars till her dying day. The little boy 
 had got up early, as was his wont, and had set about to kindle a
 
 LOOE, CORNWALL. 
 
 [To face f. 2.
 
 1812-1830.] SEAFARING EXPERIENCES. 3 
 
 fire, that he might go on with his lessons before any one else in 
 the house was astir, with the result that he set light to his 
 clothes, and except for the premature arrival of his aunt, must 
 certainly have been burnt to death. 
 
 At Mr. Rundle's school he remained until twelve years old, 
 when he accompanied his father to sea. Though study was 
 always a great pleasure to him, his school life could not have 
 been particularly happy, as the unusual abilities he possessed were 
 quickly discovered by the elder boys, who used very forcible 
 means to keep him hard at work during play-hours, preparing 
 their lessons, in addition to his own ; thus exemplifying how 
 unenviable is the position of a very small boy as the head of a 
 school. He never received any external instruction or intellec- 
 tual training after the age of twelve. When it is remembered 
 how imperfect his education must have been, it is indeed remark- 
 able that, by his unaided abilities and industry, he should have 
 succeeded in ultimately winning for himself a distinguished place 
 amongst the scientific men of his day. 
 
 Some account of his seafaring experiences, with descriptions 
 of his shipmates, can fortunately be given in his own words. 
 He writes : 
 
 " Our voyages were short. I do not remember an instance of being 
 at sea more than three consecutive days ; so that, except when ' wind- 
 bound,' we were almost always taking in or taking out cargo. The 
 work was hard, but the food was abundant, and on the whole the life, 
 though rough, was not unpleasant. 
 
 " To me thinking nothing of the pecuniary aspect of the question 
 the most enjoyable occasions were those which fierce contrary winds 
 brought us, when we had to seek some harbour of refuge. These were 
 by no means necessarily holidays, for, if the weather were dry, advantage 
 was taken of the enforced leisure, to give our craft a thorough cleaning, 
 or to repair her rigging, or to make up the books. Moreover the crew 
 employed me to write letters to their wives from their dictation. These 
 epistles were generally of a remarkable character, and some of them 
 remain firmly fixed in my memory. The opening clause, was that 
 which so far as my experience went was invariably employed by the 
 labouring classes of the period ; ' this comes with my dear love to you, 
 hoping it may find you in good health, as it leaves me at present ; 
 thank God for it.' The foregoing labours disposed of, and foul winds 
 still prevailing, we had a washing-day ; or, better than all, a bout of 
 tailoring, which did not generally get beyond repairing, though occa- 
 sionally the ambitious flight of making a pair of trousers was attempted. 
 On tailoring days it was understood that my clothes should be repaired 
 for me, in order that I might read aloud for the general benefit. We 
 assembled in our little cabin, where the stitching and smoking went on
 
 4 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. I. 
 
 simultaneously, and with great vigour. My poor library consisted of a 
 Bible, the eighth volume of \}n& Spectator, Johnson's ' English Dictionary,' 
 a volume of the Weekly Miscellany, which I have some idea was 
 published at Sherborne, the history of ' John Gilpin,' ' Baron Mun- 
 chausen's Travels,' Walkinghame's ' Arithmetic,' and a book of songs. 
 My hearers were not very fastidious, but allowed me to read pretty 
 much what I pleased, though, truth to tell, the Spectator was not a 
 favourite ; some portions of it were held to be nonsensical, and others 
 were considered to be so lacking in truthfulness, that it was generally 
 termed the ' Lying Book.' This ill repute was largely due to the story 
 of Fadallah (No. 578). Walkinghame was by no means unpopular. 
 I occasionally read some of the questions, and my shipmates endeavoured 
 to solve them mentally ; and as the answers were all given by the 
 author, I had to declare who had made the nearest guess, for it was 
 very often but little more. Of all the questions, none excited so much 
 interest as that which asks, What will be the cost of shoeing a horse, 
 at a farthing for the first nail, two for the second, and so on in 
 geometrical progression for thirty-two nails, and which gives for the 
 answer a sum but little short of four and a half million pounds sterling. 
 This was so utterly unexpected, that it went far to confer on Walking- 
 hame the same name that Fadallah had given to the Spectator." 
 
 Pengelly relates some of the experiences which he had heard 
 from different members of the crew, beginning with those of his 
 father the captain, who, as a boy, had been brought up on 
 his uncle's farm, but wearying of the life there, was turning 
 his thoughts towards seafaring, and while still in doubt was 
 determined by what he deemed divine direction. As is common 
 among men of Keltic origin, Richard Pengelly had a firm belief 
 in supernatural appearances, and his son describes how this 
 belief influenced his way of life. 
 
 " Our skipper had no doubt whatever that ghosts sometimes 
 appeared, and he held that they were sometimes sent in answer to 
 prayer. Indeed, his firm belief that he had seen his father's spirit, 
 altered the whole course of his life. After completing his fifteenth 
 year he was thinking of going to sea. When he was sixteen, his father, 
 who was a sailor, was drowned almost within sight of his home. The 
 effect on the boy was to make him pause, and on his friends, to urge 
 him to give up the idea. For some months these influences kept him 
 quiet, but at length his restlessness returned so strongly, that he would 
 have gone to sea at once, had he felt satisfied that his father would 
 have approved the step. To ascertain this point he prayed frequently 
 and earnestly that his father's spirit might be allowed to appear to him, 
 with a pleasing or frowning aspect, according as he might approve or 
 disapprove. At length, he believed his prayer to have been answered, 
 and that when in the field ploughing, he saw his father, who passed by 
 looking intently and smilingly at him. This decided him. He became 
 a sailor at seventeen, and as such died at a good old age."
 
 1812-1830.] JOHN PENGELLY THE MATE. 5 
 
 It will have been seen that young Pengelly's labours as an 
 amanuensis were much appreciated at sea, but his great con- 
 versational powers were not equally valued, and his comrades 
 used sometimes to say, " Here, Bill, put up a mop and talk to 
 that, for we have not time to listen to you." The mate of the 
 vessel, John Pengelly, was an elder brother of the boy's father, 
 and the only member of the family who had ever been engaged 
 in smuggling, then so common in England. His early life had 
 on this account been full of stirring and hair-breadth escapes, 
 certain of which are thus described by his nephew. 
 
 " The mate's life had been one of considerable adventure. Almost 
 from his infancy he had been a smuggler, and to the excitement of that 
 career, he had occasionally added those of a privateer. He had an 
 unconquerable aversion to the Royal Navy, as was manifested by the 
 following incident. The smuggling cutter to which he belonged was 
 chased by a frigate, and just before sunset was overtaken near the 
 Scilly Isles. Though a part of her contraband cargo had been disposed 
 of, sufficient remained on board to condemn her. She was accordingly 
 made a prize of; her crew were transferred to the frigate, from which 
 a prize-crew was sent with orders to take the cutter to Plymouth. 
 During the great French war, it was usual for trading and smuggling 
 vessels to have concealed ' berths,' in which to secrete such members 
 of the crew as were liable to be taken in the event of a visit from the 
 press-gang. When he saw that the cutter must be captured and con- 
 demned, our mate retired to one of these concealed berths, but in his 
 hurry left part of his dress projecting, so that the sliding panel was not 
 completely closed. 
 
 " After parting with the frigate, some members of the prize crew 
 proceeded to investigate the cutter, in the hope of meeting with articles 
 of dress or other waifs which they might appropriate. One of them 
 catching sight of the projecting portion of dress just mentioned, took 
 hold of it, and by tugging, opened the panel, exclaiming as he did so : 
 ' Here's a pair of blue trousers.' ' Yes,' said their proprietor, ' and here's 
 aman to wear them.' 
 
 " He was at once taken to the prize-master, or lieutenant in charge, 
 who received him kindly, expressed his regret that he was unwilling to 
 serve the king, but added that, since he was not willing, he could not 
 be blamed for concealing himself in the hope of escaping. He then 
 said : ' You know the cutter better than I do. Come below, and help 
 me to get a glass of grog.' Whilst in the cabin together, a message 
 was sent to the effect that there was a light ahead which they were 
 nearing rapidly. He replied, ' It is the frigate, probably. Keep under 
 her lee.' Very soon after, a second messenger came down, who said : 
 4 It doesn't look like a ship's light, sir. We are getting very near it. 
 I wish you'd come on deck.' ' What nonsense !' said he, ' it must be 
 the ship.' Then, turning to the smuggler, he said, ' Come on deck, 
 my man ; I must put you on board the frigate now.' When arrived on
 
 6 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. I. 
 
 deck, he was satisfied it was not a ship's light, but did not know what 
 light it was. The captured man at once said, ' It is the Longships 
 lighthouse. We shall be on the rocks in five minutes, unless you put 
 about at once.' ' For God's sake, take the helm, if you know the coast/ 
 said the officer. ' We are none of us well acquainted with it' 
 
 " ' I know every rock and creek between this and Plymouth,' was 
 the reply, ' and I will take charge, if you will promise, on your honour, 
 to set me ashore perfectly free before you report the prize at Plymouth ; 
 but if you will not, we will all go to the bottom together.' 'On my 
 honour, I'll do so.' ' Then, stand by. About ship ; hard lee ! ' shouted 
 the smuggler ; and the cutter, almost within the breakers, answered her 
 helm in a moment, as he knew she would. For a time all was breath- 
 less suspense, which was not relieved until the pilot, as he may now be 
 called, relinquished the helm to him from whom he had taken it, 
 remarking as he did so, ' You may keep her full, as we are all safe for 
 the present.' Then, taking the prize-master to the cabin, he pointed 
 out on the chart, the Rundle Stone, the Wolf Rock, and other dangers 
 near the Land's End, as well as the Stags off the Lizard Point, and 
 stated that he would undertake to pilot the craft to Penlee Point at the 
 entrance to Plymouth Sound, on the understanding that he was set 
 ashore there. This was at once agreed to, and was duly carried into 
 effect early the next morning. This was by no means his only narrow 
 escape of becoming a man-of-war's man. During the last seven years 
 of the great war, he seven times fell into the clutches of the press-gang. 
 On each of these occasions, he was taken on board a sea-going ship, 
 and his name was entered on her books ; but in no more than one 
 instance, when he was taken to the West Indies, did his enforced 
 service extend beyond a few days, as in every other case he succeeded 
 in ' running ' very soon after being captured, as he ultimately did from 
 his West Indian ship also. 
 
 " On returning from this foreign cruise, his ship was ordered to the 
 Cove of Cork, near Queenstown ; and a day or two after arriving there, 
 a boat's crew, of which he was one, were sent under charge of a mid- 
 shipman to Haulbowling Island to make spun-yarn. Whilst engaged 
 in their work, they all agreed ' to run,' and not to return to the ship. 
 The following was their programme. On finishing their work and 
 getting into their boat, the coxswain was to ask the midshipman to allow 
 them to go to Cork to get ' something to drink.' If he consented, well ; 
 but if not, they were nevertheless to go. In any case, they were ' to 
 run ' the moment they reached the shore, and, if possible, all in different 
 directions. They were so fortunate as to get a reluctant consent from the 
 officer to go to Cove, and on touching the Strand, they simultaneously 
 leaped ashore and fled. Our mate and another man took the same 
 direction, the former having a good start ahead, and to them the 
 midshipman gave chase. Just as our fugitive turned a sharp corner 
 of the street, he passed a young woman who had seen and at once 
 comprehended the affair. Her house happened to be the first round 
 the corner, and as he was passing the open doorway she pushed him 
 in, followed him, and immediately secured the door. Thinking it 
 possible that she had been observed, and that her house would be
 
 1812-1830.] A SHIPMATE'S STORY. 7 
 
 searched in consequence, she hurried her involuntary guest to a bed- 
 room, took the bed and bedclothes off the bedstead, bade him lie on his 
 face on the sacking, with his nose and mouth in an aperture between 
 the lacing, and then replaced the bed and bedclothes; in short, she 
 4 made up' the bed on him. In the course of the day her suspicions 
 were realized. The house was thoroughly searched by a party of 
 marines from the ship, who not only looked under the bed where the 
 fugitive lay, but crept under it, examining the floor for trap-doors. On 
 the following day they came again and made a similar search, but never 
 thought of examining the bed itself, and hence failed to find the man. 
 Whilst lying there secreted, his generous hostess fed him through the 
 aperture his nose and mouth occupied. He remained a prisoner in her 
 house for ten days, when, the ship having sailed, she secured him an 
 opportunity of working his passage to England in a vessel proceeding 
 thither. Before leaving, he had to inform her that it was utterly out of 
 his power to make her any remuneration, as the clothes he wore were 
 his only property ; and he asked her what had induced her to show such 
 great kindness to an entire stranger. She replied that her only brother, 
 a sailor, had been impressed, was serving against his will on board a 
 ship-of-war, and would certainly take the first opportunity of running. 
 Hence her sympathy with him. She expected no recompense, but hoped 
 that some one would be ready, if necessary, to do for her brother what 
 she had done for him." 
 
 Another of Pengelly's favourite stories related to a shipmate 
 named George, in whom he had always taken a lively interest, 
 and of whom he writes 
 
 "George was a man having an experience utterly unlike that of 
 either the captain or the mate. He was the son of a well-educated 
 father, who, having failed to make proper use of the opportunities put 
 in his way, had remained a poor but by no means respectable relation. 
 To add to his sins of commission and of omission, he taught his only 
 child to love strong drink, and to hate his wealthy relatives ; and he 
 allowed the streets and quays to complete his education. To the end 
 of his life his son was ignorant of the alphabet. 
 
 " George's early seafaring career was in merchant-vessels, in none of 
 which does he appear to have remained long. The last of the series 
 was a large brig belonging to merchants in the north of England, and 
 bound to some foreign port. Not long after they had got clear of the 
 Channel, one of the crew sickened and died. He was followed by 
 another and another, until the captain, George, and a boy, alone 
 remained. Before reaching this very alarming condition, the ship's 
 head had, of course, been turned towards England, and some progress 
 had been made thitherward. .One evening, the weather being moderate, 
 the captain said, ' George, I will lie down on the locker for an hour or 
 two. Call me at ten o'clock, and then you can have a spell below.' 
 
 " At the appointed hour George went to call him, leaving the boy at 
 the helm ; but seeing, by the light he carried, a too-well-known expres- 
 sion on his face, he felt convinced that the disease had seized him, and
 
 8 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. I. 
 
 stood a short time watching him. As he did so, he heard him say, 
 ' My dear Peggy,' and with his wife's name on his lips he died, leaving 
 the brig in the hands of a young man and a boy, both ignorant not only 
 of navigation but of the mere art of reading. 
 
 " At this part of his tale I have seen my old shipmate, who had 
 subsequently faced death in many forms, so overcome with emotion as to 
 be utterly unable to proceed for some time. For a few days the weather 
 continued moderate, and they kept on the course which they had been 
 steering at the captain's decease. At length it began to blow heavily 
 about sunset, and they attempted to reef the fore-and-aft mainsail ; but 
 whilst thus engaged, the main-boom struck George so heavily as to 
 prostrate him. He lay for some time on the deck in an unconscious 
 state, from which he awoke to find the brig driving before the wind, and 
 the boy standing by him crying bitterly. He brought her back to her 
 course, but she had too much canvas spread ; before morning, however, 
 some of the sails were blown from their ropes. 
 
 " Where they were they had no idea, nor had they any hope of 
 being seen by a passing ship ; for the gale, having blown itself out, was 
 succeeded by a dense fog. The only thing they could do was to steer 
 in the direction in which they supposed England lay. 
 
 "At length the fog cleared off, and they were delighted to find 
 themselves not far from land land, too, with which George was well 
 acquainted. He found they had come up channel, and were abreast of 
 the Start Point. A few hours enabled him to sail into Dartmouth 
 harbour, with which he was familiar, where without delay he handed the 
 vessel and boy over to the care of the authorities, and made a statement 
 before the magistrates of all that happened. This done, he started for 
 Plymouth, and feeling sick of the merchant service, entered on board a 
 ship-of-war, which in a few days sailed for a foreign station. For many 
 years he remained a true man-of-war's man, and was at length invalided 
 on a pension, the amount of which brings out his character prominently. 
 
 " When the admirals, before whom he had to appear in order to 
 obtain his discharge, told him that he was to receive twenty pounds a 
 year in consideration of his long services, and of the wounds he had 
 received, they asked where and how it should be made payable. 
 
 " He replied that he should wish to receive it at his native place, 
 which he named, and in quarterly payments, and added : ' Your 
 honours will see that I must drink the king's health when I receive 
 my money, and as I should not wish to change the five-pound note, 
 perhaps you will let me have an extra shilling each quarter.' This 
 suggestion, at once loyal and prudent, met the cordial approval of the 
 court, and the additional shilling a quarter was secured to him. His 
 wife, however, has often told me, that it was the shilling, which in many 
 cases he did not change, but carefully brought to her, after the five 
 pounds had been expended in drinking his majesty's health. During 
 his long service in the Royal Navy he visited many foreign stations, 
 the Mediterranean, the Cape of Good Hope, both the Indies, and 
 Madagascar and the neighbouring islands. He appeared to have 
 availed himself of every opportunity of visiting noteworthy and famous 
 localities and objects, and he often gave minute descriptions of
 
 GEORGE'S ADVENTURES. 9 
 
 Gibraltar, Malta, Bombay, the Cave of Elephanta, the Isle of France 
 and Madagascar, as well as of the strange animals he had seen. One 
 of the latter secured for him a nickname, by which he was better known 
 than by that given him at the font. The animal which he chiefly 
 delighted to describe was one of the flying squirrels, which he, however, 
 always called a ' flying fox.' The idea of a fox having the power of 
 flight was so much too large for his customary auditors, that they 
 utterly rejected it, and to mark their estimation of the tale, called 
 George ' Old Flying Fox.' With a literary shipmate, who had read 
 him the story several times, he had made a study of all the localities in 
 the Isle of France connected with St. Pierre's tale of ' Paul and 
 Virginia.' The same crony had often read him the ' Paradise Lost ' ; 
 and George, whilst tailoring, would sketch the outline of the poem, 
 concluding with the invariable remark that it was ' a very deep book.' 
 Indeed, he regarded it as the exclusive privilege of the most talented 
 and learned men fully to comprehend it. My first acquaintance with 
 the character of the works just named was made through the oral 
 descriptions of my shipmate, and when I subsequently read them, I 
 was greatly surprised to find how faithful his sketches were. His 
 pension was clogged with no other condition than that he should not 
 ship on board vessels trading to foreign ports, thus leaving him at full 
 liberty to form part of a coasting crew. 
 
 " His favourite beverage was beer, of which he could carry off 
 enormous quantities without, as he phrased it, 'losing his reckoning.' 
 Indeed, I only once knew him utterly incapable of taking care of 
 himself. He was very garrulous, but never quarrelsome, when tipsy. 
 At one well-known stage in his inebriation, he became religious, would 
 talk much and with great admiration of the labours of the well-known 
 ' Boatswain Smith,' and quote Scripture largely. Propped against the 
 bulwarks, he would hold forth at great length, and certainly not cease 
 without repeating the text, ' He brought me up also out of an horrible 
 pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established 
 my goings.' On pronouncing the last words, he would commence an 
 illustrative march, and usually gave evidence that his goings were not 
 very firmly established. I once witnessed an amusing conflict between 
 the poor fellow's respect for his ' promise ' and his love of drink. One 
 of our crew* had been rescued from drowning by an innkeeper, at 
 whose house our skipper, by way of showing his gratitude, gave a supper 
 to the crew, the landlord, and a few friends. George, on being invited 
 stated that he would gladly be of the party, but that, on account of a 
 quarrel with the innkeeper, he had made a ' promise ' never to drink 
 again in his house. This was met by the remark that the promise did 
 not extend to eating, and that he should be left at perfect liberty to 
 drink or not, as he pleased. On this understanding he came. As 
 may be supposed he was a good deal chaffed, but this he managed to 
 bear with great firmness and good temper. At length, however, it 
 was unluckily suggested by some one, that there was nothing in his 
 ' promise ' to prevent his taking a glass of beer outside the house and 
 drinking it there. At this compromise he caught eagerly, and marched 
 
 * William Pengelly himself.
 
 IO WILLIAM PEN CELL Y. [Cn. I. 
 
 gravely to the door every few minutes, drank his beer, and then 
 resumed his seat. At length the captain argued that if he had put 
 his head out of the window of the room and took his draught, his 
 'promise' would be by no means broken, as he certainly would not 
 be ' drinking in the house.' 
 
 "George, aided by the potations he had already taken, was con- 
 vinced by this logic, and at once acted on the suggestion. At length 
 the innkeeper, desirous of reconciliation, thus addressed him : ' George, 
 my boy, I am very sorry that there was ever any misunderstanding 
 between us. There's my hand, and here's my heart, and I love you 
 like a brother, don't take the trouble to put your head out of the 
 window any longer. If you must do something of the kind, here's a 
 large corner cupboard with nothing in it ; put your head into that and 
 drink.' The speech and suggestion were cheered by the party, and 
 the landlord was declared to have behaved like a man. George seized 
 the proffered hand, informed the innkeeper that he bore a strong 
 resemblance to ' Boatswain Smith,' and then proceeded to go seriously 
 through the farce of keeping his 'promise' in the manner just pre- 
 scribed." 
 
 The account of Pengelly's shipmates has been given at some 
 length, so as to enable the reader to form an estimate of the 
 companions amongst whom he was thrown during his most 
 susceptible years, and thereby understand something of the 
 conditions of life at sea, early in the present century. His 
 escape from drowning (which has been mentioned, in connec- 
 tion with the supper at which "George" had such a struggle 
 with his conscience) was not the only preservation from great 
 peril for which he had to be thankful whilst engaged in a sea- 
 faring life. Together with the rest of the crew, he suffered ship- 
 wreck during a violent gale, and on two subsequent occasions 
 he was rescued from drowning, once after so long an immersion, 
 that animation could only be restored with extreme difficulty. 
 
 Space forbids our dwelling on many other incidents of his 
 boyhood, but the following account of a remarkable danger 
 from which he was delivered is worth recording. 
 
 One bitterly cold night at sea, he and some of the other 
 sailors having closed the cabin door and lit a charcoal fire, had 
 all fallen asleep, when fortunately one of the crew entered the 
 cabin. He found the greatest difficulty in awakening his com- 
 rades to sufficient consciousness to enable them to stumble up 
 on deck and get a breath of fresh air, for their sleep had well- 
 nigh become that of death. The strong and hardy seamen 
 soon recovered, but the boy was so seriously affected that, long 
 after he had been carried upon deck, he could not be roused,
 
 1812-1830.] WILLIAM'S CHARACTERISTICS. n 
 
 and was only restored to consciousness by means of prolonged 
 exertions on the part of his shipmates. 
 
 When in his sixteenth year he lost his younger brother, 
 Richard Pengelly, who had been seriously hurt during some 
 school games. It was soon found that the child's illness would 
 terminate fatally, but his kindly nature prevented him from 
 revealing the name of the boy who had injured him, though he 
 was frequently urged to do so. After his sad death, their 
 mother was too anxious about her only surviving son, to be 
 happy whilst he remained at sea. By her urgent wish, her son 
 William returned home, and thus his seafaring life came to an 
 end. The courage and self-reliance which he had gained as a 
 young sailor were, no doubt, most useful to him all through his 
 career, and though the life must have been one of some tempta- 
 tion, he seems to have been singularly unharmed by it. He 
 was always moderate in speech, at a time when oaths were 
 not uncommon, and consistently abstemious, when hard drink- 
 ing was almost universal. In later years he became a total 
 abstainer, and never took any alcoholic beverage, even when 
 urged to do so by medical advice. Those who consider for a 
 moment the many allurements to evil that beset a youthful sailor's 
 life, will appreciate the strength of mind and nobility of character 
 which enabled the young mariner to escape them unscathed. 
 
 The keen sense of humour, high spirits, and love of fun, 
 which made Pengelly so much liked at sea, rendered him after- 
 wards equally popular with his pupils and scientific colleagues. 
 
 No doubt his unfailing cheerfulness greatly assisted him to 
 overcome the difficulties and anxieties that are always incidental 
 to a long and active life ; but joined to this sanguine disposition, 
 he possessed in large measure the extreme sensitiveness and 
 highly-organized nature which is so often a characteristic of 
 men of Keltic origin. 
 
 It was a perfect passion with him ever to side with the 
 victims of injury or oppression, and though in later life he bore 
 misrepresentations of his own scientific work most cheerfully, 
 he was instantly roused to indignation by any injustice shown 
 to his friends, or even to entire strangers. The knowledge of 
 unfairness of any kind, or even the receipt of a distressing 
 letter, would be sure to give him a weary and sleepless night. 
 It was his nature to be perfectly honest and truthful, and his 
 sympathies remained undimmed to the end of his life.
 
 12 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. II. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 HIS SCHOOL AT TORQUAY AND FIRST MARRIAGE. 
 
 1830 TO END OF 1847. 
 
 FOR a few years after giving up the sea, Pengelly lived at Looe, 
 but of this time little record remains. It is, however, certain 
 that, notwithstanding the severe labours he was engaged in 
 during the day for a bare maintenance, he nevertheless devoted 
 many hours of every night to study, with the determination to 
 make himself a master of the science of mathematics. This 
 difficult task he carried on, not only without tuition, but also 
 under the great disadvantage of not possessing any really good 
 books on the subject. In spite of these drawbacks he succeeded 
 in attaining such proficiency in his favourite pursuit, that in a 
 comparatively short time he became a mathematical tutor of 
 no mean order. 
 
 This period of home life is uneventful, but there was one 
 day that lived happily in his recollection, when he made a 
 pedestrian journey of more than thirty miles, to Devonport and 
 back, that being the nearest town where he could procure some 
 of the books he so earnestly longed for. For this purpose he had 
 saved up his money for a long time, and, needless to say, it was 
 all quickly expended. He returned home with empty pockets, 
 but feeling rich indeed in having become the possessor of the 
 works of some standard authors; for while he was specially 
 devoted to mathematical studies, he was at the same time an 
 omnivorous reader. 
 
 It will be easily understood that the books thus obtained 
 opened a new world to him, and assisted materially in pro- 
 moting his intellectual progress. 
 
 He records some years later the history of his self-education. 
 
 " ' I could a tale unfold ' of struggles, long-continued and severe, 
 during my early pursuit of knowledge. I could speak of the intellectual
 
 1830-1847.] SELF-EDUCATION. 13 
 
 isolation of my early years, when panting after information ; no one at 
 hand to direct me in my inquiries, to solve my numerous questions, or 
 to cheer me onward in the path I had resolved to pursue. No book- 
 seller's shop within sixteen miles, and but little money to spend in it, if 
 there had been. My only chance of obtaining a book was through an 
 old pedlar, who occasionally visited our village, and of whom I bought 
 my first ' Euclid.' Well do I remember the delight with which, on one 
 occasion, I purchased twenty volumes of books at a secondhand book- 
 shop at Devonport ay, and the pride, too, with which I carried my 
 treasure in a bundle on my shoulder, to my village home, sixteen miles 
 across the Cornish hills. I could tell, too, of the derision of some of 
 my acquaintances, the dissuasive advice of others, and the firm, though 
 kind and well-meant, opposition of my parents. In short, I stood all 
 but alone ; few, very few, sympathized or cheered, but many scoffed." 
 
 It is not difficult to see that, though this mental isolation 
 must have been extremely irksome, the determined struggle, and 
 the self-reliance gained in consequence, tended in a remarkable 
 manner to assist his self-development. 
 
 In a fragmentary sketch, hastily written and unfortunately 
 never completed, my father describes a well-known character 
 in his native place, whose sayings and doings had made a deep 
 impression on his youthful mind. 
 
 "Dick Harper," he writes, "before my time had been a farm- 
 labourer, but, when I knew him, he had grown old though still hale, was 
 a sort of ' odd man,' could assist in loading or unloading a coasting 
 vessel, could act as a scavenger, supply the place of a river bargeman 
 for a day or two, work in a garden, and, in short, turn his hand to 
 several things, none of which, however, needed much skill. He had 
 mastered the alphabet, and could spell out a word if time were given 
 him, but beyond this his scholastic attainments did not extend. He 
 had a huge fund of good temper and dry humour, and a tolerable stock 
 of stories. According to the villagers, Dick had an answer for every- 
 body ; in other words, if any one began to chaff him, he usually proved 
 to be fully their equal in that line. He must have been a pretty good 
 actor, for during the great French War a press-gang which visited our 
 village carried him off to a ship-of-war, where he played the fool so- 
 continually and consistently that he was set on shore, whilst other 
 landsmen, no more efficient than he, were retained and converted into- 
 sailors. 
 
 " Dick was sincerely religious, and very fond of hearing religious 
 books read. He once came to me with the following statement : 
 
 "'I was working yesterday in Mr. R 's gardens, and 'e was 
 
 there most part of the day reading. When 'e went away 'e left his 
 book on the seat, and I took en up and look at en. 'Twas called 
 " Milton's Paradise Lost." Did 'e ever 'ear tell o'n?' 
 
 " Now it so happened that I had heard much of the work, and had
 
 14 WILLIAM PENGELLY. ' [Cn. II. 
 
 once caught a glimpse of it, about two years before, for a quarter of an 
 hour only. I knew that the word ' Paradise ' had caught the old man, 
 and that he expected it to be a sort of religious tract. Still I knew 
 him well enough to believe he would enjoy it when read to him. I 
 accordingly replied 
 
 " ' Oh yes, I've heard a good deal about it, and indeed saw it once 
 for a very short time. I should be delighted to get an opportunity of 
 reading it. Do you think you could borrow it ? ' 
 
 " ' I dunnow, but I'll try if so be you'll promise to read en out loud 
 to me.' 
 
 " ' Oh, by all means ; that's a bargain ! Get the book, and you shall 
 hear it from end to end if you wish.' 
 
 "At the close of his next day of gardening at Mr. R 's, my old 
 
 friend came to me, and with a look of triumph said, ' I've got en,' and 
 we at once arranged that, as the days were near their greatest length, 
 we would, the weather being fine, meet for the purpose of reading at 
 seven o'clock on Tuesday and Friday evenings, at the head of his orchard. 
 And there the old man of seventy and the boy of sixteen duly seated 
 themselves under an apple tree, on a mossy bank which commanded a 
 view of the harbour and the sea, and steadily read the 'Paradise 
 Lost' through from end to end, and very thoroughly they enjoyed it. 
 I must make two confessions, however. First, the mythological 
 allusions puzzled us a good deal, but with the aid of a small edition of 
 ' Johnson's Dictionary ' containing a chapter of the heathen gods and 
 goddesses, our principal loss was that of time. Secondly, we both 
 chuckled a good deal over the puns put into the mouths of Satan and 
 Belial in the sixth book in the matter of the devilish inquiry. Indeed, 
 I had to read that section a second time. 
 
 " When we reached the end, the last five lines so impressed us that 
 we committed them to memory, and when we occasionally met after- 
 wards and had time to do so, each repeated to the other 
 
 " ' Some natural tears they dropt, but wiped them soon ; 
 The world was all before them, where to choose 
 Their place of rest, and Providence their guide : 
 They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, 
 Through Eden took their solitary way.' " 
 
 It does not appear that whilst acquiring other branches of 
 knowledge Pengelly paid any special attention to that science 
 with which his name afterwards became associated. 
 
 His earliest geological experience was not particularly en- 
 couraging ; it occurred when he was a sailor-boy weather-bound 
 on the Dorsetshire coast, and he used thus to relate it : 
 
 " I received my first lesson in geology at Lyme Regis, very soon 
 after I had entered my teens. A labourer, whom I was observing, 
 accidentally broke a large stone of blue lias, and thus disclosed a fine 
 ammonite the first fossil of any kind that I had ever seen or heard of.
 
 1830-1847-] EARLY GEOLOGICAL EXPERIENCES. 15 
 
 In reply to my exclamation 
 What's that?' 
 
 The workman said with a sneer 
 ' If you had read the Bible, you'd know what 'tis.' 
 ' I have read the Bible. But what has that to do with it ? ' 
 ' In the Bible we're told there was once a flood that covered all 
 the world. At that time, all the rocks were mud, and the different 
 things that were drowned were buried in it, that there's a snake that 
 was buried that way. There are lots of 'em, and other things besides, 
 in the rocks and stones hereabouts.' 
 " ' A snake ! but where's his head ? ' 
 
 " * You must read the Bible, I tell 'ee, and then you'll find out why 
 'tis that some of these snakes in the rocks ain't got no heads. We're 
 told there, that the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head. 
 That's how 'tis."' 
 
 Some years later he was brought a second time into contact 
 with geology, and writes thus of the occurrence : 
 
 "A few of my brother villagers started a reading club, and I 
 became a member. We met in a dame's schoolroom, at eight o'clock 
 on every Thursday evening during the winter; paying no rent, but 
 finding our own candles and fuel. Our practice was for one member 
 to read aloud, whilst the others listened. One of our laws secured to 
 any member the privilege of stopping the reader for the purpose of 
 asking a question, stating an objection, criticizing, commenting, or 
 amplifying, and the law was by no means a dead letter. Amongst 
 other books we read Rowland Hill's 'Village Dialogues,' Chalmers' 
 ' Astronomical Discourses,' and Dick's ' Christian Philosopher.' The 
 'Philosopher' contained a geological section. On reaching this the 
 reader paused, announced what was immediately before us, and 
 remarked that, as geology was very likely to be extremely dry, and as 
 many good men thought it dangerous if not decidedly infidel in its 
 teachings, he would propose that the section should not be read. This 
 was passed by acclamation, and the reader passed on to astronomy." 
 
 While still quite young he was induced by a relative of his 
 mother to settle at Torquay, which, though at that time a 
 small place, was more interesting to his ardent and enthusiastic 
 nature than his native village. From the following description 
 it may be judged that life at Looe must have been somewhat 
 monotonous. 
 
 " In the village in which I was born and bred," he writes, " I knew 
 every individual, from the worshipful the Mayor down to the scavenger, 
 and was not uninformed respecting the amount of their incomes, their 
 rates of expenditure, the letters they received, where they bought their 
 new garments, what they cost, and who made them ; whether they lived 
 on the fat of the land, or on the barest gleanings ; in short, their 
 general domestic arrangements and concerns."
 
 1 6 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. II. 
 
 Shortly after arriving in Torquay, he opened a small day- 
 school on the Pestalozzian system, and was one of the first to 
 introduce the use of the chalk and black-board, in giving 
 instruction. The school rapidly increased, from six scholars 
 to thirty, and afterwards to about seventy, and amongst his 
 assistants he had the advantage of reckoning the Rev. Ebenezer 
 Jenkins, subsequently well known through his writings, and as 
 President of the Wesleyan Conference. 
 
 Soon after beginning his career as a schoolmaster the 
 subject of geology was for a third time brought before his 
 notice, and in such a manner on this occasion as at once to 
 arouse him fully. Looking over some books that appeared 
 likely to be useful to his scholars, he came unexpectedly upon 
 one volume (published by the Brothers Chambers, with both of 
 whom he afterwards became well acquainted), which devoted 
 a single chapter only to Geology. On reading it carefully 
 through, he was at once struck by the extent of knowledge 
 that had been already gained in this department of science, 
 and with the opportunities of further research which it afforded. 
 
 Scientific studies now began to occupy Pengelly's attention, 
 and he devoted himself with great earnestness to geological 
 pursuits, although it was many years before he undertook those 
 investigations in the caves of Devonshire, which were brought 
 to such a successful conclusion, as to gain for him a foremost 
 place in the ranks of British geologists. It is remarkable 
 that his efforts were so successful, for it will have been 
 seen that his early years had passed without any of those 
 opportunities of special training which might have proved of 
 such great assistance to him. But he was a keen observer, 
 very fond of work, and a capital walker (no mean requisite in 
 field-geology), and having once taken his hammer in hand, he 
 pursued his investigations with eager delight. 
 
 In 1837 Pengelly married Mary Ann Mudge, who was 
 related to his mother, and this early marriage put an end to his 
 cherished scheme of matriculating at the University of Cam- 
 bridge. His wife's health was always delicate, and he suffered 
 much anxiety on this account. He also felt acutely the loss of 
 his eldest boy, who died when only a year old, and often after- 
 wards he spoke of the terrible grief which he endured at the 
 funeral of his first-born child. It took place on a beautifully 
 bright sunny day, and the happy stir of life and movement
 
 1830-184?.] FIRST RAILWAY JOURNEY. 17 
 
 around, with all the freshness of the blossoming spring, were in 
 sharp contrast to his own sorrow and distress. He was always 
 extremely fond of children, and a most kind and thoughtful 
 father, but it was some time before his home was again 
 gladdened by the presence of a little child. 
 
 To the present generation, accustomed to railway journeys, 
 it may be interesting to have an account of Pengelly's sensa- 
 tions on first travelling by train. He had to go as far as 
 Taunton by coach, the railway not being extended further 
 westward at that time. After arriving in London, he writes 
 thus to an intimate friend : 
 
 "Nothing of importance having occurred on the road, I have the 
 less to write; nevertheless I would, were it in my power, describe 
 my sensations in passing along the rail-road ; this, however, is beyond 
 me. I was delighted with such an astonishing application of science, 
 and also with the precision and regularity of the arrangements and 
 movements at the various stations. I cannot say I was perfectly at 
 ease during the first hour. There was one idea that presented itself 
 to my mind throughout the entire journey, namely, that I was attached, 
 with many other things, to the tail of some huge animal in the manner 
 that boys sometimes treat cats or dogs, and that I was drawn along by 
 its efforts, made in the extremest agony, to free itself from the articles 
 attached to it." 
 
 In 1837 he was instrumental in the re-organization of the 
 Torquay Mechanics' Institute, for which he laboured with his 
 wonted energy. He continued for more than twenty years to 
 feel a warm interest in the success of the undertaking, and con- 
 tributed greatly to it by the delivery of lectures and affording 
 other valuable services. 
 
 To one whose love and appreciation of natural science was so 
 far in advance of what had hitherto been his means of study, 
 the first opportunity of inspecting the treasures of the British 
 Museum, and other great institutions in London, was naturally 
 a period of intense enjoyment. 
 
 At the same time, the delight recorded in the following letters 
 addressed to his friend, Mr. William Wilson, reads curiously in 
 the consideration of what the collections were, that came under 
 the student's view in 1843, as compared with what they have 
 grown to be, in another half-century. 
 
 The letters bear the following dates : 
 
 "London, June 20, 1843. Yesterday I paid my first visit to the 
 British Museum, and now find that I know little or nothing about it; 
 the multiplicity of objects confused me. I paid most attention to the 
 
 C
 
 1 8 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. II. 
 
 Ornithological and Zoophytic rooms, in each of which the variety of 
 forms, under which Nature presents itself really astonished me ; still I 
 do not think a strait waistcoat will be necessary. I need not tell you 
 that I shall go again." 
 
 "London, June 30. Yesterday morning I called on a medical 
 student in the London University, who very kindly conducted me 
 through those parts of the university most interesting to a stranger; 
 that which struck me most, was the museum of anatomical and 
 physiological preparations. Unfortunately, my friend's time was very 
 short, so that I left the room very reluctantly, and with an earnest 
 desire to revisit it." 
 
 " London, July i. I went this morning to visit the museum of the 
 College of Surgeons, and was very much delighted indeed. It is im- 
 possible to say what I saw, I saw nearly everything in the museum ; 
 and I should think that it contains all that the anatomist and physiolo- 
 gist can desire. I was probably equally pleased with each department. 
 Sometimes I think that of comparative anatomy the best, sometimes 
 that of morbid anatomy, and sometimes that illustrative of foetal develop- 
 ment and existence ; the fact is, they are all best. Some of the fossils 
 are magnificent I scarcely know which to admire most, the museum, 
 or the kindness of my guide. 
 
 " After leaving this I went to King's College, and accidentally 
 became acquainted with Mr. Edwards, one of the Professors, and 
 known to me as an author ; he very kindly showed me all he could 
 then, which was a museum of models and apparatus. There I saw 
 Babbage's calculating machine at least, so much of it as has been per- 
 fected ; I saw it cube several numbers, but do not by any means under- 
 stand the principle on which it acts, or the movements of the complicated 
 machinery. I also had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Wheatstone, inventor 
 of the electric telegraph, electric clocks, etc. I saw the telegraph at 
 work on a small scale ; but this, too, is beyond me. Let the self-sufficient 
 in knowledge visit the London institutions, and he will be cured if 
 curable.* 
 
 " I again returned to the Museum and spent some time in the 
 insect-room, and was very much pleased with the gay attire in which 
 Nature has decked herself in this department. I found that a consider- 
 able quantity of fossil bones had been set up since my last visit." 
 
 "London, July 4. I have called on Mr. Webster, Professor of 
 Geology at the London University, and found him a kind-hearted 
 simple old gentleman, having no desire to keep his knowledge a secret. 
 I spent some time with him, and had one of the most agreeable chats 
 since leaving home. He is much afraid that all the movements made 
 for the improvement of society will be abortive, he is rather inclined 
 to take a gloomy view of things. I fear he has been disappointed ; 
 his whole life has been spent in scientific research, and it does not 
 appear to have enriched him. The privileges of the London Univer- 
 sity are not appreciated by the public to the extent that was expected. 
 
 * This letter contains Pengelly's first mention of Babbage and Wheatstone, with 
 both of whom he afterwards became well acquainted.
 
 1830-1847-] MUSEUM OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 19 
 
 Mr. Webster tells me it has almost become a medical school only. I 
 promised him some of the fossil treasures of South Devon ; the effect 
 of this communication was something like that of an electric shock, 
 the good old man appeared quite delighted." 
 
 "London, July 5. Yesterday morning I went in search of the 
 Museum of ' Economic Geology ' of which I have read much, and 
 which I had been informed, at the British Museum, was at, or near, 
 Charing Cross ; therefore, to Charing Cross I went, and inquired of 
 the first well-dressed person I met; but he knew nothing about it, 
 could make nothing of the phrase 'Economic Geology.' I applied 
 with similar success to at least twenty different persons; by some I 
 was directed to the Adelaide Gallery, by others to the British Museum, 
 to the Polytechnic, to some Phrenological shops, but most persons 
 declined to direct, declaring they knew nothing about it, having never 
 heard the phrase 'Economic Geology' before. At length, a philoso- 
 phical instrument maker directed me to Craig's Court, into which I 
 went, and met a gentleman, who again directed me out of it into 
 Scotland Yard, on reaching which I found the museum of the United 
 Service ; this not being what I wanted, I recommenced my search, and 
 was directed by a shoemaker to Craig's Court again, and, on getting 
 there, I found it ; and a very interesting place it is. Here are immense 
 numbers of polished cubes of marble, sandstones, elvan, granite, and 
 serpentine, all with tickets containing their names, localities, by whom 
 presented, and the chief buildings in which they had been employed. 
 The Babbacombe, Ipplepen, and Ogwell marbles were amongst the 
 choicest specimens; another large room contained the metallic 
 minerals, or ores of metal, with which I was very much interested. 
 On leaving this, I called on Mr. Edwards, of King's College, who took 
 me to a class of boys, who were being instructed in singing by the 
 famous Hullah ; I was much pleased to find that Mr. Edwards could 
 descend from the pedestal of the teacher, for he sat down among his 
 pupils, and sang away as heartily as any of them ; he afterwards told 
 me he was going regularly through the course. Mr. Hullah found 
 great difficulty in keeping up the attention of his pupils generally. 
 They were taking their first lesson in the minor key, and I suppose 
 found it somewhat difficult ; nevertheless, several boys answered the 
 questions he put them very expertly and correctly, and on the whole 
 I conclude the boys did very well. On the breaking up of the class, 
 Mr. Edwards informed me that Mr. Hullah would be at the College 
 again the next day, and have a larger and more advanced class, and 
 invited me to call again.* He then took me to Christ Church School, 
 of which he has been an examiner for the past ten years. This 
 appears to be an immense place, and I should think the boys were 
 very comfortable there." 
 
 "London, July n. On looking over the time I have spent in 
 London, I find nothing to cause me to repent of coming ; it will be an 
 important period in my life, many things have occurred since being 
 
 * Pengelly had studied the theory of music, was extremely fond of it, and sang 
 well himself, so that this visit must have interested him greatly.
 
 20 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Ctr. II. 
 
 here, for each of which I would have come up from Devonshire. I 
 have had an intellectual feast, the viands have been various, but I hope 
 wholesome. I am inclined to think I must be removed from the order 
 Bimana to Ruminata, as I shall certainly reproduce my food and chew 
 it over and over again. There are a few things I could have wished to 
 have seen, but I must have stopped somewhere. I could spend a 
 fortune here in purchasing philosophical apparatus and models, maps, 
 diagrams, and books, but I have not a fortune to spend, and as I must 
 stop somewhere I have stopped short of purchasing anything ; indeed, 
 I know not what choice to make." 
 
 " Southampton, July 14. I find this to be an interesting place; it 
 possesses a scientific institution, termed the Polytechnic, possessed of a 
 museum and reading-room, the society has a good many members, 
 lectures are regularly given during the winter, there is no difficulty in 
 getting an ample supply of lecturers. I visited the museum and found 
 many good things in it, but miserably arranged or rather, not arranged 
 at all. 
 
 "About two miles from the town, on a common, an artesian well 
 is being sunk ; this I visited, but could not get access to the works ; this 
 was a disappointment, nevertheless I very much enjoyed the walk. In 
 the afternoon I rambled to Netley Abbey, a ruin not far from the shores 
 of Southampton Water, about three miles from the town. To reach it 
 I had to cross the Itchen, on which a steam bridge plies ; I found the 
 walk to the ruin very beautiful, a considerable part of it is by the water, 
 commanding a view of the country, the harbour, and the Isle of Wight. 
 I found the ruin to be very splendid ; though time has done much 
 injury, the modern barbarians have done much more, both in destroying 
 and rebuilding ; the latter being perhaps more destructive of the beauty 
 of the old pile than the former. I should like to spend some time in 
 the Isle of Wight, but it will be altogether useless to think of visiting 
 it during my brief tarriance here." 
 
 During his holidays, Pengelly began to make longer journeys, 
 and greatly enjoyed his first expedition to Scotland, a country 
 which he often revisited. He was delighted with the beautiful 
 scenery of the North and Western Highlands, and the picturesque 
 islands of the coast. Edinburgh, with its grand situation and 
 deeply interesting old town, particularly attracted him. Whilst 
 in the Northern capital he had the advantage of making the 
 acquaintance of the late Professor Jameson, who gave him much 
 valuable information concerning the geology of the Isle of Arran, 
 which he was about to visit. The Professor concluded his 
 remarks with the following hint : " On your return I hope you 
 will call on me again, when the first question I shall ask will 
 probably be, ' Did you write your notes on the spot, or at the 
 Inn at the close of the day ? ' If you reply, ' On the spot,' I
 
 183^-1847.] TORQUAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 21 
 
 shall be glad to hear them ; but, if not, I am afraid I shall not 
 think them of much value." 
 
 From that time Pengelly acted on this suggestion, and there 
 is little doubt that the advice so opportunely given him, when 
 a young man, greatly helped to form those habits of extreme 
 accuracy which characterized all his scientific work. 
 
 Mr. Edward Vivian was one of his earliest friends in Torquay, 
 and the similarity of their tastes, both in scientific and local 
 matters, tended to foster the friendship thus begun. In 1844, 
 with the assistance of Mr. Vivian, Dr. Battersby, and other 
 friends, Pengelly founded the Torquay Natural History Society, 
 and was untiring in his efforts to contribute to its permament 
 usefulness, by assisting with gratuitously-given lectures, papers, 
 and gifts of fossils. His power of organization was great, and 
 certainly did not mean, as is sometimes the case, doing little 
 work and taking all the credit. 
 
 A writer in " Natural Science" for May, 1894, thus alludes to 
 the subject : 
 
 " It was indeed mainly due to Mr. Pengelly's energy that the autumn 
 of 1844 witnessed the foundation of the Torquay Natural History 
 Society. Over its early fortunes he exercised the most watchful care, 
 and in 1851 he was induced to accept the office of honorary secretary, 
 an office which he continued uninterruptedly to hold, to the unspeakable 
 advantage of the Society, for no less than nine-and-thirty years. Under 
 his guidance it became a scientific power in the county. Year after 
 year he lectured there, tincturing the locality with his own enthusiasm ; 
 and from the Society there ultimately sprang the Museum in Babbacombe 
 Road, with its admirable local collections. In the reading-room attached 
 to the Museum there fitly hangs an oil-painting of the man whose indi- 
 viduality is unmistakably marked upon the entire institution William 
 Pengelly." 
 
 The following notes from a paper written in 1894 by his old 
 friend and pupil, Mr. A. R. Hunt, M.A., F.G.S., F.L.S., give 
 some reminiscences of Pengelly's work at the Museum and show 
 the pleasant feeling that existed between him and his pupils. 
 
 " Without entering into needless detail, it may be confidently asserted 
 that the Torquay Natural History Society was founded by a few enthusi- 
 astic naturalists, associated for the sole purpose of mutual assistance in 
 original research. The founders were able men; but men, however 
 able, cannot work without books ; so these gentlemen devised a plan 
 by which their individual subscriptions should be augmented for the 
 purchase of the needful scientific literature. Having much to say, and
 
 22 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. II. 
 
 being able to say it well, they organized lectures, open to the public, 
 simply and solely for the purpose of turning in the wished-for cash. 
 These lectures, delivered in the winter season, have continued to the 
 present day. . . . 
 
 " Owing to the fact that the Society was founded by men of mark, 
 notable visitors and neighbours have often been seen at the lecture-desk, 
 such as Scoresby, Tylor, W. Froude, Goldwin-Smith, and Sir Samuel 
 Baker, together with many others of high eminence in their respective 
 walks of science and culture. . . . 
 
 " In course of time the Society took up its quarters in the Free- 
 masons' Hall, where Mr. Pengelly's wonderful lectures attracted crowds 
 of hearers of the most miscellaneous character, and abstruse questions 
 of astronomy and geology proved attractive to men with no scientific 
 training whatever. Given a little common sense, and the lecturer 
 seemed to require nothing more. We have all seen the celebrated 
 Kodak advertisement, ' You touch the button ; we do the rest.' Mr. 
 Pengelly might have said with equal truth, ' You come and listen ; I 
 will do the rest. The lecturer's style was quite sui generis. He seemed 
 to force his hearers to form their own conclusions, rather than to accept 
 the speaker's opinions. Indeed, these as mere opinions were very 
 seldom allowed a prominent place. Astronomy was a favourite subject. 
 I well remember, as a boy, hearing Mr. Pengelly explain and illustrate 
 the retrograde paths of the planets in the heavens in so perspicuous a 
 manner that it was impossible not to understand the phenomena. Of 
 course, in astronomy Mr. Pengelly was not an original worker ; but, as 
 the facts on which he lectured were acknowledged facts, and not 
 questions of opinion, he was always on safe ground. As a geologist it 
 was, of course, otherwise ; here he was not only an advanced worker, 
 but in the special branch of cavern deposits he was an authority. When 
 expounding this, his favourite science, his power was quite extraordinary, 
 and his courses of elementary lectures were more instructive than any 
 text-book could be. He used to say that he never wrote his lectures, 
 or delivered identically the same lecture more than once. A few 
 skeleton notes seemed to suffice for a text, on which there was always 
 more to say than time would allow, though the mistake was never made 
 of attempting to crowd into an hour more than it could contain. 
 
 "At the time the Society occupied the Freemasons' Hall, the 
 Darwinian theory was comparatively young, and was even more often 
 than at present the subject of eager controversy. The majority of 
 naturalists had been brought up in the orthodox belief that plants and 
 animals had been created perfect at definite times, in the common 
 acceptation of the meaning of the word creation. Besides this, the six 
 days of creation was a doctrine very commonly taught and accepted. 
 Perhaps the two most distinguished naturalists who have made Torquay 
 their home were Mr. P. H. Gosse, F.R.S., and Mr. Pengelly, F.R.S., 
 the former a staunch exponent of the literal Mosaic doctrine of creation, 
 the latter an early convert to the theory of creation by evolution. . . . 
 
 " Mr. Pengelly, as I have elsewhere stated, remarked at a public 
 meeting that he wanted to hear what Mr. X. knew, not what he thought 
 a sentiment which is the very key to all true progress, and which
 
 1830-1847-] GENEROSITY IN CONTROVERSY. 23 
 
 involves building on the firm foundation of what is known, and doubt- 
 ing every scientific assertion based on conjecture and opinion. The 
 Apostle's precept, ' Prove all things, hold fast that which is good,' is 
 the very soul of sound research ; but such sentiments can naturally find 
 no place in the nursery or class-room, where docility is more valued 
 than scepticism, unless, indeed, in those exceptional cases where the 
 teachers are fellow-students with the taught. 
 
 "This calls to mind another remarkable trait in Mr. Pengelly's 
 character. As soon as his pupils were men, all idea of teacher and 
 taught was swept away, and the master did not even seem to appreciate 
 the incense of his pupils' gratitude. He would far prefer their attacking 
 him, and so giving him the pleasure of returning the compliment This 
 again reminds me of a personal incident. Mr. Pengelly having publicly 
 attacked one of my papers, I replied in the most rebellious spirit, fighting 
 every point, conceding nothing, and even gibbeting my critic in parallel 
 columns to try and convict him of inaccuracy in his own work. A 
 fearful retribution might have been expected ! This is what happened. 
 Mr. Pengelly quietly said one day, ' I have read your reply. It is, of 
 course, open to me to write a rejoinder ; but these controversies must 
 stop somewhere, and, so far as I am concerned, I intend to let the 
 subject drop.' Mark the generosity ! Though he left me with the last 
 word in the Transactions of the Devonshire Association, he went out of 
 his way to set me at my ease in private as to his future intentions a 
 very important matter to a student when his opponent is a man of the 
 calibre of Mr. Pengelly. But, on looking back to years of fencing with 
 my old master, I note especially the absolute trust which he always 
 inspired. It was impossible for him to take a mean advantage of an 
 opponent, or to try and make the worse appear the better part. To 
 play a science game with him was like playing any game of skill, such 
 as golf, racquets, or lawn-tennis, with gentlemen who can be trusted to 
 attempt no sharp practice, and to give the benefit of the doubt to their 
 opponents rather than take it themselves. Thus, if any one scored a 
 point off Mr. Pengelly, he would be the first to proclaim it" 
 
 He worked so unceasingly, as frequently to call forth the 
 remonstrances of his friends, one of whom writes, in April, 
 1846 
 
 "I am fearful for you, on hearing of such continual exertions, far 
 beyond the health of the strongest; continual mental exertion from five 
 o'clock to midnight is more than any one can bear with impunity, 
 especially as you can allow no time for meals. On this account I was 
 pleased to hear you were contemplating giving up your school at 
 midsummer, and trusting to private tuition alone, which will save you 
 a vast amount of wear and tear, and not materially diminish your 
 resources, I hope, from the increased time it will afford, for other 
 pursuits. Torquay is becoming such a large place, and you are such 
 a public character, that there can be little doubt of your finding full 
 employment and time for geologizing again, and making fresh dis- 
 coveries in the fossil treasures of Torquay."
 
 24 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Ca. II. 
 
 In 1846, his private pupils had grown to be so numerous 
 that he was able to give up his school altogether, and become 
 a tutor of mathematics and the natural sciences. 
 
 His success from this time was extremely rapid, and is most 
 striking, when it is remembered that he enjoyed so few 
 advantages of education, was without access to a single good 
 library, had no influential friends, except those whom his own 
 ability and worth attracted, and suffered constant anxiety from 
 having no private means to fall back upon in case of illness. 
 His pupils were representative of all classes, from the scions of 
 more than one royal house, and the children of people of dis- 
 tinction, to those in the humbler walks in life. Many of them 
 afterwards achieved celebrity. He was deeply interested in the 
 welfare of all, but most particularly in that of the working-men 
 and lads, whom he taught gratuitously at an evening class that 
 he had established in 1839, and at which he worked very hard, 
 after his long day's professional toil. He was always anxious 
 to encourage a love of knowledge, and to assist in any educa- 
 tional work among the people, wishing that others might have 
 those advantages which he himself had never had the good 
 fortune to enjoy. Among his papers, the following note, 
 written about this time, was found : " I spent a considerable 
 part of to-day in turning over a host of manuscripts, chiefly 
 mathematical exercises, including arithmetic, algebra, plane 
 and spherical trigonometry, and navigation. They are the 
 results of severe study, under terrible privations ; now they are 
 altogether valueless, and I believe I shall burn them, though it 
 really pains me to do it" 
 
 One of the earliest of the numerous testimonials presented 
 to him was from his pupils. It took the form of a valuable 
 microscope, which he greatly prized, not only for its intrinsic 
 worth, but also as a proof of the kindness of those who had 
 cheerfully undertaken the task of getting up the testimonial 
 as a mark of their appreciation of his work. 
 
 After giving up his school, he was able to find a little more 
 time for general society. One of his most valued friends at 
 this period was the Duchess of Manchester, who showed him 
 great kindness, and took the keenest interest in all his scientific 
 pursuits. Her death, in the autumn of 1848, was a great sorrow 
 to him. 
 
 He also became intimate with Sir Culling and Lady Eardley,
 
 1830-1847.] MATHEMATICAL RECREATION. 2$ 
 
 who were very desirous that he should accompany their son to 
 Palestine ; but, interesting as the expedition would have been, 
 he had regretfully to give it up, as it would have involved too 
 great a sacrifice of his time and work at Torquay. It will have 
 been seen how highly he valued mathematical studies, but that 
 his zeal was surpassed by one of his friends the following 
 extract from his narrative of a holiday ramble will show. 
 
 " I one day learned that my road lay within a couple of miles of 
 
 the rectory of my old mathematical friend D . We had been great 
 
 friends when he was a curate in a distant part of the country, but had 
 not met for several years, during which he had been advanced from a 
 curacy of about So to a rectory of 200 per year, and a residence, 
 in a very secluded district. My time was very short; but, for aidd 
 lang syne, I decided to sacrifice a few hours. On reaching the house, 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. D were fortunately at home, and received me with 
 
 their wonted kindness. 
 
 " The salutations were barely over, when I said 
 
 " ' It is now six o'clock ; I must reach W to-night, and as it is 
 
 said to be fully eight miles off, and I am utterly unacquainted with the 
 road, and with the town when I reach it, I cannot remain with you one 
 minute after eight o'clock.' 
 
 "'Oh, very well,' said D , 'then we must improve the shining 
 
 hours. Jane, my dear, be so good as to order tea.' 
 
 " Having so said, he left the room. In a few minutes he returned 
 with a book under his arm, and his hands filled with writing materials, 
 which he placed upon the table. Opening the book, he said 
 
 " 'This is Hind's "Trigonometry," and here's a lot of examples for 
 practice. Let us see which can do the greatest number of them by 
 eight o'clock. I did most of them many years ago, but I have not 
 looked at them since. Suppose we begin at this one' which he 
 pointed out 'and take them as they come. We can drink our tea 
 as we work, so as to lose no time.' 
 
 '"All right,' said I; though it was certainly not the object for 
 which I had come out of my road. 
 
 " Accordingly we set to work. No words passed between us ; the 
 
 servant brought in the tray, Mrs. D handed us our tea, which we 
 
 drank now and then, and the time flew on rapidly. At length, finding 
 it to be a quarter to eight 
 
 " ' We must stop,' said I, 'for in a quarter of an hour I must be on 
 the road.' 
 
 " ' Very well Let us see how our answers agree with those of the 
 author.' 
 
 "It proved that he had correctly solved one more than I had. 
 This point settled, I said, ' Good-bye.' 
 
 " ' Good-bye. Do come again as soon as you can. The farmers 
 know nothing whatever about trigonometry.' 
 
 "We parted at the rectory door, and have never met since; nor 
 shall we ever do so more, as his decease occurred several years ago.
 
 26 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. II. 
 
 During my late long walk to W , my mind was chiefly occupied 
 
 with the mental isolation of a rural clergyman." 
 
 Pengelly's name being so well known in connection with 
 Kent's Cavern which had already partially been explored by 
 the Rev. J. MacEnery, a Roman Catholic priest (to whose 
 labours he always referred in the warmest terms of apprecia- 
 tion), and again in 1840 by Mr. Godwin Austen, it is worthy of 
 note that in 1846 he received, in conjunction with Mr. Vivian 
 and Dr. Battersby, a grant of a small sum from the Torquay 
 Natural History Society, to enable them to make some further 
 examination in the cavern. The results obtained were very 
 valuable to science, but public opinion was not then prepared to 
 receive some of the most striking conclusions. It was not until 
 the year 1864 that " at the Bath meeting of the British Associa- 
 tion, mainly by the influence of Sir Charles Lyell, who was then 
 president, a powerful committee was appointed for the systematic 
 exploration of the cavern." 
 
 Allusion has been already made to Pengelly's temperate 
 habits, but his kindness of heart extended even to inebriates, and 
 occasionally led him into curious adventures. It was well that 
 he did not expect any gratitude for his assistance, as his help 
 was often received in quite another spirit. He has recorded one 
 of these occasions, when he was endeavouring to enact the good 
 Samaritan, so the incident can be given in his own words. 
 
 " One cloudy, moonless night, when walking, about ten o'clock, from 
 a considerable town to my lodging in one of the suburbs, I saw some- 
 thing lying in the road, and supposed it to be a dog. Having no fond- 
 ness for any of the canines, I gave it a wide berth, but steadily watched 
 it At length, feeling sceptical about the dog hypothesis, I approached, 
 and found it a man, fearfully intoxicated. On being raised to his feet, 
 he fell immediately he was left to himself, and when propped against 
 the wall his efforts to walk very soon brought him again prostrate in 
 the middle of the road. To leave him there was to render it very 
 probable that he would be seriously injured perhaps killed before 
 the morning by some one running over him. Happily, his tongue was 
 not quite so drunk as his legs, and, after many efforts, he succeeded in 
 giving me his name and address. 
 
 "Being familiar with the district another suburb I decided on 
 taking him home. The labour was by no means trifling, as the 
 distance was fully two miles, the night was dark, and he was a heavy 
 man. We reached his house at about one in the morning. My knock 
 was answered by his wife, with whom I had the pleasure of the 
 following chat
 
 1830-1847.] THE GOOD SAMARITAN'S REWARD. 27 
 
 " ' Is this your husband ? ' 
 
 " ' Yes, unfortunately. I wish he was in heaven.' 
 
 " * I found him lying in the road, and could do no less than take 
 him home.' 
 
 " ' A pretty story to tell me ! No doubt you've been drinking 
 with him.' 
 
 " ' Good night, ma'am.' 
 
 "And in this way I disposed of my charge and of hers."
 
 28 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. III. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 HIS GROWING FAME AS A GEOLOGIST. 
 1848-1850. 
 
 SOME letters written by Pengelly to a favourite pupil, with 
 whose family he was intimate, may be inserted here, inasmuch 
 as, though they contain no striking incidents, they throw some 
 light on his opinions, and the great amount of work that he 
 undertook successfully at this time. 
 
 " Torquay, October 5, 1848. . . . Inclosed are the remaining pro- 
 positions of the third book of Euclid. I should wish you to read the 
 first book a second time, and very thoroughly, before proceeding 
 further. I hope my scrawls will be of use to you sooner or later. I 
 received a copy of the paper of which Hugh Miller is editor (the 
 Witness) last week, and which I have sent you by this post, and find 
 that he has commenced a new series of papers on his geological 
 rambles. Are you aware that the Queen has been pleased to confer 
 knighthood on Lyell the geologist ? " 
 
 This is Pengelly 's first reference to Sir Charles Lyell, after- 
 wards one of his warmest friends, and with whom he was most 
 intimately connected during his investigations into the antiquity 
 of man in Britain. About a hundred letters from Sir Charles 
 Lyell are preserved amongst Pengelly's papers. 
 
 " Torquay, October 12, 1848. . . . Our winter visitors are flocking in, 
 and I hope to be very fully occupied ; my pupils are on the increase, 
 and by this time next month I shall probably have much less leisure 
 than now. I got two additional members for the Palaeontographical 
 last night; we are now a goodly number in this place. I have just 
 been exhibiting my fossils to a gentleman of Cheltenham, who has a 
 splendid general ^collection ; he sadly broke the tenth commandment 
 over my Devonians and Silurians (I was not without fears that he would 
 break an earlier one) ! He thinks he can add with great advantage to 
 my Cretaceous and Oolite specimens, and has kindly promised to 
 do so. . . ." 
 
 " Torquay, 1848. . . . You say that you are concerned at having
 
 1848-1850.] ADAMS' DISCOVERY OF NEPTUNE. 29 
 
 taken up so much of my valuable time ; if my time is really valuable, 
 it is because I can employ it serviceably for others. I do not think 
 that Nichol does Adams justice.* He attempts to excuse, if not to 
 justify, the neglect of both Airy and Challis. The passage in which 
 Nichol compares Leverrier to Columbus is very fine, certainly, but not 
 original ; the idea was contained in a speech made by Sir J. Herschel 
 at the meeting of the British Association at Southampton, 1846. I 
 think the passage still finer than that of Nichol ; judge for yourself. 
 The planet had not been discovered, yet Herschel expressed his belief 
 in its existence thus : ' We see it as Columbus saw America from the 
 shores of Spain. Its movements have been felt along the far-reaching 
 line of our analysis with a certainty hardly inferior to ocular demon- 
 stration.' " 
 
 " Torquay, October 26, 1848. . . . Be dull as you please about 
 your geometry. I will try to enlighten you as often as you think fit 
 to apply to me. . . . Hyperion, the eighth satellite of Saturn, seems to 
 have been a double discovery, see Athenaum, October i4th. Pray 
 how do you know that my geological collection is ' already beautiful ? ' 
 Come and see it, then give an opinion. . . . My lessons and lectures 
 leave me but little leisure at present, moreover the committee meetings of 
 the Mechanics' Institute and Natural History Society must be attended, 
 so that, on the whole, I am tolerably occupied. ... I have just been 
 reading Scott's ' Lady of the Lake ' and had some trouble to close the 
 book for the purpose of writing you. What a beautiful poem ! It 
 bears reading again and again. I know the scene perfectly, which 
 greatly increases my pleasure in the reading. ..." 
 
 " Torquay, November 6, 1848. . . . I think you are mistaken in 
 your notion that the inhabitants of the coast da not enjoy the sea 
 so much as their inland friends ; the former doubtless say least about 
 it, because it has no novelty for them, the latter most, because it is novel 
 and not because it is the sea. You and I have both seen the sea, 
 and have both admired it, yet I do not think you would or do pine 
 after it so much as I should, and have, after a very few weeks' absence. 
 I really think this point conclusive. The story of the retreating Greeks, 
 under Xenophon, is quite in point, I fancy. . . ." 
 
 "Torquay, November 20, 1848. . . . Early last week we learned 
 that the gentleman who was to have lectured for us this evening could 
 not do so. As is usual in these cases, I was asked to supply his place, 
 and consented to do so. I had consequently a good deal to do in 
 preparing diagrams. ... I am happy to be able to inform you that 
 my wife is much better, and came downstairs yesterday for the first 
 time. ... I heartily wish I could manage a holiday at Christmas, but 
 it cannot be. I must 'make hay while the sun shines.' . . . Most 
 sincerely do I wish that I could spend every evening in a cheerful 
 intellectual circle of about a dozen, it would do me all the good in the 
 world. I am sincerely attached to the vocation of the teacher, and 
 
 * Prof. John Couch Adams of Cambridge, discoverer of the planet Neptune, an 
 astronomer, and, better still, a Cornishman, for whom Pengelly entertained a strong 
 admiration.
 
 30 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Ca. III. 
 
 earnestly do I wish that I could afford always to do it without pay- 
 ment. I do not like to be paid for thinking, and to think on stated 
 subjects, at stated hours. Would that I could throw off the harness, 
 and live independently, no matter how humbly ; but I have children 
 to settle in the world, and if I can do it, they shall never pass through 
 the fearful struggle that I did. I have at this moment a very vivid 
 recollection of myself at a late, lonely, and humble supper ; the little 
 table at which I wrought theoretical and practical mathematics ; the 
 very small pile of books (but oh, how valued ! and then how really 
 valuable !) ; the wretched light, the fireless grate, the damp cold stone 
 floor, the aching head, the swollen feet, the shivering frame, and that 
 which enabled me to bear the whole, the determination to know 
 something of the beautiful and astonishing universe. I thank God 
 that I was enabled to persevere, that He has crowned my efforts with 
 success, and that I have a reasonable prospect of competency for 
 
 myself and family. ... I am very sorry to hear of poor 's great 
 
 affliction, it seems almost too long for a merely temporary attack. I 
 hope, however, almost against hope, that it is not ; I cannot but think 
 that there is something wrong in your philosophy or your theology, 
 when you say, ' How wonderful it seems such an affliction should befal 
 such a thoroughly amiable and intelligent young man.' I am far, very 
 far, from denying the doctrine of a particular Providence, but I certainly 
 think it undesirable to call in extraordinary means to explain an 
 
 ordinary phenomenon. I believe to have been very amiable ; but 
 
 he, or some of his progenitors, may have (and in my opinion certainly 
 have) broken a law of which his present calamity is the unavoidable 
 penalty, irrespective of his moral excellence. ... It is, as you suppose, 
 a great pleasure to spend the evening cosily with some favourite author, 
 but this I can only occasionally do. There is also a pleasure, a great 
 one with me, namely, a game of romps with my children ; it would do 
 your heart good to see us roll over each other on the floor." 
 
 " Torquay, November 25, 1848. . . . I am very happy to be able 
 to inform you that my wife is sufficiently well to be able to send away 
 her nurse this evening. . . . Once more I request you to send me 
 your mathematical difficulties as soon as they occur. You say, ' I am 
 not to correct them until it is convenient ; ' I promise I will not, but 
 you will allow me to add that it will always be convenient ? . . . Before 
 this reaches you, you will probably have heard that the Duchess of 
 Manchester is dead. She was an excellent woman, eminent for her 
 piety and good works ; as come-at-able and unassuming as she could 
 possibly be. I never felt more at home with any one in my life, it 
 really was a treat to have a chat with her, as I had three times a week 
 at her tea-table during the winters of 1846-47." 
 
 " Torquay^ February i, 1849. I have no doubt that you could 
 understand Herschel, but it would require all your mathematics and 
 much study. I would rather that you deferred it for some time, more 
 especially as Sir John is known to be engaged on a more elementary 
 work. ... I went to Exmouth on the loth ult. The day was very 
 bright, but there was a heavy gale off the coast, which, acting on the
 
 1848-1850.] A RAMBLE IN WALES. 31 
 
 sea breaking on the shore, blew the spray seaward very beautifully. In 
 the railway carriage with me there was an elderly lady and her son ; the 
 latter I judged to be a midshipman of the Royal Navy, just returned 
 from a foreign station, with evidently very shattered health. His mother 
 was very attentive and kind to him, and directed his attention to the 
 spray, which I have mentioned above. He looked at it for a moment, 
 and whilst she exclaimed, ' How very beautiful ! ' he turned from it with 
 a sigh, and said, in the most heart-breaking tones, ' Oh, mother, I have 
 seen quite enough of that lately quite, quite enough ! I care much less 
 about the sea than I once did.' There was nothing in the words, but 
 much in his manner of uttering them, which instantly recalled his kind 
 mother, and spoke to me of ruined health and disappointed ambition, 
 and which made me somewhat gloomy till I found myself on the 
 platform. . . . 
 
 " My lecture [at Exmouth] was well attended, and very well 
 received. Speaking of lectures, I delivered one yesterday at the 
 Natural History Society (Torquay) on 'Organic Remains,' and have 
 eleven more to come on geology. . . . And now for geometry ; but, 
 would you believe it? I thought to put my hand at once upon your 
 paper, but I cannot find it anywhere. Though I cannot remember 
 where I put the paper, I do remember that neither of your exercises 
 were quite right. You really ought to be very angry with me ; but still 
 I hope you will not. . . . 
 
 " I agree with you in thinking of the punishment by death for any 
 crime as unchristian, impolitic, and worse than useless." 
 
 " Tor quay > May 12, 1849. ... On Friday I left for Exeter by 
 the six o'clock train, delivered a lecture on the ' Moon ' before the 
 members of the Literary Society at the Athenaeum, finished just in 
 time for the last train, and reached home just after eleven. . . . Do not 
 be surprised that you feel some discouragement respecting teaching; 
 all honest teachers do that Do the best you can, and leave the result 
 to Him who will not allow honest endeavours and sincere motives to 
 go unrewarded." 
 
 The correspondence is soon after broken off by the summer 
 holidays, which Pengelly spent partly in a ramble amidst the 
 beautiful scenery of the river Wye, and partly in a walking 
 tour with a friend in South Wales. His letters to his pupil 
 begin again in the autumn. 
 
 " Torquay, September 21, 1849. ... I am sorry to hear that the 
 cholera is so bad with you ; it has been rather alarming here, but I am 
 happy to say that it is better at present. I am far from denying the 
 doctrine of judgments in the abstract, or that we have not again and 
 again deserved them as a nation, as well as individually ; but I hold it 
 unwise to call in supernatural causes when natural ones will account for 
 phenomena, and in the present case I quite think they will do so. I 
 fully believe that the cholera has a mission, that it will accomplish much 
 moral and physical good, and that the laws of which it is the penal 
 sanction are the laws of God. . . ."
 
 32 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. III. 
 
 " Torquay, October 20, 1849. On account of my Cornish 
 journey I was unable to get my letter to you off before. On my 
 journeys on Thursday and Friday I never saw so much to admire in 
 the autumn tints. The orchards of Devon were looking truly lovely; 
 rosy-cheeked and golden apples were hanging on the boughs in most 
 inviting luxuriance ; the wild clematis was climbing every tree and 
 covering every hedge ; the leaves were all in the warmest colours ; here 
 and there a grey limestone rock showed itself with beautiful effect. . . . 
 The walk to Looe from Liskeard is at all times lovely ; it is through a 
 magnificent valley, charmingly wooded. Ever since I can remember it 
 has been a great favourite ; but now I was approaching the home of my 
 boyhood and of my parents. . . . My reception in the lecture-room at 
 Looe was very flattering. The audience was very large, every face well 
 known to me old schoolmates and playmates, and one or two with 
 whom I had once thought of mating in a more serious sort of way. 
 And then there was such shaking hands and ' How d'ye does ! ' that 
 there was some fear about the lecture beginning at all. But being 
 begun, it was listened to with an attention that did my heart good. 
 They did not give vocal demonstrations of approval or disapproval from 
 beginning to end; but I could read their eyes, and was more than 
 satisfied. But didn't they cheer at the close ! The president got up 
 and thanked me, as is usual ; sceptics got up and thanked me for having 
 cured them; ladies and gentlemen came up and shook hands with me 
 again, and thanked me individually. Then came the invitations to 
 supper. I could not accept them all, so allowed myself to be carried 
 off by a dear old lady with whom my mother came to Looe, and who 
 has always felt an interest in me. 
 
 "I left next morning at nine; but before doing so, a deputation 
 waited on me to ascertain whether I considered myself a West Looe 
 man or an East Looe man, as both parties claimed me, and I was called 
 on to decide, which I did by informing them that I was born in East 
 Looe. 
 
 "' I know that,' said one; 'but you were reared in West Looe, and 
 West Looe is your parish. So if you want parish relief, you will be 
 sent there ! ' 
 
 "This reasoning would have been deemed sufficient, had I not 
 hinted that I had gained a parish in Tormohun [the old name for 
 Torquay]." 
 
 " Torquay, October 25, 1849. ... I have received a letter from 
 Colenso. He acknowledges the error in his answer. If you care to 
 have the letter as an autograph, I will send it you. As I expected, his 
 reply is written in a kind, friendly spirit. ... I spend the greater part 
 of my evenings in covering the boards on which I put my ' geologicals ' 
 with blue paper. You would be amused to see me at work. My dear 
 children call themselves my servants, fetch and carry the boards, and 
 hand me papers, and honestly believe they are helping me, and are 
 extremely happy in the delusion. ... I forgot to tell you in previous 
 notes to cause your pupils in algebra to get all Colenso's text carefully 
 up. I don't mean by memory, but so as to be able to answer any
 
 1848-1850.] THE STUDY OF ALGEBRA. 33 
 
 question you may put them respecting it, more especially the demon- 
 strative parts. These are of more importance than all the mere rules 
 in the world. Excuse me, but if you only teach them to work algebraic 
 exercises by the rules, without their being fully acquainted with the 
 rationale of these rules, you will have done nothing for them ; nay, 
 worse than that, their time will have been lost. To work algebraic 
 exercises will not be of use to one lady out of a million they will never 
 go far enough into the science to turn it to account in any branch of 
 natural philosophy; but the habit of close investigation and severe 
 analytical reasoning acquired by following an author through his 
 illustration of principle is beyond all value. . . ." 
 
 " Torquay, 1849. . . . 'Herschel' would not do at all for the 
 purpose you propose [reading to pupils], but you cannot do better than 
 study it yourself should you ever get time. Unfortunately, I have 
 Barley's intolerably stupid book ; by all means discontinue the reading 
 of such trash, and never allow any book in any department of science, 
 when arranged in \hzform of dialogue, to be seen by your pupils; they 
 are quite as likely to remember the blunders of the learners in the chat, 
 as the corrections of the teacher, perhaps more likely. ... I think 
 you had better read A's book fairly through, than merely select fine 
 passages. I need not tell you that I do not dislike poetry, but I do 
 dislike it out of its place, and I certainly think that the flights in which 
 he indulges, especially at the end of his chapters, are not only misplaced, 
 but quite absurd generally. I wish all science could be thrown into the 
 form of Euclid or reduced to the form of an equation. . . ." 
 
 " Torquay, January 3, 1850. ... At my lecture last week I 
 made the acquaintance of Lady Shelley, and her son and daughter. 
 They attend the lectures at the Royal Institution when in town, which 
 they usually are. They have been at my house to-day to see my fossils, 
 with which they profess to be quite delighted. I am to spend next 
 Wednesday evening with them. I lectured this evening and met a Dr. 
 Alliott, with whom I was greatly pleased. . . ." 
 
 "Torquay, January 21, 1850. . . . Since I last wrote I have 
 been very much occupied in the preparation of lectures, and in reading 
 mathematics with a young student at the East India Company's College 
 at Addiscombe. ... My lectures at the Natural History Society 
 Museum have been well attended. I lectured to-day on 'The 
 Physical Constitution of the Sun and Planets.' I expect to lecture at 
 Exeter, on Comets, on February ist, and at Exmouth on the Wednesday 
 following. ... As on former occasions, my lectures at the museum 
 are all gratis. ..." 
 
 "Bethesda, North Wales, July 8, 1850. ... We left Beaumaris 
 at eight a.m. by omnibus for the Menai Suspension Bridge, and were 
 set down on the Anglesey side. Our first labour was to descend nearly 
 to the level of the stream for the purpose of seeing the fastenings of 
 the bridge, which we accomplished by entering a tunnel one hundred 
 yards long. This done we crossed the bridge, which is a very beautiful 
 object ; everything about it seems not only useful but also ornamental, 
 
 D
 
 34 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. III. 
 
 and indeed appears to partake more of the latter than the former 
 quality. We next ascended the Carnarvonshire side, about one mile, 
 to the tubular bridge, and availed ourselves of the permission given to 
 walk on it. In this way we again entered Anglesey, and returned by 
 the same route. What a stupendous monument of human genius and 
 daring, and what a surpassingly fine view it commands ! Almost the 
 entire range of Carnarvon's giant hills is visible, and the entire Menai 
 Strait is spread out before one, looking like a very beautiful river, its 
 shores covered with sweet villas, hamlets, and rich woods ; here and 
 there small islets add to the beauty of the scene, which is still further 
 increased by the steamers, ships, and boats on it and Beaumaris Bay. 
 The ebb tide was running westwards at the rate of fully five miles an 
 hour. From the bridge we walked to Bangor, and thence to this place. 
 The distance is about five miles, and a more beautiful road can 
 scarcely be travelled, it runs by the river nearly the entire way. This 
 stream commands attention by noisily falling over its rocky bed, its 
 banks are luxuriantly clothed with beech, larch, oak, and other. trees. 
 
 "We reached this place about half-past two. Our sitting-room com- 
 mands a glorious view of the famous Penrhyn slate quarries, the distant 
 hills, and the Ogwen. The inhabitants seem to live entirely on slate ; 
 they, by some chemical magic, extract all they need from the mountain 
 side." 
 
 " Carnarvon, July, 13, 1850. I leave it to my companion to 
 describe our triumph in ascending Snowdon yesterday. Whilst break- 
 ing a few stones for fossils, on the summit of the mountain, a gentleman, 
 whom I shall call Stranger at present, stood watching me, and at 
 length the following conversation passed between us : 
 
 " Stranger. 'Your hammer is rather light for these rocks, sir.' 
 
 " Pengelly. ' It is ; it was made for the Cornish slates, and has done 
 me good service among them, it has helped to disinter many a fossil 
 fish.' 
 
 "Stranger. 'Indeed ! my old friend, Mr. Peach, has worked a good 
 deal among the Cornish ichthyolites.' 
 
 " Pengelly. ' Yes he has, sir ; I know him well. When Peach dropped 
 the investigation at Talland sand-bay I took it up, and have continued 
 it with success to the Rame Head. This year I have been working on 
 Looe Island and have found good specimens ; on the whole I have a 
 capital collection of these ancient fishes.' 
 
 " Stranger. ' I am really glad to find some one is still at work there. 
 Has Sir Philip Egerton seen your specimens ? ' 
 
 " Pengelly. ' He has not.' 
 
 " Stranger. ' I hope the Permian fishes will be shortly given to the 
 world in splendid style.' 
 
 " Pengelly. ' By whom ? ' 
 
 " Stranger. ' By Professor King of Newcastle, for the Palaeonto- 
 graphical Society.' 
 
 " Pengelly. ' Indeed, I am glad to hear that. I am one of the local 
 secretaries of the Palaeontographical.' 
 
 " Stranger. ' And I am the general secretary.' 
 
 " Pengelly. ' What ! are you Bowerbank ? ' 

 
 1848-1850.] MEETING WITH BOWERBANK. 35 
 
 " Stranger. ' Yes, I am.' 
 
 " Pengeily (presenting his card"). 'I think you will remember my 
 name, sir?' 
 
 " Stranger. ' I should think I ought. We are greatly obliged to you 
 for the trouble you have taken for the Palaeontographical. I hope you 
 were pleased with Milne Edwards ? ' 
 
 " Pengeily. ' Indeed I was/ etc. 
 
 " It is useless to pursue this further you will suppose that an inter- 
 esting conversation followed, and, amongst other topics, we talked of 
 the strange manner and place in which we, who had so frequently 
 corresponded, met for the first time." 
 
 Dr. Bowerbank had written in the spring to introduce Milne 
 Edwards, who was greatly pleased with Pengelly's corals and 
 fossil fish, and showed him much kindness when, later on, he 
 visited Paris. 
 
 Pengelly's lectures at the Torquay Natural History Society 
 became extremely popular, and were attended by large audiences. 
 Though still poor, he took no payment for these courses of 
 lectures, which he said were a pleasure to him, and a labour of 
 love. A thoughtful and attentive audience always gave him 
 intense encouragement. His friends remonstrated at this dis- 
 regard of his pecuniary interests, one laughingly telling him 
 " that money was not dirt." But he was quite satisfied to look 
 on the work itself as the best payment. There is no doubt that 
 the diffusion of scientific knowledge was much needed in Torquay, 
 and indeed in other parts of Devonshire, which, though so large 
 a county in extent and population, and very rich in distinguished 
 names of artists, authors, prelates, soldiers, and sailors, had not 
 yet produced any great number of scientific men. 
 
 About this time he made the following note : 
 
 "I accidentally met the Earl of Wicklow and Lord Hatherton 
 to-day, who asked me whether I delivered the lectures, on which I am 
 at present engaged, on my own account, or if I am engaged by the 
 Natural History Society. On being informed that I delivered them 
 gratuitously, they thought me wrong in doing so. Lord Hatherton 
 advised me to pack up and settle in some larger town, where I should 
 doubtless do greatly better than I am doing here as a lecturer, adding, 
 that no man in Torquay is so underpaid as I am, and though it might 
 be all very well to preach down money in the pulpit, it nevertheless is 
 a good thing and a necessary one in this world. I said I quite thought 
 it a valuable thing, that I was very well satisfied with Torquay, that the 
 public had been very liberal to me, and that it became me to be liberal 
 in return." 
 
 Every one associates the name of William Pengeily with
 
 36 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. III. 
 
 geological research, but it will have been seen that astronomy 
 also greatly interested him, and that many of his earlier lectures 
 were on that subject. 
 
 At a soiree in December, 1850, held in his honour, Pengelly 
 was presented with a very valuable telescope subscribed for by 
 several of his friends. The document accompanying the pre- 
 sentation set forth that the signatories of it were desirous of 
 marking their appreciation of his high scientific attainments 
 and of the value of the lectures which he had delivered during a 
 long course of years at the rooms of the Natural History Society 
 and Mechanics' Institute at Torquay, and at the same time of ex- 
 pressing the great esteem in which they held him personally. 
 Among the signatures affixed to this address were those of the 
 Earl of Beverley, Viscount Newark, Lord Hatherton, Lady 
 Sinclair, Sir John Morrenden, Sir Culling E. Eardley, Lady 
 Eardley, Lady Shelley, Dr. Sutherland, etc., etc. 
 
 He was deeply touched by this presentation, and thanked 
 his friends in these words : 
 
 "Never have I been so desirous of correctly and appropriately 
 expressing my thoughts and feelings. At no time have I so decidedly 
 regretted my lack of eloquence as at this moment, when accepting this 
 highly interesting and valuable proof of your munificence. I am 
 intensely anxious to convey to you a correct idea of my sincere gratitude, 
 not only for your having judged me worthy of a testimonial from you, 
 but also for the kind and delicate way in which the funds have been 
 raised, as well as for the form which you decided your testimonial 
 should take. Nothing could have been so gratifying and valuable to 
 me as a telescope. Never shall I forget my intense delight when I first 
 followed the astronomical mathematician, step by step, through the 
 processes by which he determines the distances, bulks, masses, and 
 densities of the bodies composing the solar system. And not a whit 
 inferior to this has been the enjoyment with which I have occasionally 
 read a page of that marvellous record, inscribed by the finger of Nature 
 on rocky tablets, respecting the mighty changes, organic and inorganic, 
 which have passed over this world during periods incalculably remote. 
 You must give me no credit for disinterestedness with respect to my 
 public lectures; for next to the pleasure of acquiring and possessing 
 knowledge stands the pleasure of communicating it. I have been 
 addicted to, and fond of, teaching from my earliest years. The fact 
 that the same persons have again and again, year after year, attended 
 these lectures, has more than repaid any pains that may have been taken 
 in their preparation. It was my happiness to take a prominent part in 
 the formation of the Natural History Society, and also in the re- 
 organization of the Mechanics' Institute. Could others have been 
 easily found, the lecturer's rostrum would never have been so frequently 
 occupied by me ; but, rather than see it empty, I slipped into it, little
 
 1848-1850.] PRESENTATION TO PENGELLY. 37 
 
 thinking that the act would elicit expressions of approval from an 
 assembly like the present. 
 
 "This telescope is a really magnificent instrument. I prize it 
 highly; it is to me most valuable. But I prize this paper much more, 
 and attach a still higher value to it. It contains the expression of your 
 esteem . . . The list speaks, too, as with a voice from the tomb. 
 The death of Lord Newark, one of the subscribers, is not without its 
 significance ; it reminds me that the most prosperous earthly career 
 must terminate, and that there are subjects, infinitely more sublime 
 than science, which should pre-eminently occupy the attention of 
 every human being. 
 
 " Once more, allow me to thank you most sincerely for so kindly 
 enabling me to 'consider the heavens.' I hope and believe that the 
 effect will be to impress me more deeply with the greatness of God, and 
 His infinite condescension and benevolence in visiting man, and being 
 mindful of him."
 
 38 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. IV. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HIS FRIENDSHIPS WITH MEN OF SCIENCE. 
 
 1850 TO MARCH, 1853. 
 
 THE year 1850 had been a busy one for Pengelly. He had 
 given more than two thousand lessons to private pupils, delivered 
 a large number of lectures, and taken part in many public meet- 
 ings. He had also been elected a Fellow of the Geological 
 Society of London ; and in the success both of that and of the 
 Palaeontographical Society he took great interest. In addition 
 to his other pursuits, he now devoted himself with increasing 
 zeal to geological researches. 
 
 It has been naturally supposed that he must have been of 
 very strong constitution to get through his multifarious under- 
 takings unaided ; but this was not the opinion of the medical 
 men, whom he had occasion to consult at different times. He 
 suffered frequently from quinsy, and had always a delicate throat, 
 though he managed to speak frequently and with great clear- 
 ness in public. Another difficulty under which he laboured 
 was his liability to serious attacks of fainting ; yet such was his 
 power of will, and love of science, that he succeeded incarrying 
 through his varied and severe labours, without hindrance from 
 this or any other constitutional disadvantages. Like the late 
 Sir Andrew Clark, he firmly believed that hard work was 
 injurious to no one. 
 
 He had already formed a warm friendship with Charles W. 
 Peach, a special bond of union being the interest they both took 
 in certain fossil fish, which Peach was the first to note the 
 existence of, in Cornwall. The importance of the discovery was 
 at once acknowledged, but it was supposed by Prof. McCoy 
 that the " fishes " were merely fossil sponges. Peach and Pen- 
 gelly both held to their opinion in spite of this adverse criticism,
 
 1850-1853-] LETTERS FROM HUGH MILLER. 39 
 
 and had the satisfaction of proving their surmises to be correct 
 before the controversy closed. 
 
 Dr. Henry Woodward, F.R.S., in a biographical notice of 
 Pengelly, in the Presidential address delivered at the Anniversary 
 Meeting of the Geological Society of London, on February 1 5, 
 1895, thus alludes to this subject : 
 
 " One of Pengelly's first recorded papers was ' On the Ichthyolites 
 of East Cornwall' (1849-50).* These interesting remains were first 
 identified as FISHES by C. W. Peach in 1843; after eight years they 
 were referred to SPONGES, under the name of Steganodictyum Cornubicum, 
 in 1851, by McCoy t; then to the Cephalopoda by Ferd. Roemer (as 
 Archceoteuthis Dunensis) in 1855 ; and back again to the Fishes as 
 Scaphaspis Cornubicus% by Huxley in 1868. Pengelly mentions in 
 one of his papers, that he had no fewer than 300 fragments of these 
 fossil fishes from the Devonian of Cornwall and Devon in his own 
 cabinet." 
 
 Early in the Spring of 1849 Pengelly had received the follow- 
 ing kind letter from Hugh Miller. 
 
 " Edinburgh, February 24, 1849. 
 
 " J ought long ere now to have acknowledged receipt of your 
 kind note, and its interesting accompaniments, but my health is not 
 strong and my engagements are engrossing, and so I have very 
 frequently to throw myself on the good nature of my correspondents. 
 Neither from its mineral character nor organic contents could I 
 identify the Old Red Sandstone of your part of the Island with that 
 of the North of Scotland. But the Old Red of Russia serves, it would 
 seern, to demonstrate their identity, by exhibiting in the same beds the 
 organisms of both. It is a curious circumstance that Great Britain 
 should be as it were tipped at both its ends by fossiliferous rock- 
 systems. 
 
 " The waves of the English Channel, and of the Pentland Firth, 
 are laying bare along their respective shores fish and shells that were 
 contemporary. I send you in the accompanying box a little fish, that 
 was disinterred from out a bed of rock which overhangs at a height of 
 rather more than a hundred feet the western extremity of the bay of 
 Thurso, nearly the most distant point in Britain from the rocks in 
 which the Ichthyolitic remains you have so kindly sent me were found. 
 It is of an undescribed species of Asterokpis, and exhibits the curved 
 form so common among the Old Red ichthyolites, and which is re- 
 garded by Agassiz as indicative of violent death. The smaller kind of 
 fishes when suddenly deprived of life do certainly at first stiffen into 
 
 * Trans. Roy. Geol. Soc. Cornwall, vol. vii. pp. 106-108 and 115-120. 
 t Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 2. vol. vih. (1851), p. 482. 
 \ Huxley, Geol. Mag., 1868, p. 248 ; II. Woodward and E. R. Lankester, p. 247, 
 and p. 437, and Quart. Journ. Geol. Sot., vol. xxiv. (1868), p 546. 
 
 Trans. Devon. Assoc., vol. ii. (1868), p. 440, and Geol. Ma*., 1869, p. 77.
 
 4O WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. IV. 
 
 such a curve, though they again straighten as they become flaccid. 
 People in the neighbourhood of fishing towns in the North of Scotland 
 regard the herrings which they purchase as fresh, in the most perfect 
 degree, when they find them still retaining the bend. 
 
 " Should business or amusement ever lead you into this neighbour- 
 hood, I trust you will afford me an opportunity of introducing you to 
 its various objects of geological interest. 
 
 "My own collection you would, I am sure, find worth examining. 
 It is not very large, but it is rich in fossils, in which many large 
 collections are poor; and exhibits pretty fully those portions of the 
 fauna of your own Devonian which Devonshire has not yet presented. 
 
 " P.S. The ichthyolites of the Caithness schists are usually of a 
 substance less destructible than the rock which incloses them, and in 
 consequence the stone frequently weathers from around them, leaving 
 them so little attached that upon a small blow dealt by the hammer, 
 they leap out entire. The fossil inclosed is in this state, and is retained 
 in its original bed by a little glue. H. M." 
 
 Pengelly, as already mentioned, had communicated to the 
 Roy. Geol. Society of Cornwall (of which he was a Corre- 
 sponding Member) an article "On the Ichthyolites of East 
 Cornwall " in the autum of 1849, and contributed a second paper 
 on the same subject in the following year. His letters on this 
 question are, unfortunately, nearly all missing, but some from his 
 friend Peach with regard to it have been preserved. 
 
 C. W. Peach to Pengelly. 
 
 " Peterhead, August 28, 1850. . . . I was greatly obliged and 
 delighted by your kind remembrance of me. I got your letter on the 
 eve of my departure for Edinburgh. I laid it aside in the hope of 
 answering it on my return ; at present I have not met with it again 
 it is put safely away with a lot more which I want. However, I well 
 remember that you had found lots of fish remains on Looe Island ; 
 this / always suspected^ but, somehow or other, never set foot on it. I 
 passed the island once at low water, or nearly inside^ and I could see 
 the colour of the rocks agreed with the fossil beds. . . . Mr. Hugh 
 Miller and I had a snug chat after the meeting of the British Association 
 (which, by-the-bye, was a splendid meeting), and I showed him a lot 
 of my best fossil fish specimens from Cornwall, and he could only see one 
 bit like the Old-red fishes^ and it was the piece I named Asterolepis, 
 This, he said, ' if he had found it in the Old-red of Scotland he should 
 call an Asterolepis] and so I am quite satisfied it is. Professor Sedgwick 
 saw the fish fossils and they are all new to him ; it is odd no one knows 
 them, they are puzzlers, so work away, dear friend. I am no more 
 (at least for the present) personally in Cornwall my heart is there, 
 and I shall feel great interest in all connected with her, especially the 
 geology. But, dear Pengelly, the strangest of all is to be told; I have
 
 1850-1853-] CORNISH ICHTHYOLITES. 41 
 
 found veritable Graptolites in our rocks there for you, what do you 
 think of that ? I have always hoarded these fossils with miserly care. 
 I have asked many what they were, and, until I got hold of that kind 
 Palaeontologist, Professor E. Forbes, no one either could or would tell 
 me, he pronounced them Graptolites. I got them very near the Gribbon, 
 and have asked a friend there to get a lot of fossils from the spot Of 
 course I want all I have told you to come out at the meeting.* I 
 shall look with some anxiety for the report of your paper, for I am 
 more anxious than ever, and Cornish news is so dear to me now I am 
 so far removed from the dear old spot, as well as because I quite expect 
 some of the Lions of Geology will be visiting Cornwall, and we then 
 shall get them regularly christened. . . ." 
 
 From Pengelly to C. W. Peach. 
 
 " Torquay -, May 12, 1851. . . . My dear friend, On Good Friday 
 last I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Landsborough, the Scotch 
 Algologist, etc. In the course of conversation he told me that he had 
 just engaged to write a work on British Zoophytes, and that he was 
 very anxious to find some one who would kindly furnish him with 
 information on Cornish Zoophytology, when I took the liberty of 
 speaking of your labours in that department, and ventured to add that 
 I believed you would readily render him any assistance in your power. 
 At Mr. Landsborough's request I engaged to write you on the subject, 
 and allowed him to use my name if he found it desirable to write you. 
 Mr. L. is a dear old fellow, as simple-minded as a child, and almost 
 as enthusiastic as C. W. Peach, Esq. ! . . . I shall be glad to hear from 
 you, when you have a moment which you have no better use for." 
 
 C. W. Peach to Pengelly. 
 
 " Peterhead, May 14, 1851. . . . I have been very closely attend- 
 ing to the Zoophytes on this coast, and have doubled the list of those 
 known in the County of Aberdeen, in fact have got several new to 
 Scotland and two new to the British list, and I believe I have an 
 Actinia now living which will prove also an addition to the British list. 
 I am almost getting a little conceited about these things, from having 
 very many times brought forward new things before these great men 
 and authors, who would not listen to their being so at the time, but 
 have been compelled to submit after all to wit, I exhibited a most 
 beautiful collection of Echini at Southampton (Brit. Assoc.), and 
 described one as differing from all the other British ; I was opposed 
 by Forbes and Agassiz, still they said there was room for suspicion. At 
 the meeting at Edinboro' last year, Forbes laid it before the British 
 Association and confessed I was right, and it proves to be the Echinus 
 Melo of the Mediterranean, and is the largest of the British species. 
 I say this not as boasting, but just to justify my 'leetle conceit' 
 (Sam Slick). . . . 
 
 " Like yourself, I believe that, although my friend Miller does not 
 think our fish fish, I do ; and they must be fish, and shall be fish. He 
 
 * Royal Geological Society of Cornwall.
 
 42 \VILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. IV. 
 
 judges from a few specimens. When you go to Looe again, be sure and 
 examine the slates on the beach, from the harbour all along eastward, 
 and trace them into the cliff beyond the Chough Rock, Mellendreth, 
 etc. ; you will get some very curious and strange forms. I should like 
 to be with you ; you will find, I fancy, amongst the fish remains some 
 will prove to belong to the Sepidce. Still, there are plenty of fishes." 
 
 Writing of Pengelly's work in connection with the Cornish 
 fossil fish, and the Geology of the West of England, Mr. Howard 
 Fox, F.G.S., President of the Royal Cornish Geological Society, 
 remarks in the Annual Address, November, 1894 
 
 "William Pengelly, F.R.S., was connected with this Society as 
 Corresponding or Honorary Member since 1856. His career is a 
 striking example of the brilliant success that may attend the study of 
 Geology in the intervals of a busy professional life. 
 
 "The seventh volume of your Transactions contains nine of his 
 papers ; three ' On the Ichthyolites and Geology of South-east Corn- 
 wall,' commencing at Talland Sands Bay (the point at which Mr. 
 Peach's labours eastward terminated), and comprising the coast of 
 Cornwall, thence to the Tamar. . . . His attention in later years was 
 naturally turned to the geology of his adopted, rather than to that of 
 his native county ; but further papers on Cornwall appeared in other 
 publications. . . . He has been described by Prof. Boyd Dawkins* 
 as ' one of the last survivors of the heroes who laid the foundation of 
 Geological Science,' who ' died full of years, and with his services 
 honourably recognized by his private friends and by the scientific 
 world. He has left behind an example of what one man can do in 
 advancing knowledge by energy and perseverance.' " 
 
 Pengelly was not in 1851 acquainted with Sir Roderick 
 Murchison, and in a letter to a friend, he mentions his disap- 
 pointment at failing to meet and have a geological chat with that 
 eminent scientist. 
 
 " Torquay, Jamtary 5, 1851. ... On Friday last I was bidden 
 by Lady Shelley to meet Sir Roderick Murchison, and was requested 
 to prepare myself to discourse very learnedly on ' Beekites.' Accord- 
 ingly, I charged myself to the very muzzle with scientific jargon, 
 respecting decomposing limestone nodules, conglomerates, and water 
 holding chalcedony in solution. Mr. Vivian, who was also bidden, 
 went fully primed about Kent's Cavern ; he could scarcely open his 
 mouth but stalagmite, stalactites, flint knives, and elephants' teeth, 
 came tumbling out. . . . 
 
 " I found Lord Glenelg and Mr. Hippisley, and one or two others 
 whom I knew, and a couple of gentlemen and ladies whom I did not 
 know. One of these I expected was the great Sir Roderick ; but alas ! 
 
 * Nature, April 5, 1894.
 
 1850-1853-] LIFE OF DR. ARNOLD. 43 
 
 alas ! for human expectations ! Sir John Shelley soon sent all my 
 glowing anticipations flying. He had received a letter from Sir 
 Roderick, by which he had learned that Lady Murchison could not 
 leave her room, and consequently was still in London, and not in 
 Torquay. . . ." 
 
 He had afterwards the pleasure of entertaining Sir Roderick 
 at his own house, and of taking him to see many geological 
 points of interest in the neighbourhood of Torquay. He thence- 
 forward enjoyed the intimate friendship of the great geologist. 
 
 During February, 185 i,Mrs. Pengelly's health, always delicate, 
 completely broke down, and her death took place towards the 
 end of that month. After this bereavement he wrote at once to 
 his parents asking them to come and live with him. This 
 they were able to do for a considerable period, much to his 
 comfort. His son Alfred, and his daughter Mary Ann, sur- 
 vived their mother for some years, but both died before their 
 father. 
 
 Of the period immediately succeeding his wife's death little 
 of his correspondence remains, but some months later he writes 
 to an intimate friend : 
 
 "I owe you very many thanks for having induced me to read 
 Arnold's 'Life.' I would apologize to you for not having acted on 
 your advice earlier, but that I am rather glad that I have seen Fox 
 How, to which he was so very sincerely attached, and the many other 
 lovely nooks which he must so thoroughly have enjoyed. So far as I 
 have read, I like him best as a husband and father, then as a friend, 
 next as a teacher, next as a scholar, then as a reformer ; and last, and 
 therefore least, as a divine. I find myself differing from him rather 
 frequently as a theologian, but very, very seldom as a Christian. He 
 carried his Christianity into every character I have mentioned, and 
 never seems to have paraded it. Would I could be a sort of miniature 
 Arnold ! " 
 
 Some idea of Pengelly's kindness of heart will be seen in the 
 following extract from his letters to the same correspondent. 
 
 " W * gave me a very bad account of his wife's health. He has 
 
 not been able to settle with me. I could not press him, poor fellow. . . . 
 During my perambulations last night, I found a little boy in the hands 
 of the police for having stolen nuts Irom an itinerant confectioner. I 
 paid the complainant one shilling for the nuts, and had the boy set at 
 liberty. I took possession of his cap, and the nuts which he had stolen 
 in it, telling him to call at my house for his cap this morning. He has 
 
 * An improvident friend, to whom he had been extremely kind.
 
 44 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. IV. 
 
 been, and I have given him a little lecture, and then accompanied him 
 to his home. I find that his mother is dead ; his father is a sailor, and 
 is married again. Both his present parents are in London ; he is with 
 relatives of his stepmother. It seems a sad case of neglect. I quite 
 feel that I must occasionally look after the child. ... I have finished 
 Arnold's 'Life,' and have been delighted with it. I hope to begin 
 Paley's ' Natural Theology ' next week. . . . 
 
 " I am glad you are reading the ' Vestiges,' * and have no doubt you 
 are pleased with the work. ... I think you are aware that I read 
 Geology with Miss Bird. When at their house last evening, Mrs. Bird 
 brought a little girl into the room, and told me that she was anxious to 
 be present during the lesson. Mrs. Bird, at the same time, told me 
 that the child is a daughter of Kingsley, the author of ' Alton Locke,' 
 and other similar works, and that Kingsley had married her sister. Of 
 course, I was greatly interested. Rose Kingsley is one of the most 
 intelligent children I ever met with. ..." 
 
 Being now a widower, with both his children at school, 
 Pengelly was able to give more of his scanty leisure to geological 
 excursions, and he jotted down in his note-books some of the 
 incidents which amused him most, from which the following 
 extracts are taken. 
 
 " Once, soon after midday, I found myself at a lone wayside inn, 
 and encountered a forlorn-looking hostess, with a black eye, of whom 
 I asked 
 
 " ' A crust of bread and cheese, and a glass of beer.' 
 
 " ' Can't 'ave it, zur.' 
 
 "'Why not?' 
 
 " ' Cause me and my old man 'th vailed out.' 
 
 " ' I'm sorry for that. But what has it to do with my having 
 refreshment ? ' 
 
 " ' I tell 'ee, we've vailed out, and he'th carried away the kay ; so 
 you can't 'ave it. You may 'ave some of they there 'orts whortle- 
 berries if you like ; but there's nort else.' 
 
 " I declined the ' 'orts,' and proceeded on my journey, which after 
 a walk of twenty miles brought me to an inn where the host and 
 hostess lived amicably. Finding that a bed was obtainable, I ordered 
 tea with ham and eggs. 
 
 " Slipping off my collecting basket, but leaving my hammer in the 
 belt in which it was carried, I took a seat on the ' kitchen settle,' and 
 thereby joined three men, apparently masons, who had just 'left work,' 
 who were enjoying a glass and pipe before going home. They all eyed 
 me intently ; but for a time no one spoke. At length one of them took 
 the pipe from his lips, and emitted the accumulated smoke in that long 
 thin thread which seems to betoken a desire to make the most of a 
 good thing. When his lips were at liberty, he said 
 
 * " Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation."
 
 1850-1853] A RUSTIC AUDIENCE. 45 
 
 " ' Ax your pardon, sir, for making so bould ; but what trade be 
 you?' 
 
 " ' I can't say I have a trade.' 
 
 " ' Cause of your hammer, sir, I took the liberty.' 
 
 " ' Oh, my hammer ! I can only say I break stones on the road.' 
 
 " The trio exclaimed in chorus 
 
 " ' We won't believe that.' 
 
 " ' If you'll open my basket, you'll see the stones I've broken.' 
 
 "I had spent the day before in a richly fossiliferous Greensand 
 district, and had collected many very fine specimens ; whilst the rocks 
 of the locality in which the inn stood were, so far as was known, utterly 
 destitute of fossils. 
 
 " Taking me at my word, one of the masons opened the basket, 
 and took out the first stone that came to hand. It proved to be a 
 piece of Greensand with an unmistakable shell firmly embedded in it, 
 yet standing out in bold relief. Instantly their pipes were snatched 
 from their lips, their mouths fell open, and they all stared at the 
 specimen as if they would at once penetrate the mystery connected 
 with it. Never had I seen looks in which ignorance, wonder, and 
 admiration were so obviously blended and so strongly pronounced. At 
 length one of them exclaimed 
 
 " ' Why, how did thekky ' a provincialism for that ' shell get there ? ' 
 
 " Obviously fossils, with their wondrous teachings, were new to 
 them. My attempt to reply to their question eventuated in a sort of 
 conversational lecture ; and so far as my experience goes, no audience 
 was ever more attentive or more interested. The discourse was at 
 length cut short by the landlady's announcement, 'Your tea's ready, 
 sir.' And she intimated that I was to adjourn to the adjoining parlour, 
 which, however, was within earshot of my audience. As I took my 
 place at the table, the following flattering remark reached me 
 
 " ' Lord ! what a scholard he ez ! I reckon he writ'th a booteful 
 hand, ef we cud zee it.' 
 
 " Before my meal was over, they had left the house ; and I have 
 never seen them since. This, however, seems to have been no fault of 
 theirs as the following incident shows. 
 
 " On finishing my breakfast the next morning, I told the hostess I 
 wished to pay my ' reckoning,' to which she replied 
 
 " ' My maister wishes to spaik to 'ee 'bout that, sir, plaize. May he 
 come in? 
 
 " ' Oh, certainly ; I shall be very glad to see him ! ' 
 
 " But what it all meant I had no conception. The landlady at 
 once withdrew; and the master of the house very shortly entered, 
 apparently very ill at ease. He shuffled into the room, constantly 
 shifted himself from leg to leg without advancing, giving himself the 
 appearance of a ship rolling in a heavy sea which struck her on the 
 beam then he bit his nails, and finally scratched his head. In short, 
 his appearance when translated into words, was to the effect, ' Dang 
 me if I know how to begin.' To help him, I told him it was a fine 
 morning. He seemed grateful for the information, assented to its 
 truth, and then said
 
 4^ WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. IV. 
 
 " ' Where be gwain ? ' 
 
 " ' I am about to walk to M .' 
 
 " ' Be in a hurry for a day or two or a week ? ' 
 
 " ' I can scarcely say that I am in a hurry ; but I wish to get there 
 to-night' 
 
 " ' The men was very much pleased with what you told 'em last 
 evening.' 
 
 " ' I thought they were interested.' 
 
 " ' Oh, ees uncommon, I 'sure 'ee. I hope no offence, sir ; but ef 
 you'd stop 'ere for a foo days, or a week, and talk to the men in the 
 evenin's, you shud be welcome to meat, drink, washing, and lodging 
 free gratis. I'm sure lots o' men wud come an' hear 'ee, and I should 
 zell an uncommon zight o' beer.' 
 
 " ' Your offer is extremely handsome, and most tempting ; and I 
 am much obliged to you for it. But my plan was to reach M 
 to-night, and I don't like to make any alteration. Thank you very 
 much ; but I must get on.' 
 
 " I was accordingly allowed to pay my ' reckoning,' and to proceed. 
 
 " I was one morning overtaken by an active, hale old fellow, who 
 had been a soldier and seen a great deal of service, but was at the time 
 a river bargeman. 
 
 " In our journey we passed a directing post, with arms in good 
 condition, and containing full information. 
 
 " ' Do'ee know what that is ? ' said my companion. 
 
 " ' A directing post, of course.' 
 
 " ' I call 't a passon.' 
 
 "'A parson! Why?' 
 
 " ' Cause 'ee tell'th the way, but doth'n't go.' 
 
 " Before we separated, we passed a second post, which was very 
 dilapidated, and had lost its arm. 
 
 " ' If the post we saw just now were a parson,' said I, ' what's this 
 one?' 
 
 " ' Oh, he's a bishop.' 
 
 " ' Explain.' 
 
 " ' He neither tell'th nor go'th.' " 
 
 This happened many years before the establishment of the 
 Bishopric of Truro, and the increased activity of the clergy in 
 the West of England. 
 
 Pengelly was always extremely interested in the religious 
 history of Cornwall. The fine old church which occupies the 
 site of the ancient Cathedral of St. Germans appealed to his 
 antiquarian taste, and he experienced great pleasure in visiting 
 the Cathedral now being erected at Truro. But beyond all he 
 recognized, as a hopeful sign for the future, the quickened zeal 
 and generous devoted lives of many of the clergy, who have 
 during recent years shed the light of religion alike upon the 
 busy, crowded town, and the lonely country parish.
 
 1850-1853-] RAILWAY TRAVELLING IN 1852. 47 
 
 The journey from the north of England to Torquay, at 
 present so rapidly accomplished, was in former days a tedious 
 affair, as will be seen from the following letter which Pengelly 
 wrote at the end of 1852. He had started early in the morning, 
 hoping to reach Torquay the same night, and says 
 
 ". . . . By clever dawdling at some pigmy stations, we managed 
 to be fully half an hour late at Bristol, and on our arrival found that 
 the three o'clock train to Plymouth had just left. Having about an hour 
 and a half to spare, I rambled towards Redcliff church, and then 
 studied various print-shops. In due time I returned to the station, 
 and had the pleasure of waiting some twenty minutes for the train which 
 should have left at 5.6 p.m. At length we were off for Exeter; all 
 hope of my being able to reach Torquay before to-morrow having 
 vanished. Things went on tolerably until ascending the inclined 
 plane preparatory to entering the tunnel between Wellington and 
 Tiverton Road. Our train was of enormous length, the rails very 
 wet and slippery, and the engine by no means potent, so that at last 
 we came to a stand, when near the steepest part of the plane, and 
 then we began a retrograde movement, which was checked by the 
 breaks. The gradient on this plane is i in 100 only, whilst that of 
 the Bromsgrove Lickey is i in 37. At length it was decided to 
 divide the train into two parts, and to take the first up to a siding, 
 of the down line, about two miles on, and then to send the engine 
 back for the second part. I being in the remaining or second part, 
 got out to walk a bit, as did one or two other persons. After waiting 
 a considerable time I heard an engine coming up, and supposed it 
 was ours returning, but remembering that possibly it might be an up 
 train, I thought it no longer prudent to walk on the up line, so I got 
 into my carriage again. I had scarcely shut the door when an up 
 goods train swept over the ground with a velocity that almost made 
 one shudder. . . . We had now been waiting more than an hour, and 
 began to feel desirous of the return of our engine as a down train 
 would be due in a quarter of an hour. 
 
 "At length the engine came to us, but though it tugged and 
 snorted, and snorted and tugged, it could not move us, and a feeling 
 of alarm, respecting the expected down train became more or less 
 general. By this time, however, the engine of a goods train had been 
 obtained, and, this applied to our rear, whilst our engine did its best 
 in front, we were set in motion and in no long time were brought up 
 to the portion of our train which had been taken on. . . . There 
 certainly ought to be an engine kept at the bottom of the incline. At 
 length, however, we got fairly on the down line, and then ran down 
 the incline to Tiverton Road at more than express speed, in the hope, 
 I suppose, of recovering the almost two hours that had been lost We 
 had the happiness of reaching Exeter between 10 and n instead of 
 at 8.45. . . ." 
 
 There he had to spend the night, and go on to Torquay by
 
 48 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. IV. 1850-1853. 
 
 the earliest train the next morning to fulfil his numerous engage- 
 ments. 
 
 Pengelly's circle of friends was now becoming very large. 
 In March, 1853, he writes, in answer to a correspondent 
 
 "I feel much obliged by your acquaintance wishing to make my 
 acquaintance, and hope they may some day have that 'distinguished 
 pleasure,' but as H. B. Stowe said in reply to the good Scotch ladies, 
 who had invited her to visit them, ' I was never anything to look at ; ' 
 and I will add that ' study and its physical results have by no means 
 improved me.' " 
 
 He then goes on to write of his great grief at the loss of his 
 friend, Mrs. Edward Vivian, whose unfailing kindness through 
 a number of years he warmly appreciated. 
 
 " I have deferred the worst part of my letter to the last. Torquay 
 has sustained a loss to-day not easily repaired poor dear Mrs. Vivian 
 is taken to her eternal home. I was there this morning and learned 
 from her almost distracted husband that she had had a wretched 
 night, that at that moment she was unconscious, but that she seemed 
 to rally a little at rare intervals. I endeavoured to express my deep 
 and sincere sympathy with him. Poor, poor fellow, what a terrible 
 blow. I learned just before returning home, that she departed about 
 six o'clock. The poor of Torquay have lost a warm-hearted yet most 
 judicious friend, and Torquay one of its greatest ornaments. May 
 her bereaved husband be supported under his terrible loss. May it 
 be sanctified to him and bring him more closely to God, who only 
 afflicts to draw His loved ones to His own bosom. . . ." 

 
 ( 49 ) 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 HIS SECOND MARRIAGE. 
 1813 T0 END OF J 856. 
 
 THE statement which has more than once appeared in print to 
 the effect that Pengelly came "of a Quaker stock," is altogether 
 erroneous. Neither on his father's side, nor on that of his 
 mother, had he any connection with the Society of Friends. 
 The account that has been given of the struggles of his early 
 life would be a sufficient contradiction of the statement to any 
 one acquainted with the constitution of the Society. 
 
 Such a connection would indeed have been of inestimable 
 benefit to Pengelly, for beyond any other body of people bound 
 together by special tenets, the Society of Friends has been 
 careful that every birthright Member should have a sound and 
 adequate education, as witnessed by the foundation and endow- 
 ment of the well-known school at Ackworth (where the late 
 John Bright and other leading men among the Friends received 
 their education), and other establishments of a like nature. Il 
 Pengelly had been eligible for such instruction as he certainly 
 would have enjoyed, had his parents belonged to the Society 
 in question, how much of the trouble and hardships he under- 
 went in his determination to acquire knowledge, might have 
 been spared to him ! 
 
 It was not until early middle life that he became acquainted 
 with some of the Members of the Quaker body. Among those 
 with whom he was intimate may be mentioned Joseph Sturge, 
 Robert Were Fox, F.R.S., and his daughters Anna Maria and 
 Caroline Fox, H. Bowman Brady, F.R.S., and the Hanbury, 
 Lister, and Burlingham families. Deeply impressed with the 
 devotion, spirituality, and unworldliness of the Friends, and the 
 warm solicitude which they displayed in promoting the welfare 
 
 E
 
 50 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. V. 
 
 of their fellow-creatures, he soon joined their Body. Later 
 on he became attached to Lydia, the youngest daughter of 
 William Spriggs, a Member of the Society, descended on his 
 mother's side (who belonged to the Savory family) through 
 several generations of Quaker ancestry. One of the family, 
 Hester Savory (who died shortly after becoming the wife of 
 Charles Dudley), was greatly admired by Charles Lamb. On 
 her death, he wrote the well-known lines beginning 
 
 " When maidens such as Hester die, 
 Their place ye may not well supply, 
 Though ye among a thousand try, 
 With vain endeavour." 
 
 Mr. Spriggs and his wife always gave hearty support to those 
 benevolent and charitable undertakings, which the Members of 
 the Society of Friends, have supported so largely and honour- 
 ably. Mrs. Spriggs, when a girl living with her widowed 
 mother, had enjoyed the friendship of the great philanthropist 
 Thomas Clarkson, who was often an honoured guest at their 
 house. In later life, she had the privilege of going with Elizabeth 
 Fry to visit the prisoners in gaol, a sight so touching that it 
 once made Sydney Smith weep bitterly, and say, " to see her 
 in the midst of the wretched prisoners, to see them all calling 
 earnestly upon God, soothed by her look, animated by her voice, 
 clinging to the hem of her garment, worshipping her as the only 
 being who had ever loved them, or taught them, or noticed 
 them, or spoken to them of God, was a sight which broke down 
 the pageants of the world." 
 
 Pengelly's second marriage took place on June 28, 1853, and 
 he thus gained a most devoted wife, but of the extreme happiness 
 of this union it is out of place to speak here. Mrs. Pengelly 
 entered with ready zest into all her husband's scientific pursuits. 
 Though in politics she remained, like her parents, a Conserva- 
 tive, while he was always a consistent Liberal, this difference of 
 opinion, never occasioned the slightest cloud in the brightness 
 of their exceptionally happy and united married life. Her 
 artistic powers were of the greatest assistance to him, as she 
 was indefatigable in drawing and colouring diagrams for his 
 lectures. This she continued to do till the end of his lecturing 
 career. 
 
 The following letter, to his wife's sister Hester, was written 
 by Pengelly on his wedding journey :
 
 1853-1856.] HONEYMOON OF SECOND MARRIAGE. 51 
 
 " Bcttws-y-Coed^July gth. You must take great care not to thank 
 me for this letter, as I am really writing just to kill time. The rain 
 has been most pitiless all day. I did just manage to get to the post- 
 office, where I found a letter and two papers ; but since that I have 
 been a close prisoner. I have read Shakespeare's ' Lear,' and I have also 
 done my best to criticize Lydia's sketch, now in progress, of the splendid 
 hill in front of our window. The newspapers have been duly gone 
 through, and the guide-books consulted, and, as a last resource, I take 
 my pen to say I have nothing to write about. Had the day suited, we 
 were to have seen the falls of the Con way. . . . July ivth. We have 
 ascended the beautiful hill over the way this afternoon. But what would 
 you have given to have had a glimpse of the glorious mountain range 
 westward including Snowdon all in one view ? In the course of our 
 ramble we suddenly came upon a mountain lake of which we had not 
 heard. Oh, how tranquilly it lay, reposing on the heart of the moun- 
 tain ! How it seemed to invite one not to return to the bustling 
 money-getting world. ..." 
 
 We get some glimpses of Pengelly's life, after their return 
 from this journey, in his wife's letters to her mother. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "November, 1853. . . . Joseph Wolff's lecture here created quite 
 a sensation ; it was very crowded, some were delighted, others thought 
 it only rigmarole. . . . We have just had a very pleasant visit from 
 Bishop Carr; he came to see the fossils again, and was extremely 
 interested in them, particularly the ' Beekites.' He stayed to take tea 
 with us, and told us such interesting facts about the Syrian Christians, 
 the Malabar Jews, the Indian population in the Deccan, Ceylon, etc. 
 He says he was at Torquay forty years ago, when there were only a 
 very few houses here. William has been several geological rambles 
 with him, and likes him very much. The bishop was with the Princess 
 Esterhazy * when she died, poor thing. He said her throat was in such 
 a dreadful state that she could take nothing but Devonshire cream for 
 the last two or three weeks. In fact, it was nothing but that which 
 had kept her alive. . . . The bishop mentioned several amusing things 
 about his correspondence in India; occasionally he received letters 
 addressed ' T. Bombay, Esq.' His account of the suffering caused by ' 
 the terrible floods in his diocese was most sad. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to a Botanical Friend. 
 
 " Torquay, Noi'ember 21, 1853. . . . Please to inform your brother 
 Thomas that I made careful inquiries after the gentleman whose acquaint- 
 ance he desires, namely, M. Asplenium lanceolahim ; but he has left this 
 district about three years ago, and has wisely gone into Cornwall. So 
 says my friend, C. Parker, f a man who calls on, and therefore knows 
 
 * Lady Sarah Villiers, daughter of the Earl of Jersey, who died at Torquay. 
 An excellent local botanist.
 
 52 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. V. 
 
 the exact whereabouts of, every member of the botanical family living 
 in this district. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly spent the Christmas of 1853 with her family, 
 but her husband was not able to leave Torquay on account of 
 the lectures he had undertaken to deliver. He writes to his 
 wife during her absence. 
 
 " Friday. . . . Now I'll just tell you what I've done this afternoon. 
 Feeling the gardening fit strong upon me, I began operations. First I 
 removed the stunted fir-tree, and the first larch that came to hand, next 
 a laurustinus, zphyllorea (if that is not the correct orthography it ought 
 to be). The destructive tendency is in the ascendant just now, which, 
 were it spring, the trees would soon find to their decided loss. ... I 
 have gone roughly through my lecture for Monday, and called on the 
 Birds. Last night I took up ' Hypatia,' and got more than half through 
 the first volume before going to bed. Really, it is first-rate. Miss 
 Bird told me that Kingsley and his family are coming here for the 
 winter, and have taken Livermead House for three months. 
 
 "Saturday. I finished the first volume of ' Hypatia,' and got so 
 absorbed in the second that the midnight hour found me still reading. 
 . . . There was a splendid sea yesterday, and I think I never saw so 
 fine a sky ; I wished you here. How can any one leave the ocean, a 
 fine climate, and a lovely district, for a land of fogs, and a place where 
 the ocean is not ! ! ! I am promising myself a long letter to-morrow, and 
 hope it will bring a good report of my better nine-tenths it would be 
 an insult to call you better half, any woman comes up to that standard. 
 I think in one of my cross moments I said I would not tell you how I 
 was. In order to please you, and also to keep my word, let me tell 
 you how I am not. I am not at all unwell. I am not satisfied by a 
 week's experience that a wife is by any means a useless thing ! I am 
 not at all unlikely to give you a hearty welcome again, though I am not 
 sorry that you have gone, nor do I wish you to curtail your visit in 
 any way. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Torquay > December ib, 1853. . . . I have been promising myself 
 the pleasure of commencing another letter to you this evening ; and 
 now the day's work being over, and the evening come, I gladly set 
 
 about it. Mr. H inquired kindly after you to-day, and told me 
 
 he thought me most kind ' to allow my wife to leave me so soon.' I 
 cautioned him not to use such words as 'ALLOW,' with reference to 
 wives, in the hearing of any lady if he ever hoped to get married. He 
 laughed, but was quite ready to do battle for his proposition, so I left 
 the besotted creature in the belief that he will have power to ' allow ' or 
 disallow after being 'noosed.' I met Toogood recently, who played 
 off on me the following ' Of what rascality was Power guilty when he 
 produced the Greek slave? D'ye give it up?' 'Yes.' 'Why, he 
 chiselled a young woman out of her clothes.' . . . Miss H. Bird told
 
 1853-1856.] CHARLES KINGSLEY AT TORQUAY. 53 
 
 me she had just received a letter from Lady Verney, who is at Malta 
 with her family. They were all to have gone to Constantinople ; but 
 Sir Harry was informed by the admiral at Malta that it was no place 
 for ladies now, so he went alone. Lady Verney has sent some par- 
 ticulars respecting the geology of Malta, all of which she says I can 
 expound. The young Boyles asked me this evening if I had seen the 
 Haytian prince, so that it seems we are beginning to wake up to the 
 honour thrust upon us." 
 
 It was during the early part of 1854 that Charles Kingsley 
 and his wife passed some time at Livermead, near Torquay, for 
 the benefit of Mrs. Kingsley's health. Pengelly had long admired 
 Kingsley's works, and a sincere friendship sprang up between 
 the two men, in whose characters there was much in common. 
 Both were enthusiastic students of nature, and both were endued 
 with noble frankness and breadth of view on the subjects 
 of the day, especially a ready and unflagging interest in the 
 labour question, then hardly so prominently before the public 
 as at present. Pengelly's sympathies with, and desire to pro- 
 mote, the true happiness of working men, remained active and 
 keen throughout his long life, and in times of trouble and 
 distress no one appealed to him in vain for counsel or assistance ; 
 he has been aptly described as "an ardent and thoughtful 
 Liberal, a friend of the people, and a lover of truth, in the widest 
 sense of the terms." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 " March, 1854. . . . Lady Louisa Percy and two other ladies came 
 to see the moon through the telescope last night ; but William was gone 
 out, so I had to entertain them till his return not a difficult task, as 
 they were extremely bright. The moon would not be viewed, however, 
 so they are coming again, when I hope they may be more fortunate 
 Sir Paul Hunter, who also came with the hope of seeing the moon, is 
 loud in his praises of John Bright's last speech (on the Crimean War), 
 which he says is the best on the subject. Sir Paul Hunter is rather 
 Russian in his tendencies, as his wife's mother is a Russian lady Mrs. 
 Bosanquet, whose husband has written a pamphlet on the war, called 
 the ' Cross and the Crescent.' Sir Paul seems to think the English are 
 by no means alive to the nature of a war with Russia. . . ." 
 
 In the autumn Mrs. Pengelly writes to her mother 
 
 " How dreadful are the accounts of the dynamite explosion at 
 Newcastle ; and yet that seems to fade by comparison with the accounts 
 of this terrible engagement (in the Crimea). 
 
 " One of William's pupils, Lieutenant Montague, grandson of his 
 friend the late Duchess of Manchester, was killed on the spot. His
 
 54 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [H. V. 
 
 poor sister living here, who is an orphan, feels it exceedingly, and 
 refuses to see any one but Mrs. Bird. 
 
 " Major Lysons,* a fine man, also a pupil of William's, and who 
 attended all his lectures last winter, saved Sir G. Brown's life by 
 shooting a Cossack who was taking aim at him. Another of his pupils, 
 who is invalided home, Captain Fearon, came to see us a day or two 
 ago, and looks very ill ; he was aide-de-camp on Omar Pasha's staff. 
 We hear much of the war just now, as many of William's old pupils and 
 friends are engaged in it" 
 
 Whilst staying with friends in London during the spring of 
 1855, he was for the first time present at an evening meeting of 
 the Geological Society, and thus describes it in a letter to his wife 
 written from Upton, the charming residence of Mr. J. J. Lister, 
 the distinguished discoverer of the principle upon which the 
 Achromatic Microscope is constructed, and whose scientific 
 tastes were shared by his son Sir Joseph f Lister. 
 
 "... You will see that I am now in Essex, a thing I could never 
 say before. I wish you could see this place ; such glorious cedars of 
 Lebanon, and such a wistaria ! I must now give you my promised 
 account of my visit to the Geol. Soc. There were probably about forty 
 persons present, which I believe is considered a good attendance. We 
 were rather late, and found on our arrival that a paper was being read 
 descriptive of Manna Loa, the volcano in Owhyee. At its close, 
 Austen, J a well-known geologist, and who once lived at East Ogwell, 
 read a paper on the ' Probability of Coal existing at workable depths 
 near London.' ... A discussion followed the paper, in which the 
 author was by no means spared, as the various speakers expressed 
 themselves freely. This part was extremely interesting, not only on 
 account of the remarks made, but also because it gave me an oppor- 
 tunity of seeing and hearing many eminent men, as Lyell, Murchison, 
 Col. Portlock, Sharpe, Smyth, Prestwich, Morris, etc. Daubeny and 
 Percy were also there, but did not speak. Lyell is a merry-looking 
 fellow, very bald, and, according to C. Hanbury, junior, like me in a 
 'general way.' C. Hanbury introduced me to a few persons. I 
 seemed to get on best with Morris, the author of the great Catalogue. 
 After the meeting we got into a tea-room, and did ample justice to the 
 good things there spread. In leaving the Geological, the author of the 
 paper on Manna Loa came out with me, and appeared very sociable ; 
 he told me he was seven days in reaching the top of the mountain, 
 which is about two and a half miles, and that the cold was so intense 
 that he could not sleep a wink. . . ." 
 
 A letter written by Pengelly this summer shows the interest 
 he continued to take in his native county. 
 
 " Torquay. July 24, 1855. . . . You are aware that we visited 
 
 Now General Sir Daniel Lysons, Constable of the Tower, 
 t Now Lord. J Mr. R. Godwin-Austen. 

 
 1853-1856.] A JOURNEY IN CORNWALL. 55 
 
 Looe, and probably dear Lydia has given all the information of a serious 
 character, but possibly there are a few facts that have not been men- 
 tioned and that may interest you. We journeyed from Plymouth to 
 Looe by a Cornish van, having a boy driver, and a middle-aged man, 
 as a sort of guard, and who is at the same time proprietor, and father 
 of the driver. I happened to have in my pocket an interesting book 
 entitled ' Cornwall, its Mines and Miners,' which commences with a 
 description of a van by which the author performed the same journey, 
 viz. from Plymouth to Looe, and he dwells minutely on the great 
 number of things stowed in, on, and under the van by the boy driver. 
 In order to amuse our fellow-travellers I read my book aloud, and 
 with one accord it was agreed that Bob (our driver) must have sat for 
 the portrait (quite an error), but Bob himself thought there was nothing 
 of the kind in the book, but gave me credit for the manufacture of the 
 text there and then, and that I was only pretending to read. On being 
 allowed to take the book he saw his mistake, and thenceforth on being 
 drawn into conversation would suddenly stop short with, ' I must take 
 care what I say, else it will get put into a book, I s'pose,' for he would 
 have it that I was author of the book in question. Whilst at Looe, I 
 got a donkey for Lydia, who rode some miles in the country by the 
 side of the river, I acting as guide. Being a hot day I stopped at the 
 Well to drink, my wife scolded me for not having taken her from 
 the saddle in order that she might drinkyfrj// of course I was intensely 
 sorry to be so wanting in politeness, especially as it turned out to be 
 the Well of St. Keyne.* Another day my father took us by boat to 
 Polperro, we called on Jonathan Couch, the Naturalist, and had a most 
 interesting hour spent in geological chat with him. Lydia was delighted 
 with Polperro, but had not time for more than one sketch. She 
 bargains for a week there on some future occasion. We fully reckoned 
 on going to the meeting at Liskeard, but dear L. managed to get 
 toothache and declined it. I attended, and I greatly enjoyed the day. 
 I had the pleasure of sitting between Miss Tregelles and her sister at 
 dinner ; indeed, I was just in clover, next beyond sat Mrs. Williams, an 
 astonishing woman truly, upwards of eighty years of age, and possess- 
 ing all the activity and vivacity of most women not half that age. 
 She had to walk about a mile from the meeting to dinner, but made 
 nothing of it. At dinner she gave us some of her theatrical reminis- 
 cences in her early years, especially of Mrs. Siddons in the character 
 of Lady Macbeth ; and almost electrified a mild guest opposite, by an 
 imitation of the great actress, in the passage, ' Out ! out damned spot ! ' 
 in the sleep-walking scene. We greatly enjoyed our visit to Looe. 
 The week after our return home I took the first train on Monday for 
 Plymouth, and on arriving there took boat, by which I got landed on 
 the east side of the Sound my object being to ascertain whether or 
 
 * Southey's amusing poem, explains the desirability of drinking first at the 
 renowned well, of which Fuller gives the following account : 
 
 " I know not whether it is worth reporting that there is in Cornwall, near the 
 parish of St. Neot, a well arched over with the robes of four kinds of trees, withy, 
 oak, elm, and ash dedicated to St. Keyne. The reported virtue of this water is this, 
 that whether husband or wife come first to drink thereof, they get the mastery 
 thereby."
 
 56 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Ca. V. 
 
 not the rocks contained the peculiar organic remains which have been 
 denominated ' Cornish fossil fish.' I did succeed in finding one very 
 inferior patch, but nothing further. The coast is a fine one, and I 
 greatly enjoyed the ramble, especially the superb view from the mouth 
 of the river Yealm, the river itself being finely wooded to the water's 
 edge ; then came the ever-glorious sea with upwards of fifty craft of all 
 rigs, and then the coast of Cornwall from the Rame Head to the 
 Lizard entire ; rarely have I seen anything so fine of its kind. About 
 nine p.m. I found myself at the mouth of the river Ernie (Ivy Bridge 
 river), and took up my abode for the night at the Jolly Sailor, at the 
 small out-of-the-world village of Mothecombe. I had inquired of a 
 lad for the best inn before I entered the place, and was by him directed 
 to the Jolly. On presenting myself at the door I found a butcher 
 engaged in dressing the carcase of a pig, which he had just killed, and 
 said piggie was hanging in the doorway (the front door). There seemed 
 no help for it, so I demanded a bed of the old woman whom I supposed 
 to be mistress of the house, but was answered by the butcher, who 
 proved to be mine host, in the following words, 'Yes, sir, you can 
 have a bed, so please to walk in, and take a seat in the kitchen ; I 
 would ax you to go into the parlour, but my missus is there cleaning 
 part of the pig, and perhaps you mightn't like the smell o't.' Being of 
 his opinion I acted on his advice, and soon got a capital ham rasher 
 and (for me) a passable cup of tea ; the old lady whom I first en- 
 countered (mother of the landlady) sitting by to cheer me on to the 
 attack. Having disposed of the ham I commenced an onslaught on 
 the butter, of which a very small piece was placed before me, but the 
 dear old creature requested me not to be 'afraid of the butter, cos 
 there's plenty more in the 'ouze, but 'tis allays best to finish up the 
 bits and scraps.' On Tuesday I started to ascend the Erme, and had 
 a splendid day. At the mouth the river is very tame and insignificant 
 and uninteresting, but soon became very lovely, and only lost this 
 character to become grand. Like the Yealm it rises on Dartmoor; 
 it falls into Bigbury bay (the Yealm does not). I stopped to bait at 
 Ermington, famous only for its leaning spire, and the wretched ortho- 
 graphy and poetry on the headstones in the graveyard, of which I 
 copied several examples. A couple of rniles more brought me to Ivy 
 bridge. I continued to follow the stream three or four miles above 
 the bridge in fact, got quite on Dartmoor but as I had to get home 
 that night I could not reach the source of the river ; it certainly is a 
 very delightful ramble, and artists might find many a delightful ' bit ' 
 in the district. 
 
 "Last week we went down and up the Dart; it is a charming 
 cruise. The helmsman on board the steamer informed me that he had 
 been told by many travellers that ' if the old rocks and old castles be 
 a leaved out, the Rhine is not finer than the Dart.' Something like 
 playing Hamlet with the character of the prince omitted. Yesterday 
 Mr. Battersby and I were out all day dredging, and got many good 
 things, the ground we selected is that between Berry Head and 
 Brixham. Well, now I must close, I fear my scrawl will not repay the 
 trouble of reading, but it will serve as a proof that I have not quite 
 forgotten you. ..." 

 
 THE BEEKITES OF TORBAY DISTRICT. 57 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "London, May 29, 1856. ... I proceeded to Sheppard's, and 
 started with him in a cab to take up Stella, and her aunt,* on our way 
 to the Regent's Park Flower Show. Many azaleas formed complete 
 cones four feet high, and rich and tasteful was the grouping. Veitch, 
 as usual, carried off many prizes. ... I strolled on from the park, 
 having declined to return with the Sheppards, and then to Somerset 
 House to attend the meeting of the Geological Society. Two papers 
 were read, one by a Mr. Moore on the rocks of Wigtonshire, etc., 
 which was discussed by Col. Portlock, Murchison, and Salter; the 
 other was by the famous Babbage, on the formation of sedimentary 
 outliers, etc., which called up Portlock, Lyell, Salter, Stephenson the 
 engineer, Prof. Tyndall, Huxley, etc. It was a magnificent meeting, 
 and made me wish for a town residence. Whilst we were ' coffeeizing ' 
 I renewed my acquaintance with many old friends." 
 
 The following extract from his geological journal describes a 
 ramble during which he visited Burr Island, situated on a wild 
 and almost unknown part of the Devonshire coast. 
 
 "/ufy i5/>$, 1856. Left Bantham about eight in the morning, crossed 
 the Avon at the ferry, and walked along the sands to Borough or Burr 
 Island. The ceaseless hum of the sea, the wild scream of the sea-gulls, 
 the magnificent expanse of water, the fine slate cliffs, and the glorious 
 morning, made me feel unusually free and buoyant. Commenced my 
 tour round the island on the eastern side. Drab and chocolate slates. 
 Fine natural arch, through which the waves have cut a passage at east 
 end. Several thin continuous layers of quartz parallel to the plane of 
 stratification. Rocks at the back, i.e. sea side of the island, accessible 
 by boat only. Island not so large as Looe Island, parts of it extremely 
 wild and even approaching to grandeur. Rabbits very numerous, 
 difficult to avoid slipping into their burrows, rabbits flitting in every 
 direction, gulls abundant, frequently perched most picturesquely on 
 romantic crags. The coast gives striking evidence of the long-con- 
 tinued erosive action of the sea, several almost completely detached 
 parts of the island, and traces of landslips in places." 
 
 At this time Pengelly was giving special attention to 
 "Beekites," which are found in considerable numbers in the 
 Torquay district, although not often met with elsewhere in 
 England. 
 
 The following letter on the subject, from the late Mr. Robert 
 Hunt, Keeper of Mining Records at the Museum of Practical 
 Geology, is worth quoting, as it shows how little was then known 
 concerning these specimens. 
 
 " Museum of Practical Geology\ Jermyn Street, London, July i, 1856. 
 ... I can obtain very little information respecting the Beekites. 
 
 * Some Torquay friends.
 
 58 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. V. 
 
 It appears that very little has been said or written respecting them 
 since Dr. Beek, of Bristol, drew attention to them. They are found on 
 the Greensand fossils of Black Down. We have no specimens here a 
 few would be a very acceptable present. Professor Morris tells me 
 that he is engaged in a full examination of siliceous concretions, 
 amongst which he classes those Beekites but, as yet, he has not 
 arrived at any conclusions. At any time I shall have much pleasure 
 in obtaining, if possible, information for you. . . ." 
 
 In the summer of 1856 the British Association met at 
 Cheltenham. It was the first meeting attended by Pengelly, 
 who gives his impressions of it, in a series of letters to his wife. 
 
 "Cheltenham, August 7, 1856, 7.30 a.m. . . . You are, of course, 
 like a true woman, dying of curiosity to know about our proceedings at 
 the British Association. And mark the word our ; it reminds me of the 
 story of the wasp, which had sat on the horn of the ox all day, saying, 
 ' We have ploughed an acre of ground to-day.' About 7.30 p.m. I found 
 my way to the college the meetings are to be chiefly held there. I 
 found the company rapidly assembling. . . . As I had come to the 
 meeting to hear Dr. Daubeny's address, and knew something of the 
 
 talking powers of the s, I retreated to my original seat. At length 
 
 the platform filled ; in the chair sat the Duke of Argyll, the retiring 
 president. He made a few introductory remarks, and resigned the 
 chair to Dr. Daubeny. He read his address, but his voice is not 
 strong enough for the room, so that I did not hear half his address, 
 though I am inclined to think it a good one, and have no doubt it will 
 read well. On his right sat Lord Wrottesley, and next to him sat the 
 famous Mr. Close, of Cheltenham. He moved a vote of thanks to the 
 president in a very good speech. On the left of the president sat 
 Lord Stanley, who seconded the vote in a not telling but good speech, 
 good, because decidedly in keeping with the tendency now gaining 
 ground, of introducing science into our educational institutions ; next 
 him sat Professor Phillips, the General Secretary, a man about my 
 height, just as bald, a year or two older. He was the last speaker, and 
 in a very facetious speech told the meeting what is to be done during 
 the Association week. He kept lords and commons in a roar. Next 
 Phillips sat Sir Roderick, and next him sat his great antagonist Sedg- 
 wick. Daubeny in his address used the expression ' the Silurian and 
 Cambrian rocks,' which no doubt grated on Murchison's ear, and 
 agreeably tickled Sedgwick's. The meeting over, we withdrew to an 
 adjoining room, where a chatteration took place." 
 
 " Cheltenham, August gth. ... At the reception-room yesterday 
 morning I met Grindrod, who introduced me to Symonds,* of whom 
 we read so much in connection with the Malvern Naturalists Club. . . . 
 At the Geological Section, Symonds began by reading a paper on some 
 part of Malvern, condemnatory of a view held by Ramsay ; of course 
 
 * The late Rev. W. S. Symonds, of Pendock.
 
 1853-1856.] BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING. 59 
 
 latter replied. Phillips and Harkness both spoke approving of the 
 ier. Then came a paper by Buckman,* on the Cotswold Hills ; it 
 
 the 
 paper. 
 
 was followed by two papers from Owen, on different fossil mammalia. 
 Old Sedgwick grew enthusiastic and eloquent in commenting on them ; 
 he was followed by Professor Macdonald, of St. Andrew's. . . . Then 
 came a series of papers, the first by Hull, on the Cotswold Hills this 
 paper, or rather the author, was introduced by Murchison ; the second 
 was by Dr. Wright, of this place, and was an attempt to show that what 
 is usually called lower Oolite is the upper Lias. The third of this 
 series was by Moore, of Bath, his object being to disprove what Wright 
 had attempted to prove. He really startled the whole section by pro- 
 fessing to be able to tell what nodules contained fossils, and of what 
 species they were, and proceeded to verify these by breaking nodules 
 before us, and, lo and behold, he was right in every instance ! ' The 
 first instance,' said Professor Ramsay, c of Geological clairvoyance that 
 I have ever met with.' A discussion should have followed, but our 
 time was too nearly gone for that, so it is deferred until to-day ; still 
 there remained a little time in which Mr. Edward Lee made two com- 
 munications, both on fossils which had been given him by persons, who 
 professed to have found them where they ought not to be found. I had 
 encouraged him to introduce them, but told him he would be told he 
 had been cheated, and the result verified my words. This ended the 
 sitting. I was extremely sorry for many of the authors ; there is at times 
 such a racket of seats by persons leaving or entering the room, that 
 they can scarcely hear themselves speak. . . ." 
 
 "Monday, August \\th. ... I do not recollect having informed 
 you in my last, how Friday evening was spent, so that I had better 
 begin this by informing you that Sir H. Rawlinson gave a lecture on his 
 Assyrian researches ; the great room at the college was closely packed, 
 some said there were two thousand people there, but that I greatly 
 doubt, and am only willing to believe half I hear. Sir Henry has a 
 good voice, and tells his tale pleasantly. On Saturday we commenced 
 with a debate arising out of papers read the day before, the point in 
 dispute being the exact boundary of the Liassic and Oolitic rocks ; then 
 came a paper by Brodie,| on some new species of Lias corals, and one 
 also by him on a new species of Pollidpes in the inferior Oolite. The 
 author is well known as a collector of fossil insects. This was followed 
 by Professor Hennessy reading a paper ' On the Relative Distribution 
 of Land and Water affecting Climate.' Poor fellow, he looked extremely 
 ill. Then came a paper from the famous Salter ' On the great Ptery- 
 gottis.' This drew Sedgwick, Murchison, and others into a discussion 
 as to the exact line separating the Silurian and Devonian Systems ; 
 then came a paper by Etheridge, of Bristol, as to whether the Bone Bed 
 of Aust passage should be considered Liassic or Triassic ; thus have we 
 had, in one day, three attempts to draw well-defined divisions in Geo- 
 logical Chronology. The attempt is in my judgment absurd, such lines 
 have no existence in Nature. Had the world been at various times 
 
 * The late Professor J. Buckman, of Cirencester. 
 f The Rev. B. P. Brodie.
 
 60 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cu. V. 
 
 entirely depopulated, or had the earth's crust again and again been 
 completely broken up by physical disturbances, then such lines or 
 divisions would exist, and perhaps might be ascertained. Then we had 
 a paper 'On the Time required for ,the formation of Rolled Stones,' by 
 Moggridge ; the author was not present, it was read by the secretary. 
 Then came Sorby with a working model to illustrate the formation of 
 Drift Bedding, which Murchison characterized as giving the greatest 
 possible amount of information in the least possible time. Then came 
 Vivian, with Kent's Cavern, and introduced his own views as to the 
 formation of the cavern, which gave me an opportunity of replying, and 
 this I did at some length. Robert Chambers took up the theme, so did 
 Professor Rogers, of America. Beete Jukes, the chairman, pronounced 
 in my favour, and Vivian acknowledged very handsomely that he 
 thought me right. There were one or two other papers, and the sitting 
 ended." 
 
 The following extract is also taken from a letter written at 
 Cheltenham, the date of which is missing. 
 
 " Owen has a most gentle expression, he is extremely courteous to 
 every one desiring information from him. Phillips spoke at some 
 length on Owen's paper, and was followed by Sedgwick, who has un- 
 mistakable lines of decision of character in his face; he strongly 
 condemned the frequent use of negative evidence, stating in reply to 
 Owen, that it is quite unlikely, and must be considered exceptional, 
 that the remains of a land animal should find their way to the sea, and 
 be found in a marine deposit ; and that hence we ought not to infer 
 that terrestrial mammals did not exist in early geological times, from 
 the negative fact that their remains are not met with in early strata. 
 Owen replied that negative evidence was worth much more than Sedg- 
 wick admitted; he felt satisfied that mammals did not exist in early 
 times, for we do not find the remains of marine, i.e., cetaceous, mammals 
 in the rocks in question. Again, he did not believe that marine reptiles 
 lived in the earliest times; their remains are not found, and such 
 creatures were not needed, as the saurian fish, that then abounded, per- 
 formed the same functions ; that is, kept down superabundant marine 
 life. On which I remarked that Owen's conclusions respecting the 
 non-existence of early marine reptiles had not been drawn from the 
 negative fact of their remains not being found, but from the positive 
 fact that fish remains were found capable of doing the same work, and 
 I concluded by asking, ' Is Professor Owen acquainted with any early 
 animals which discharged the functions now performed by the cetacea ? ' 
 He replied that ' early fish did the work both of the later reptiles and 
 the present cetacea.' I have much to say on this point, but not now." 
 
 " Cheltenham, August \zth. Last night we had a lecture from Grove,* 
 on 'The Correlation of Physical Forces,' a subject of which he is a 
 thorough master, and on which he published many years ago. The 
 
 * The Rt. Hon. Sir W. R. Grove, D.C.L., F.R.S.
 
 1853-1856.] NEGATIVE EVIDENCE IN GEOLOGY. 6l 
 
 room was densely packed. The lecturer is a thoughtful, studious-looking 
 man, has a good voice, and a perfectly felicitous simplicity of illustration. 
 It is certainly a wise plan to hold these evening lectures, in which men 
 are selected who have the power of. making profound subjects popular; 
 it helps to diffuse knowledge, whilst it may be hoped that the sectional 
 meetings help to extend its boundaries. . . . five o'clock. My paper has 
 been read. (On Beekites.) Tennant considered Beekites as one form 
 of silicious concretions, and thought the fossil character of the nucleus 
 purely accidental. I am coming home to-morrow, if all be well. My 
 home is very, very dear to me. . . ."
 
 62 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. VI. 
 
 CHAPTER VI, 
 
 FIRST VISIT TO IRELAND. 
 
 1857 TO END OF YEAR. 
 
 AT the opening of the Abbey Road Public Schools at Torquay, 
 in January, 1857, Pengelly briefly addressed the meeting. In 
 his speech, he expressed his belief that the present age was 
 not one " of education^ it was an age of instruction ; the difference 
 was momentous. If true education prevailed, would Mormonism 
 have existed ? Would the belief in clairvoyance, spirit-rapping, 
 table-turning, and such-like fallacies, as had recently disgraced 
 this and other countries, have existed ? The fact was that the 
 majority of scholars of the present day were taught to be rather 
 passive recipients of knowledge, than active inquirers. What 
 was required was to teach comparatively few things, but to teach 
 them thoroughly. Parents should be less concerned about the 
 rapid passing over of a great number of rules in Arithmetic than 
 that what their children learnt should be thoroughly learnt, so 
 that when they left school they should be in a position to acquire 
 knowledge for themselves. It was true that vast improvements 
 were constantly being made in the various departments of science ; 
 but he did not think that public enlightenment had kept pace 
 with the progress of science. People were surrounded on all 
 hands by wonders, and what was wanted .was to get them to 
 think. Once successful in that respect, the love of acquiring 
 knowledge naturally followed." 
 
 Pengelly was at this time President of the Torquay Mechanics' 
 Institute, the members of which presented to him a copy of the 
 " Encyclopaedia Britannica" as a testimonial. 
 
 The volumes of the " Encyclopaedia," bore the following 
 inscription :
 
 I857-] LECTURES AT TORQUAY. 63 
 
 " Presented 
 
 to 
 
 W. Pengelly, Esq., F.G.S. 
 
 By the Members and Friends of the 
 
 Torquay Mechanics' Institute, 
 
 as a tribute of esteem, 
 
 and in recognition of his untiring services 
 
 during a period of more than twenty years. 
 
 March 25, 1857." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "March 28, 1857.. . . William's old friend, Dr. Scoresby, the 
 Arctic traveller, is to be buried this morning at Upton Church ; he 
 has been ill a long time with heart complaint. It is a great loss to 
 Torquay, as he has several times given us lectures here, and those 
 with regard to the search for Sir John Franklin have been especially 
 interesting. . . . 
 
 " William's Testimonial from the Mechanics' Institute, in acknow- 
 ledgment of his more than twenty years' work, was presented to him 
 last week at the close of Mr. Vivian's lecture there. ..." 
 
 Of the twentieth lecture of a course on "Physical Geography," 
 which Pengelly delivered at the Museum at Torquay, on March 
 30, 1857, his wife writes to her mother early in the following 
 month. 
 
 " April, 1857. . . . Most gratifying votes of thanks were moved 
 to William at the conclusion of his course of lectures, in which it was 
 said that none such could be heard in England, out of London, or a 
 University town. Miss Burdett Coutts came up afterwards, very 
 warmly expressing her extreme interest in them, and introduced me 
 to several of her party, who were all equally pleased; they praised 
 my diagrams much more than they deserved. . . ." 
 
 Notwithstanding his engagements at this time with the work 
 of the Mechanics' Institute and his lectures at the Torquay 
 Natural History Society, Pengelly found time to lend a helping 
 hand to many other matters, both in his own locality and else- 
 where. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Stoke Neunngton, 1857. . . . On my arrival in the evening, I 
 found an invitation to join my friends next door at a party at Alfred 
 Tyler's, where I found Babbage, Sorby, Morris, and Rupert Jones. 
 Was it not a little, or indeed, a good deal vexing, to find that Rtiskin 
 had just left? Babbage and I got on well; indeed, with Sorby, we
 
 64 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Ca. VI. 
 
 made a little group and went into Slaty Cleavage, Transportation of 
 Mud, Plurality of Worlds, etc. I was delighted to hear Babbage 
 begin to hold forth that, for anything that appeared to the contrary, 
 there might possibly be a world of intellectual whales; the very 
 thing I have frequently said in reply to Whewell's book. Only keep 
 Babbage in a good temper, and he really is quite charming. He 
 told us a good story of Brewster. You are aware that Brewster was a 
 leading man in the Scotch Free Church Movement, and also that he 
 has recently married a young Miss Kirk Palmer ; some wag has said, 
 since the marriage, that Brewster has at last embraced the true 
 kirk. ..." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Stoke Newington, May 26, 1857. . . . Having fixed to meet 
 Mrs. Yorke at Jermyn St. Museum, at 1 1 o'clock on Monday morning, 
 I took omnibus here yester morn for Charing Cross, and getting there 
 early, I started to see G. Wilson before I was due at the Museum. I 
 pushed on, and had to pass close to a large number of soldiers with 
 bands in full pipe preparing for a review, great crowds of people were 
 moving towards them from all quarters. It really is a brilliant 
 spectacle, and military music is truly fascinating, every nerve seems 
 excited, and appears to suggest motion to all one's muscles. I found 
 my Peace principles rapidly oozing out of me, but happily, before I 
 had come to the resolution to enlist, the band having struck up ' The 
 girl I left behind me,' I recollected there are two sides to the picture, 
 and I was no longer in danger. On reaching the Museum I found 
 Mrs. Yorke had not arrived, so hunted up some old geological 
 acquaintances, officers of the Museum, amongst others Robert Hunt, 
 Bailey, Ramsay, and Salter. Hunt introduced me to Bristow. I intro- 
 duced Mrs. Yorke to Ramsay, and we went into the question of well- 
 defined lines of demarcation in Geological Chronology, the existence 
 of which, you will remember, I strongly deny. Ramsay admitted that 
 their existence could not be proved, that the progress of discovery 
 was daily rendering their existence less likely, but contended that we 
 were not yet in a position to assert their non-existence. He then 
 kindly showed us the specimens, on which he founds his belief that 
 Glaciers existed during the Permian age, and certainly the evidence 
 is striking. You will remember that I frequently had to allude to 
 this during my lectures on the Temperature of the Earth." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Stoke Newington, 1857. . . . The Hanburys would not hear of 
 my sleeping out, so I decided on taking a cab home, on leaving Miss 
 Coutts'. But Alfred Tylor, being engaged to go to Burlington House, 
 to hear the great Surgeon, Paget, read a paper on the rhythmic action 
 of the heart, before the Royal Society, wished me to accompany him ; 
 but as that was quite out of the question, and as Burlington House is 
 little more than a stone's-throw from Miss Coutts', he agreed to call 
 for rne. ... On entering the drawing-room, I found Mr. Barlow 

 
 I8S7-] MEETS CHARLES DICKENS. 65 
 
 (Secretary of the Royal Institution) there. I was directly introduced 
 to him, he was most cordial ; desired me to come as frequently as 
 possible to the Royal Institution, and especially wished me to come 
 on Saturday to hear Scott (Principal of Owen's College) lecture on 
 Moral Philosophy. Barlow had been invited to dine, but had a prior 
 engagement, so left very soon. ..." 
 
 "At length the guests began to arrive. First came a clergyman 
 named Stokes, I had met his sisters at Miss Coutts' at Torquay ; then 
 Charles Dickens, beard, white waistcoat, fancy shirt and all he is 
 splendid company certainly, but strikes one as being altogether an 
 actor; then came my friend Captain Gordon, and then Wheatstone; 
 Sorby was to have been there, but did not turn up through some 
 mistake. At dinner we talked of Education, Extension of the Electoral 
 Franchise, etc. Dickens talked with good sense on all topics. Dinner 
 over, puns and riddles flew thick and fast ; unfortunately, Mrs. Browne 
 had a lot without the answers. To one of them, ' When is most beef 
 tea made ? ' I replied, ' When John Bull is dissolved in tears ; ' the 
 answer was accepted. . . ." 
 
 In the summer of 1857, Pengelly visited York. 
 Pengdly to his Wife. 
 
 " York, August 6, 1857. . . . The city seems quite an old-world 
 place, but not so strikingly so as Chester, and not so un-English or 
 un-nineteenth-century as Dartmouth. There are numbers of new names 
 on the signboards,* but not many whimsical ones. The only ones I 
 have thought worth noting down are, 'Toes,' 'Nutbrown,' 'Boast,' 
 and ' Winspear.' I am told there is a ' Longbones,' but I have not 
 had the pleasure of catching him. The streets are not generally named 
 ' streets ' but have some distinctive name, no doubt historical, such as 
 ' Bootham,' ' Holgate,' * Micklegate,' ' Skeldergate,' ' Lendal,' etc. . . . 
 I took a peep into the Cathedral, or rather Minster, which is certainly 
 magnificent, but I was not able to see all of the interior. I went also 
 to see the Museum, which is really splendid, situated in extensive and 
 beautiful gardens, which contain on one side the ruins of St. Mary's 
 Abbey, and a Roman Multangular tower on the other. The antiquarian 
 collection is an extremely fine one. . . ." 
 
 Later in the month he had the pleasure of visiting his old 
 and greatly valued friend Mr. William Wilson at Mansfield, and 
 the following letter to his wife shows how much he delighted 
 in the traditions of the neighbourhood. 
 
 "Sherwood Hall, August 13, 1857. . . . Yesterday after dinner 
 we drove through a circuit of about twenty miles perhaps, through 
 Sherwood forest, and extremely enjoyable it was, such a number of 
 splendid old oaks, and such charming drooping birches, with abundance 
 
 * A subject in which he took much interest.
 
 66 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. VI. 
 
 of heather just bursting into flower. Among the objects of interest 
 we had first the ' Parliament Oak ' under which King John, in a great 
 emergency, once summoned a Parliament; next the 'Butcher,' or 
 ' Shambles Oak,' a huge hollow trunk, nearly thirty feet in circumfer- 
 ence, with a still vigorous top. Within the trunk tradition says that 
 Robin Hood, Esq., used to hang his uncooked venison ; it is said that 
 the hooks on which the joints hung were in situ very lately. I don't 
 know when I enjoyed a drive more ; emphatically the land of legend 
 and ballad, with an abundance of living vegetable witnesses of the 
 scenes of other times, and the usages of a bygone phase of civilization. 
 We got home a little before nine p.m., and after supper Mr. Wilson 
 drew his dear old mother out to repeat portions of the ' Night Thoughts ; ' 
 it was really beautiful to listen to her reciting, with good taste and fine 
 emphasis, Young's tersely epigrammatic lines. ..." 
 
 After spending a few days at Manchester with his wife, 
 and seeing the magnificent Exhibition of Pictures just then 
 assembled there, he proceeded to visit Ireland in company with 
 his brother-in-law, and records, in a series of letters to his wife, 
 his first impressions of the country with which he afterwards 
 became more familiar. 
 
 "Bush Mills, North of Ireland, August 18, 1857. . . . I am 
 extremely concerned that I could not conveniently write you this 
 morning, more especially as I am sure you will be curious to know 
 my first impressions of Ireland. We reached Fleetwood a little after 
 time, but as the steamer always waits the arrival of the train, that did 
 not matter ; we were taken by the train quite to the steamer's side, 
 and in a very few minutes found ourselves on board. W. and not a 
 few other landsmen looked gravely at the sky, and feared a rough 
 passage, and when they found the boat pitching more freely than they 
 had expected, they believed their fears fully realized. Some of the 
 old salts, on the other hand, talked of a 'nice breeze,' of a 'splendid 
 passage,' and in reply to the remark that 'it was rough,' said that, 
 ' were it always smooth, all the old women in the country would be 
 sailors.' I confess that I do not remember having ever enjoyed a 
 voyage more. We made acquaintance with an artistic gentleman. Of 
 course W. came in for the lion's share of the talk, which suited my desire 
 to talk as little as possible.* About ten we went below for the purpose 
 of ' turning in,' as we sailors say. The scene which met our eyes was 
 whimsical enough ; all the seats were transformed into beds, and above 
 them were placed other beds, looking as much like coffins as anything ; 
 other beds were arranged on the floor, and every bed found an 
 occupant I am not sure that it would be safe to say sleeper. W. and 
 I occupied one each. Beneath us, on the lockers or seats, lay others, 
 inside us on the same level, and in close contact, lay others on the 
 floor. I could not sleep much, so that I was able to sit up in the 
 night at times, just to study the strange group. 
 
 * He had been suffering from one of his throat attacks. 

 
 1 857.] BELFAST AND PORTRUSH. 67 
 
 I got up finally at half-past four, and went on deck, hoping to catch a 
 glimpse of the Isle of Man, which I had failed to do last night, but I 
 was again disappointed. I found Ireland ahead, and Scotland on the 
 weather bow, and it seemed to carry me back to my seaboy life, to watch 
 the gradual coming on of day, the steady development of the land we 
 were approaching, the various craft we passed, and the sea-birds that 
 floated and wheeled around and by us. Soon after six we entered 
 Belfast Lough, and one by one the passengers came on deck all looking 
 more or less seedy. About half-past seven we landed at Belfast, which 
 we found having all the appearance of prosperity, activity, wealth, and 
 taste ; it did not come up, or come down, whichever you like, to my 
 idea of an Irish town, and it was not possible to believe it Ireland, 
 until we reached the railway station, whither . we at once drove to 
 deposit our luggage, and there we found that, at any rate, it was not 
 England, seeing that a railway porter appeared ' taking a shock of his 
 duden,' alias, ' smoking his pipe,' which quite put my pipe out. Next 
 we breakfasted, and then strolled through the town, and soon after ten 
 set off by rail for Portrush, the nearest railway approach to the Cause- 
 way. The first half of the journey was performed pretty well, but the 
 latter half was slow indeed. About two, in due time, we reached 
 Portrush, about seven miles (Irish) from the Causeway. Between 
 the point reached and that to be reached the coast is superb so 
 that we decided to walk, and started for that purpose soon after three. 
 
 The first object that attracted us was a series of very fine chalk cliffs, 
 famous on account of being altered by the basalt of the Causeway. 
 This chalk is in horizontal beds, is harder than chalk usually, in con- 
 sequence of the heat of the basalt, and contains great numbers of flint 
 nodules, sometimes, but not always, in parallel layers, and many fossils 
 of unquestionable chalk types. I only saw Belemnites, but I obtained 
 Terebratultz and an Echinus from a quarryman. The chalk is much 
 fissured and caverned by the sea, in most cases it is overlaid by the 
 basalt which has clearly overflowed. Some of the sections are of great 
 beauty, and made me frequently wish for you to make sketches. Up 
 to this point we had seen no columnar basalt, but found it spheroidal 
 with occasional bands of volcanic ash. Leaving the chalk we next 
 reached (also on the coast) the ruins of Dunluce Castle, which has 
 undoubtedly been lauded beyond its deserts ; still there are points from 
 which the remains form an interesting and picturesque group, and the 
 situation is certainly very fine. Beyond this we had traces of the 
 columnar form, but nothing more than faint predictions of what we 
 hope to see to-morrow. Soon after seven we reached the Causeway 
 hotel, and found it full, so had to turn back to this village, and here 
 the chief hotel was also full, so we took the second, which is not quite 
 up to the mark, but we have frequently done worse. I have very 
 much enjoyed the day ; it is a district of new geological features to me, 
 and would afford me much interest for a longer time; indeed, I feel 
 that we shall not half do the North of Ireland, but it cannot be helped, 
 and I less regret it, as I have decided to devote myself to the geology 
 of Devonshire. The district through which we have passed, i.e. the 
 district from Belfast, seems entirely volcanic. We do not suppose we 
 have seen genuine Paddy yet . . ."
 
 68 WILLIAM PENGELLV. [CH. VI. 
 
 "Portritsh, August 20, 1857.. . . Yesterday we started pretty 
 early from Bush Mills, and walked a second time to the Causeway. 
 Arrived there, we courageously declined the services of the guides 
 who prowl about We were quite prepared from reports, etc., to be 
 disappointed, and so indeed we were, but then it was a most agreeable 
 disappointment. To attempt description would be to display my 
 weakness. Whether regarded as a geological phenomenon, as a 
 subject for a picture, or rather a series of pictures, or as a great 
 cyclopean terminus, the Causeway is a singularly splendid object. 
 Having penetrated as far as possible under the cliff we retraced our 
 steps, and then I rambled on the margin of the precipice to a much 
 greater distance, and as point after point opened, I became sensible 
 that we were leaving much too much unexplored, so that we agreed 
 to alter our plans, to remain in the North until Saturday, and to reach 
 Moyallen that evening, to give up Killarney and the West, and conse- 
 quently to hope for a second Irish trip. After breakfast we started by 
 boat for Bally Castle, a distance of nearly twenty miles. I was much 
 pleased to find Lias with Ammonites, in contact with Trap, by which 
 it is much hardened, yesterday on the beach here. This is a most 
 charming spot, there is a splendid sea walk, with a glorious open sea 
 having no land nearer than America. Whilst strolling on this walk 
 yesterday, I met my old friend and pupil Urquhart, and had a pleasant 
 stroll with him and his wife. ..." 
 
 "Bally Castle, August 20, 1857. . . . We are now journeying 
 southwards, and have had a splendid day, though it did not commence 
 very auspiciously. I think I mentioned in my last that we were 
 intending to reach this place from Portrush by boat. The voyage 
 would certainly have been a very splendid one in suitable weather ; but 
 though the sea was as smooth as could be wished, and there was very 
 little wind, and that little fair, yet a dense fog, which increased with the 
 morning, rendered the attempt at best an unwise one, so we abandoned 
 it, and made our journey by car. Between eleven and twelve o'clock 
 the fog all but left us. Our road was by the sea, which was perfect in 
 colour ; the cliffs and islets, and the distant island of Rathlin, looked 
 their very, very best, and we intensely enjoyed the drive. On the way 
 we stopped at a spot famous in these parts, under the name of Carrick- 
 a-Rede, an island separated from the mainland by a chasm sixty feet 
 wide. This chasm is spanned by a bridge mainly of ropes, on which 
 rest some not over-safe or strong planks. The bare idea of crossing 
 made me sick ; of course, we neither thought for one moment of 
 attempting it. I would not try it for a thousand guineas, a false step 
 would precipitate one down ninety feet to the sea ; and yet it is said 
 that during the salmon-fishing season (to facilitate which the bridge was 
 put up) children cross it in perfect unconcern. 
 
 " We reached this soon after three o'clock, and at once started on 
 a walk to see a famous headland known as Fairhead, about three miles 
 off. We did not quite reach it, our object being rather to see it than 
 to see from it. It is truly a magnificent headland, upwards of six 
 hundred feet high, the upper two hundred columnar basalt quite
 
 i857-] THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY AND DUBLIN. 69 
 
 vertical ; the lower part slopes with a steep talus to the sea, and consists 
 of beds of the carboniferous formation. I saw a great many fossils, 
 shells, crinoids, stigmaria, lepidodendrons, etc. ; but none worth taking. 
 All being well, we travel by mail-car along the coast to Belfast, or near 
 it, to-morrow ; and I shall feel I am by so much nearer to you and my 
 home. I have very much enjoyed my trip. . . . But why should I 
 bother myself about the geology of this or any other distant district, 
 when there are so many unsolved problems connected with the pre- 
 Adamic history of lovely Devon ? . . ." 
 
 " Moyallen, August 25, 1857. . . . Though I have little or nothing 
 to communicate, I do not like breaking through my practice of a daily 
 letter. We took a drive of several miles yesterday. The district is 
 essentially a manufacturing one ; and though there is no large town, 
 there is a large population, apparently in comfortable condition. It 
 seems that spinning and bleaching are the principal employments. Our 
 kind hosts wish to detain us till to-morrow, and as we can reach Dublin 
 to-morrow quite in time for the first meeting of the Association, we have 
 concluded to remain. I have quite decided to return by way of Holy- 
 head ; it will cost me little more in time or money, and will afford me 
 the pleasure of once again seeing beautiful Conway. I forgot to tell 
 you in the right place that on our way from Cushendall we met a 
 respectably dressed man, so very drunk that the road seemed hardly 
 wide enough for him. I have already described the road as one of 
 great beauty, winding along the coast, and about from ten to twenty 
 feet above the sea. This road is bounded by a low parapet on the sea 
 side. Just after we passed him, the poor fellow staggered against the 
 parapet and went head over heels completely over it. Of course we 
 concluded that he must have killed himself, and two of us ran back, 
 regardless of the assurance of the driver that, his being the mail-car, he 
 could not wait one moment. Before we had run back ten steps, he was 
 recrossing the wall, apparently unhurt, on perceiving which we returned 
 to our seats, when the driver sagely remarked to me, ' Shure, the fall 
 will waken him a bit.' . . ." 
 
 " Dublin, August 27. . . . Last night we had our opening address, 
 and it was indeed a great treat. Dr. Lloyd, the President, is a capital 
 reader, and his address was at once profound and simple. The follow- 
 ing point in it especially struck me, namely, the date cannot ripen her 
 fruit at a lower temperature than 70, and the pine cannot endure a 
 higher than 70, hence the climate in which these grow together cannot 
 vary more than i on either side of 7 1. The Bible assures us that 
 they did grow together in early times in Palestine, and we know they 
 grow together there now, hence we are sure that the climate of Palestine 
 has undergone no change. This thought was much applauded. On 
 the platform I observed General Sabine, Professor Phillips, Robinson, 
 Hincks (the Orientalist), Nasmyth, Portlock, Lord Wrottesley, Jukes, 
 Macdonald, Daubeny, Harkness, Lord Carlisle (Lord Lieutenant), 
 Hennessy, and Sir W. Hamilton. Lord Carlisle moved the vote of 
 thanks in a capital speech, and Lord Wrottesley seconded it In 
 addition to the sectional meetings, we are to have a soire'e to-night, a
 
 /O WILLIAM PENGELLY. '[Cn. VI. 
 
 lecture from Professor W. Thomson * on the Atlantic Cable to-morrow 
 night, and a lecture from Dr. Livingstone on Monday night. On 
 Thursday next there are to be excursions, one to Killiney and Wicklow, 
 one to Galway, Isles of Arran, and one to Parsonstown, to see Lord 
 Rosse's telescope. All of which are forbidden fruit to me, seeing that 
 I must reach home on that day. Well, now comes the calling with the 
 introductions Dr. Evanson so kindly sent me. I would sooner walk 
 through the county of Wicklow than do it ; but, of course, it must be 
 done. . . ." 
 
 "Dublin, August 28 ... After breakfast I called on W , and 
 
 then repaired to the Section-rooms, where I met sundry old friends. I 
 took my specimen from Cornwall, which, in spite of M'Coy, I have 
 always pronounced to be a portion of a fish, and showed it privately to 
 sundry bigwigs. They all individually, and without knowing the 
 opinion of either of the others, pronounced me right, and without 
 hesitation too ; moreover, they all regarded it as a triumph, and a great 
 fact in geology. You will not wonder at my being overjoyed about it. 
 I showed it to Phillips, Bowerbank, Bailey, Jukes, and Lord Enniskillen 
 (to whom R. Were Fox introduced me). Next to Sir P. Egerton, who 
 is not here, Lord Enniskillen is the highest authority we have on fishes. 
 The papers yesterday were not without interest, but were not likely to 
 be popular. After dinner I went with my kind hostess, Mrs. Edmondson, 
 and her children, to see St. Patrick's Cathedral. . . . The curator is 
 himself a character, and tells some good things, much as Addison tells 
 us the custodian of Westminster Abbey did to good old Sir Roger de 
 Coverly. In the evening came a soirde in the museum-rooms of the 
 Royal Irish Society, and a brilliant scene it was. Science, fashion, 
 beauty, ugliness, were met in one room. There I saw Sedgwick and 
 Rogers, who had not appeared before. I met, amongst others, Mr. 
 Pirn, his wife (J. J. Lister's daughter), and her brother, my old friend 
 Lister. They wish me to dine with them to-morrow. It involves a 
 short journey by rail ; still, I think I may go. I was promoted at the 
 Association, being placed on the General Committee, and also on that 
 of the Geological Section. Well, now I must conclude. Tell baby I 
 will write her a letter soon ; thank her for her letter to me, and tell her 
 I must bring it back for her to read. . . ." 
 
 "Lublin, August 31, 1857. All things come to an end, and this 
 month among them, it seems. Ends are serious things, dear, always 
 serious, though sometimes pleasant, sometimes painful. I hope the 
 end of this month, however, will be pleasant to both of us. But to my 
 task of recording. On Saturday morning I proceeded to call on Sir 
 Henry Marsh, M.D., to whom Dr. Evanson had sent me an introduc- 
 tion. I had a brief but very pleasant interview with Sir Henry and 
 Lady Marsh, both very pleasant. They gave me an invitation to dine 
 with them that evening, but most kindly allowed me to leave it an 
 open question. Next I proceeded to the Geological Committee-room, 
 and energetically assisted in the business there by reading the pro- 
 gramme for the day, that is to say, I did nothing but talk, etc., because 
 * Now Lord Kelvin.
 
 1857.] THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT DUBLIN. 71 
 
 there was nothing else to do. At eleven the sections assembled as 
 usual, and as usual I took my place in the Geological, which promised 
 and proved to be of very high interest to the geologist, but probably 
 not to the vulgar. Professor W. B. Rogers, of Boston, U.S., read a paper 
 on the discovery of Paradoxides in New England, in rocks heretofore 
 considered Azoic ; another splendid hint from the stony volume of the 
 insufficiency of negative evidence. Then came a highly interesting 
 report on Earthquakes, on which I had a little to say. Then came the 
 great subject of Slaty Cleavage in a series of papers from different 
 authors, and a capital discussion on them, which ended in a confession 
 that, though mechanical agency has probably produced the main 
 phenomena observed, there are still residuary phenomena which cannot 
 be explained, but which are probably the effect of molecular, perhaps 
 polar forces, a conclusion amounting almost to a compromise, but 
 which seems not unfairly to express the present state of our knowledge 
 on the question, and which gratified R. W. Fox, who sat very near me 
 all the day. On leaving the section, R. W. Fox introduced me to 
 Mrs. Lloyd, the wife of the President of the Association. I informed 
 her that Dr. Evanson had kindly sent me an introduction to Dr. Lloyd, 
 and it was arranged that I was not to wait for ceremony, but accost 
 the doctor wherever I might find him. Then came a promenade in 
 the Botanical Gardens, which, as old Pepys would say, was 'mighty 
 pleasant.' The grounds are very beautifully laid out, and are well 
 kept. ... In the gardens I met Dr. Lloyd and his wife, and talked 
 with them awhile, then I met a Torquay friend, then a series of geo- 
 logical acquaintances, and amongst others Professor W. B. Rogers ; we 
 quite fraternized. Then in the evening came a soiree, at the rooms of 
 the Royal Irish Academy, which contain a capital Library, and a 
 Museum of Antiquities, rich to overflowing with early Irish remains. 
 The tables almost groaned beneath microscopes, and photographic and 
 other pictures of round towers, etc. A large garden connects the 
 rooms with the Mansion House. All the public rooms in the latter 
 were open to us, the connecting garden being covered with canvas, so 
 as literally to convert the garden into a room. One of the rooms at 
 the Mansion House is called from its form the round room ; it was 
 built in order to give a dinner to George the Fourth, and the Queen 
 has dined in it. It is a very fine apartment. Here refreshments were 
 provided, and every one partook at his pleasure. A band was stationed 
 in the orchestra, and on its playing a lively air, some of the lighter 
 spirits, male and female, got up a wee dance. I turned away, remark- 
 ing that ' it was painful to see the understandings of philosophers 
 shaken.' Then came the Lord Lieutenant, making himself very 
 agreeable. I frequently came in contact with Professor W. B. Rogers, 
 who remarked that he felt we must be drawn together by sympathy or 
 polar force, or something of the sort, perhaps mesmerism. Well, now 
 I must close, leaving the report of yesterday to another opportunity, if 
 I can find one. ..." 
 
 During the next month Pengelly received the following letter 
 on the subject of fossil fishes from Peach
 
 72 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. VI. 
 
 " Wick, September 14, 1857. Many thanks for yours of the gth inst. 
 I had been thinking to write to you about your paper on the Beekites. 
 I was always much pleased and interested with them when living in 
 Devon, and have frequently thought about them, and of late much 
 more than ever, for when in Sutherland last month I obtained a great 
 many fossils (Silurian) in a locality said to have ' been devoid of 
 fossils' until I got a few in '55. I find them abundant, for in my last 
 trip I got them in new localities, and had I time to have visited several 
 other places I might have probably done more. You will probably 
 hear about them one day from Sir R. Murchison. My motive for 
 mentioning them at all is to ask you whether the enclosed piece of a 
 fossil is covered with Beekites ? It is evidently cherty or flinty matter, 
 and is formed like the Beekite. This came from Durness metamorphic 
 limestone. I should be glad to hear your opinion. 
 
 "Although Professor M'Coy pooh-poohed the fossil fishes of 
 Cornwall, my opinion has never been changed, and although I have 
 every respect for him I never felt that he was right altogether his 
 broom swept too clean. I am confident that two or three specimens 
 which I obtained in the cliffs between Fowey and Polperro, are spines 
 of fishes, and as well, there are other portions which belonged to fishes. 
 One large specimen now in the Penzance Museum is much like the 
 spine of the Hybodus of the Lias, but not serrated. One of them is 
 very large. None of these spines were seen by McCoy. I wrote him 
 and told him he was wrong in saying that no fish remains had been 
 found in Cornwall. He said he might be. I have not yet seen his 
 paper on the Cornish rocks and fossils. I did expect this ; Professor 
 Sedgwick would have sent it to me. But no have you a copy? If so 
 could you lend it to me 1 } I would return it after reading it if you 
 would or could it would be a favour indeed. I live so completely out 
 of the world of science, I see no scientific publications of any kind. 
 When you were enjoying yourself at Dublin I was working away in 
 the Highlands of Sutherland. I spent a month there and much 
 enjoyed myself, and got a splendid collection of fossils from Durness. 
 
 " P.S. I intended to congratulate you on being able to use such 
 names as those you mention as having pronounced your fossil Fish. 
 Long life to you and them. Of course I mean the men not the/m/7 
 fish." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly's letters to her mother give a glimpse of their 
 life at this period. 
 
 Mrs. Pengetty to her Mother. 
 
 " October ^th. . . . We paid a very pleasant visit last evening to 
 our friend Thos. Christy Wakefield (William's kind host in Ireland). 
 I was interested to find from him, that General Nicholson, now before 
 Delhi, is his nephew. T. C. Wakefield spoke in the highest terms of 
 him, says he was always so steady and thoughtful. He was taken 
 prisoner by the Afghans in the Kyber Pass when sixteen years of age, 
 at which place he lost two brothers ; he was kept prisoner for many
 
 1857.] F. MYERS, PENGELLY'S PUPIL. 73 
 
 months by Dost Mohammed, who tried very much to persuade him to 
 change his religion and become a Mohammedan. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "October 17, 1857. . . . Last night we attended Mr. Vivian's 
 soiree at the Bath Saloon ; it was quite a bright affair, every one 
 seemed determined to enjoy it, and to be sociable ; we had much chat 
 with various interesting people ; amongst others a lady came up and 
 introduced herself to William, and she proved to be Mrs. Brockedon, 
 the widow of the famous Mr. Brockedon (originally a watchmaker at 
 Totnes), who made the remarkable discovery of hardening black lead 
 powder by means of a violent blow, so as to make it perfectly solid to 
 be used as pencils, etc. He made a large fortune by it. We were 
 much pleased to have made her acquaintance. ..." 
 
 "November \\th. . . . William went a very pleasant excursion 
 down the Dart yesterday with Mr. Gosse, the Naturalist. We see a 
 good deal of him, he is an exquisite artist in his own line. . . ." 
 
 During the winter of 1857, Pengelly, whose ability as an 
 instructor and former of character gave him a strong hold on 
 the affections of most of the pupils for whose welfare he laboured 
 during so many years of his life, had a very quick pupil in 
 Frederick Myers. Writing many years afterwards to obtain 
 some information, Mr. Myers thus refers to his tutor's lessons 
 
 "December 30, 1883. You have doubtless forgotten two little boys 
 to whom you taught ' Heights and Distances,' and other trigono- 
 metrical puzzles at Bronshill, Torquay, in December, 1857, and January, 
 1858. One of them, however, remembers those months as the only 
 time in his life when he was vividly interested in mathematics and 
 consequently retains a clear image of his instructor. Mr. A. R. 
 Wallace has just sent me a most interesting pamphlet of yours, called 
 ' Is it a fact ?'..."
 
 74 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cii. VII. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 BRIXHAM CAVERN AND THE DEVONSHIRE CAVES. 
 
 1858 AND 1859. 
 
 IN 1858 the discovery of a new Bone Cavern at Brixham 
 greatly interested Pengelly, and he at once visited the spot, and 
 entered into negotiations with the proprietor, on behalf of the 
 Torquay Natural History Society, for a thorough exploration. 
 While arrangements for this matter were pending, Dr. Hugh 
 Falconer, having heard of the discovery, came to Torquay to 
 make inquiries respecting it. The result of his deliberations 
 with Pengelly led to the following arrangement that, as the 
 Torquay Natural History Society had not sufficient funds at its 
 disposal for a systematic investigation of the cavern, Dr Falconer 
 should obtain a grant from the Royal and Geological Societies 
 for the purpose, Pengelly undertaking the superintendence of 
 the work. 
 
 The remarkable discoveries which were made, formed the 
 subject of Pengelly's paper, read that same year before the 
 Leeds Meeting of the British Association, on " A recently dis- 
 covered Ossiferous Cavern, at Brixham, near Torquay." A 
 quarter of a century later, in his Address to the Department 
 of Anthropology at the Southport Meeting of the British 
 Association in 1883, he described the apathy and scepticism 
 with which all geological evidence as to the Antiquity of Man 
 had previously been received, even by British geologists of the 
 first rank. He goes on to give a short summary of the history 
 of the Cave, and the results that the explorations have had in 
 stimulating scientific investigation. 
 
 The following extract from this Address is worth quoting : 
 
 " Early in 1858, the workmen engaged in a limestone quarry on 
 Windmill Hill, overhanging the fishing town of Brixham, in South Devon,
 
 1858-1859.] THE BRIXHAM BONE CAVERN. 75 
 
 broke unexpectedly a hole through what proved to be the roof of an 
 unknown and unsuspected cavern. I visited it very soon after the dis- 
 covery, and secured to myself the refusal of a lease to include the right 
 of exploration. As the story of this Cavern has been told at some 
 length elsewhere (see Phil. Trans., voL clxiii. pp. 471-572; or Trans. 
 Devon. Assoc., vol. vi. pp. 775-856), it will here suffice to say that at the 
 instance of the late Dr. H. Falconer, the eminent palaeontologist, the 
 subject was taken up very cordially by the Royal and Geological 
 Societies of London ; a Committee was appointed by the latter body ; the 
 exploration was placed under the superintendence of Mr. (now Professor) 
 Prestwich and myself; and, being the only resident member of the 
 Committee, the actual superintendence fell of necessity to me. 
 
 " The following facts connected with this Cavern were no doubt 
 influential in leading to the decision to have it explored. 
 
 " i. It was a virgin cave which had been hermetically sealed during an 
 incalculably long period, the last previous event in its history being the 
 introduction of a reindeer antler, found attached to an upper surface of 
 the stalagmitic floor. It was, therefore, free from the objection urged 
 sometimes against Kent's Cavern, that, having been known from time 
 immemorial, and, up to 1825, always open to all comers, it had, perhaps, 
 been ransacked again and again. 
 
 "2. It was believed, and it proved, to be a comparatively very small 
 cavern, so that its complete exploration was not likely to require a large 
 expenditure of time or of money. 
 
 "It will be seen that the exploration was placed under circumstances 
 much more likely to command attention than any of those which had 
 preceded it. It was to be carried on under the auspices of the Royal and 
 Geological Societies, by a Committee consisting of Mr. S. H. Beckles, 
 Mr. G. Busk, Rev. R. Everest, Dr. H. Falconer, Mr. God win- Austen, 
 Sir C. Lyell, Professor Owen, Dr. J. Percy, Mr. J. Prestwich, Professor 
 (now Sir A. C.) Ramsay, and myself all Fellows of the Geological 
 Society, and almost all of them of the Royal Society also. 
 
 " It was impossible not to feel, however, that the mode of exploration 
 must be such as would not merely satisfy those actually engaged in the 
 work, but such as would command, for the results which might be 
 obtained, the acceptance of the scientific world generally. Hence I 
 resolved to have nothing whatever to do with the " trial pits " here and 
 there, or with shafts to be sunk in selected places ; but, first, to examine 
 and remove the stalagmitic floor; then, the entire bed immediately 
 below (if not of inconvenient depth) horizontally, throughout the entire 
 length of the cavern, or so far as practicable; this accomplished, to 
 proceed in like manner with the next lower bed ; and so on until all 
 the deposits had been removed. 
 
 "This method, uniformly followed, was preferable to any other, 
 because it would reveal the general stratigraphical order of the deposits 
 with the amount and direction of such ' dip ' as they might have, as well 
 as any variations in the thickness of the beds ; it would afford the only 
 chance of securing all the fossils, and of thus ascertaining, not only the 
 different kinds of animals represented in the Cave, but also the ratios 
 which the numbers of individuals of the various species bore to one 
 another, as well as all peculiar or noteworthy collocations ; it would
 
 76 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Ca. VII, 
 
 disclose the extent, character, and general features of the Cavern itself; 
 it was undoubtedly the least expensive mode of exploration ; and it 
 would render it almost impossible to refer bones or indications of human 
 existence to wrong beds, depths, or associations. 
 
 "The work was begun in July, 1858, and closed at the end of twelve 
 months, when the Cavern had practically been completely emptied; 
 an official report was printed in the Philosophical Transactions for 
 1873, and all the specimens have been handed over to the British 
 Museum. 
 
 "The paper on the subject mentioned at the beginning of this 
 Address* was read in September, 1858, during the meeting of the 
 Association at Leeds, when I had the pleasure of stating that eight 
 flint tools had already been found in various parts of the Cavern, all 
 of them inosculating with bones of mammalia, at depths varying from 
 nine to forty-two inches in the Cave-earth, on which lay a sheet of 
 stalagmite from three to eight inches thick ; and having within it and 
 fin it relics of lion, hyaena, bear, mammoth, rhinoceros, and reindeer. 
 
 "It soon became evident that the geological apathy previously 
 spoken of had been rather apparent than real. In fact, geologists 
 were found to have been not so much disinclined to entertain the 
 question of human antiquity, as to doubt the trustworthiness of the 
 evidence which had previously been offered to them on the subject. 
 It was felt, moreover, that the Brixham evidence made it worth while, 
 and indeed a duty, to re-examine that from Kent's Cavern, as well as 
 that said to have been met with in river-deposits in the valley of the 
 Somme and elsewhere. 
 
 " The first-fruits, I believe, of this awakening, was a paper, by Mr. 
 Prestwich, read to the Royal Society, May 26, 1859, On the occurrence 
 of Flint Implements, associated with the Remains of Animals of Extinct 
 Species in beds of a late Geological Period in France at Amiens and 
 Abbeville and in England at Hoxne.\ This paper contains explicit 
 evidence that the Brixham Cavern had had no small share in disposing 
 its author to undertake the investigation, which added to his own 
 great reputation, and rescued M. Boucher de Perthes from undeserved 
 neglect. ' It was not,' says Mr. Prestwich, ' until I had myself witnessed 
 the conditions under which these flint implements had been found at 
 Brixham, that I became fully impressed with the validity of the doubts 
 thrown upon the previously prevailing opinions with respect to such 
 remains in caves.' % 
 
 "Sir C. Lyell, too, in his Address to the Geological Section of the 
 British Association, at Aberdeen, in September, 1859, said, 'The facts 
 recently brought to light during the systematic investigation, as reported 
 on by Dr. Falconer, of the Brixham Cave must, I think, have pre- 
 pared you to admit that scepticism in regard to the cave-evidence in 
 favour of the antiquity of man had previously been pushed to an extreme.' 
 
 " It is probably unnecessary to quote further to show how very 
 
 * " A recently-discovered Ossiferous Cavern, at Brixham, near Torquay," by W. 
 Pengelly. 
 
 t Phil. Trans, for 1860, pp. 277-317. 
 
 j Op. fit., p. 280. 
 
 Report Brit. Assoc., 1895; Trans. Sects., p. 93.
 
 1858-1859-] EVIDENCE OF THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN. 77 
 
 large a share the Exploration at Brixham had in impressing the scientific 
 world generally with the value and importance of the geological evidence 
 of man's antiquity. That impression, begun, as we have seen, in 1859, 
 has not only lasted to the present day, but has probably not yet 
 culminated. It has produced numerous volumes, crowds of papers, 
 countless articles in Reviews and Magazines, in various countries ; 
 and perhaps, in order to show how very popular the subject became 
 almost immediately, it is only necessary to state that Sir C. Lyell's 
 great work on the 'Antiquity of Man' was published in February, 1863, 
 the second edition appeared in the following April, and the third 
 followed in the succeeding November three editions of a bulky scientific 
 work in less than ten months ! A fourth edition was published in 
 May, 1873. 
 
 "Few, it may be presumed, can now doubt that those who before 
 1858 believed that our fathers had under-estimated human antiquity^ 
 and fought for their belief, have at length obtained a victory." 
 
 Scientific writers have borne generous and appreciative 
 testimony to the value of Pengelly's work at Brixham. 
 
 In the Geological Magazine (No. 359, p. 238, May, 1894) he 
 is spoken of as " one of that small band of Geologists, who 
 assisted Falconer, Busk, Lyell, Prestwich, Lartet, Christy, 
 Rupert-Jones, Boyd-Dawkins, and a few others to place upon a 
 scientific basis, that inquiry into the evidence of Pre-historic 
 Man which was systematically commenced, in this country, by 
 the exploration of Brixham Cave in 1858. This work, which 
 was carried out, under the auspices of the Royal and Geological 
 Societies, by Mr. William Pengelly, of Torquay, yielded most 
 important results." 
 
 Professor Boyd-Dawkins thus alludes to the Cave work : 
 " The result of the exploration, established beyond all doubt 
 the existence of palaeolithic man in the Pleistocene age, and 
 caused the whole of the scientific world, to awake to the fact of 
 the vast antiquity of the human race. From this time Pengelly's 
 energies were mainly directed towards cave exploration." * 
 
 In Natural Science for May, 1894, the following reference to 
 the same subject occurs. " On the shoulders of Mr. Pengelly fell 
 practically all the work of supervision ; but he had his reward, in 
 finding ample corroboration of his previous conclusions ; for 
 beneath the unbroken stalagmitic floor were brought to light 
 relics of human handiwork in such intimate association with the 
 remains of extinct mammalia, as to place their contemporaneity 
 beyond all cavil." 
 
 It has been already mentioned that many scientific men were 
 
 * Nature, April 5, 1894.
 
 78 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. VII. 
 
 unprepared for the results obtained by the Brixham exploration ; 
 and the conclusions arrived at were received with some appre- 
 hension by the general public. 
 
 Probably the outcry raised against Pengelly's geological 
 discoveries by the orthodox party of that day will appear 
 extraordinary to this generation, which has long ceased to be 
 disquieted by facts that are now so generally received. But 
 many, even of his own friends, were filled with misgivings by the 
 discoveries of science. Some of them endeavoured to reconcile 
 the old and new views, as he himself at first hoped to do ; but 
 he soon found that all such attempts were unadvisable. He 
 saw that, many of the facts brought to light by geology could 
 not, in the present state of knowledge, agree with the long- 
 accepted interpretation of the account of Creation ; and that 
 the various well-meaning endeavours to harmonize the two had 
 frequently only ended by making the discrepancies still more 
 evident. Indeed, he felt that some writers who attempted a 
 reconciliation did positive harm, either by their forced attempts 
 to adapt the language of the Old Testament to scientific facts, 
 even at the cost of rendering the Biblical language doubtful and 
 almost unmeaning ; or, oftener still, by giving, from a complete 
 ignorance of science, explanations which were utterly unphilo- 
 sophical and unsound. 
 
 His own feeling on the subject is expressed in the following 
 extract from a letter, written in answer to one of the many 
 correspondents (chiefly total strangers) who wrote to him regard- 
 ing the views of geologists ". . . Geologists see no mode of 
 reconciling the commonly-received interpretation of the Mosaic 
 account of Creation with geological science. . . . For myself, I 
 am satisfied that Science can do nothing for the salvation of the 
 soul, and that the Bible is able, through God's blessing, to make 
 us wise unto salvation. . . ." 
 
 No doubts or difficulties were ever able to undermine his 
 faith as a Christian. But, although his religious convictions 
 were strong and intense, he was in many ways an advanced 
 thinker, and always tolerant of the views of opponents. His 
 position might be justly described by the following striking 
 words of Erasmus " The sum of religion is peace, which can 
 only be when definitions are as few as possible, and opinion 
 is left free on many subjects. . . . Wait till the veil is removed 
 and we see God face to face."
 
 1858-1859-] PRESENTATION OF A TESTIMONIAL. 79 
 
 The wider field of geological research which now opened 
 before Pengelly did not hinder him from pursuing his work, as 
 Honorary Secretary to the Torquay Natural History Society, 
 with his accustomed activity. After a course of twenty-three 
 Lectures, which he delivered before that Society during the 
 session of 1857-8, many of the members and his other friends 
 expressed their sense of the value of his scientific labours, by 
 presenting him, early in May 1858, through his friend Mr. 
 Sheppard, with a purse of 80 guineas. In response to this 
 substantial proof of regard, he expressed himself in the follow- 
 ing terms : 
 
 "Whilst I have supposed myself simply geologizing during the 
 winter now terminated, a note received during the last week, from my 
 valued friend and neighbour, Mr. Sheppard, informs me that I have 
 really been at the ' diggings,' and that I have been so very fortunate 
 as to extract an extremely valuable ' nugget ' set in kindliest feeling 
 and appreciation, more beautiful, and I trust more durable, than the 
 most brilliant 'quartz.' I cannot afford to value the nugget itself 
 lightly ; but, believe me, I set a far higher price on the setting; the 
 first will, as I presume it is intended, take to itself wings and fly away, 
 but the latter will long live in my recollection and my gratitude." 
 
 Shortly afterwards he paid a hasty visit to London to sec 
 Dr. Falconer, and writes home 
 
 " May, 1858. ... I believe nothing occurred on my journey up 
 worthy of record. We reached Paddington at the time appointed, 
 namely, 11.5, and on the suggestion of two respectable fellow-travellers, 
 I got myself set down by the 'bus, at the Gloucester Hotel, Piccadilly, 
 but, alas ! they had turned away forty applicants for beds before my 
 arrival, so I started on my travels loaded with my luggage ; one hotel 
 after another was tried, but with a like result. At length, heartily tired, 
 I applied to the Police, who, though civil, could not help me, and 
 when I proposed that they should lock me up for the night, they only 
 laughed ! Good fortune smiled on me at length, and something 
 before one I got a bed, and on the whole a pretty comfortable one. 
 This morning I went to Falconer's, had a pleasant breakfast, but 
 found that the Committee is to be held on Tuesday. Thence I went 
 to Jermyn Street Museum, where I found all the authorities agree in 
 thinking my Cornish specimen an ichthyodorulite, as I think also, as 
 you are well aware. ... I forgot to say that I am to dine with 
 Miss Coutts next Thursday, and after dinner to accompany her and 
 party to hear Dickens read his ' Chimes.' I am promising myself a 
 decided treat on the occasion. ..." 
 
 Whilst in London, Pengelly made the acquaintance of Dr. 
 Percy, of the School of Mines.
 
 80 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. VII. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "August 28, 1858. . . . William is very much interested in 
 having made the acquaintance of Dr. Percy (of the School of Mines), 
 who is spending the autumn here ; he is going out with him in his 
 yacht to-morrow. Charles Landseer is Dr. Percy's particular friend, 
 and he is expecting him and Dr. Hooker both down on a visit shortly. 
 W. had a letter yesterday from Dr. Falconer, who said he had just 
 heard from Sir Charles Lyell from Germany, saying he had been 
 shown there a fossil human skeleton, found in one of the geological 
 (supposed) prehuman periods ; it is a puzzle. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 " September %th. ... I had a very interesting call last week from 
 Dr. Falconer, Professor Ramsay, Dr. Percy, and Charles Landseer. 
 I extremely enjoyed it. They were all most interesting, and C. 
 Landseer very entertaining. They are all delighted with Torquay, 
 and think it is not half as well known as it deserves to be. ..." 
 
 During the British Association Meeting that autumn, at which 
 Pengelly read, amongst other papers, one upon the result of his 
 exploration of the Brixham Cavern, he writes to his wife 
 
 "Leeds, September, 1858. . . . The sections opened to-day, and 
 though the papers did not promise much, they have been on the 
 whole decidedly interesting. I took part in a discussion on submerged 
 forests. Last night I attended Owen's lecture; it was about three 
 hours long, too long decidedly, but truly excellent. I have been 
 to see the Museum to-day, which is admirable. . . ." 
 
 To his Wife. 
 
 "Leeds, September, 1858. . . . Your faithless husband has allowed 
 a post to pass without writing you, not, however, from choice. . . . 
 My papers were both read, namely, on the Ichthyodorulite and on the 
 Trilobite. My views were fully confirmed on the first by Sir Philip 
 Egerton, who spoke on it, and on the second by Salter, who spoke on 
 that. There was a horticultural fete at Kirkstall Abbey, about three 
 miles from Leeds, which I attended ; the old Abbey is a fine ruin. . . . 
 I have greatly increased my circle of friends both scientific and 
 otherwise. . . ." 
 
 To his Wife. 
 
 "Leeds, September, 1858. ... I have read my paper (on Brixham 
 Cavern) to a crowded house, all the great geologists came in apparently. 
 Owen followed in very eulogistic strains, characterizing exploration of 
 the Cavern, as the only satisfactory and good attempt of the kind 
 that ever had been made. I was very much complimented at the 
 close by sundry persons. Robert Chambers introduced himself, and 
 proposes having a chat with me on the question. ..." 

 
 1858-1859:] MURCHISON, PERCY AND OTHERS. 8 1 
 
 The Rev. Canon H. B, Tristram to Pengelly. 
 
 " Castle Eden, Durham, October 2, 1858. ... I did not at once 
 thank you for your kind trouble and interest in collecting and 
 forwarding to me the Devonian fossils, as I was not sure of your 
 Leeds address. . . . Do you take any interest in Tertiary fossils from 
 Malta, Spain, etc. ? I got a considerable number of fossil shells in 
 those regions last winter, and should be very glad to send you any 
 that might interest you. 
 
 " I had hoped to be at Leeds, at the meeting, and had almost made 
 arrangements to do so, but was kept at home by work in my parish. 
 I was meditating a paper on the Sahara, but it must keep, D.V., till 
 next year. Perhaps Aberdeen may tempt you to explore a kindred 
 geological period to your Devonian. I saw with great interest the 
 notice of your paper before the Association." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 " October 18, 1858. ... Dr. Falconer is intensely interested 
 about the flint knives, and thinks he has discovered a larger implement, 
 by joining some of the pieces together they are sent up to the British 
 Museum for the Savans to see. ... I enclose an autograph of Charles 
 Land seer, which Mrs. Percy gave me. He has the care of the Royal 
 Academy, and it is said never hangs his own pictures well, which I 
 think is very nice of him. We spent a delightful evening with him at 
 the Percys', and had a good view of the splendid Comet, with Arcturus 
 in the middle of the tail. . . ." 
 
 In addition to the exploration at Brixham, Pengelly found 
 time to visit other Devonshire caves, amongst them a small 
 cavern south of Berry Head, but no fossils of particular interest 
 were found there. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "March, 1859. . . . We had a very pleasant evening, though 
 disappointed of one of our friends ; but Mr. Gosse and his son Edmund 
 (a nice boy),* Joseph Lister f and Arthur Lister, Miss Tuke, and others 
 came. The gentlemen had all been with William to the cavern. We 
 heard many interesting anecdotes about natural history, one story 
 seeming to call out half a dozen others. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "April, 1859. . . . To-day I had the pleasure at William's 
 lecture of watching Sir Roderick Murchison, as he sat between Miss 
 Coutts (whose guest he is) and Mrs. Brown. He is rather a heavy- 
 looking man, and does not interest you so much as Falconer, Prestwich, 
 or Ansted; but he is very pleasant and friendly. He is going this 
 
 * Edmund Gosse, the critic and poet, 
 t Now Lord Lister, the eminent surgeon.
 
 82 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. VII. 
 
 morning with William to Hope's Nose, and to-morrow to Brixham and 
 Berry Head. ..." 
 
 During the spring of this year Pengelly took a short geo- 
 logical ramble, and made careful investigations amongst the 
 numerous Devonshire caves. Indeed, his labours in this direc- 
 tion occupied so much time that one wonders how he was able 
 to cany on his teaching and lecturing simultaneously. His 
 geological journal abounds with descriptions of the caves, and 
 he gives a graphic picture of one which he visited on April 
 22, 1859 
 
 "... Left Plympton for Totnes by first train. Walked thence to 
 Buckfastleigh, to see the caverns said to be numerous there, It does 
 seem to be the very metropolis of caverns, at least, so far as Devonshire is 
 concerned. That which enjoyed the highest reputation was in a quarry, 
 termed ' Baker Pits,' on the hill on which the church stands ; indeed, 
 it is immediately adjacent to the churchyard. Understanding it to be 
 very large and intricate, I judged it best to secure a guide, and, after a 
 good deal of trouble, was so fortunate as to find the cousin of the very 
 quarryman who discovered the cavern, or rather laid it open by quarry- 
 ing, about twelve years ago. The discoverer is named William Wilcocks, 
 and my guide is named George Wilcocks, a lime-burner. We found it 
 a desolate affair ; huge masses of rock, which had fallen from the roof, 
 lay in the wildest confusion, and strangely grotesque stalactites hung 
 from the roof and lined the sides. Desolation, adorned with the most 
 fantastic trappings, stared me in the face. The farthest point we reached, 
 and which seemed to be the end, measured four hundred and eleven feet 
 from the mouth. The mouth is itself a sort of funnel, twenty feet wide, and 
 at its inner end is so small that a large man would scarcely pass through. 
 So far as I could judge, the cavern may be said to consist of a series of 
 chambers connected by galleries, with many under vaultings and lateral 
 recesses. In some places the surfaces are much corroded, and in others 
 they are eroded. About half-way in from the entrance the musical 
 voice of running water was heard; it proved to be a small stream, but 
 probably, in rainy seasons, would be considerably larger. No fossils 
 have been met with, but it does not appear that any search has been 
 made for them." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 " April '29, 1859. . . . We have seen a good deal of Sir Roderick 
 Murchison this week, dining with him and a large party at Miss Coutts' 
 one evening ; Lady Brownlow, Lord Churston, and many others were 
 there. The next day William took Sir Roderick to visit the cave, and 
 then joined Miss Coutts and party to lunch at Lord Churston's. The 
 day after, Miss Coutts and Sir Roderick and Lady Murchison came to 
 see the fossils the latter is a most bright and pleasant old lady and 
 they talked a great deal about Russia ; they seem to have been much
 
 1858-1859-] VISIT TO LONDON CHARLES BABBAGE. 83 
 
 attached to the late Emperor.'"" Sir Roderick stayed to luncheon, and 
 then went for a geological ramble with William, round Lincombe Hill 
 to Babbacombe and Petit Tor. In the evening met all of them again 
 at a large party at Mr. Farrer's. Lady Brownlow, Mrs. Spring Rice, 
 etc., there. It was a most pleasant evening. . . . To-morrow the 
 Murchisons leave. Sir Roderick was speaking to-day of poor Hugh 
 Miller ; he says he completely brought on his illness and sad death by 
 anxiety and overwork, and was going to tell me more, but was called 
 away. . . ." 
 
 These rambles were followed by a visit to London, where 
 Pengelly saw a good deal of Charles Babbage, who was much 
 interested in the caves. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "London, May 20, 1859. ... I attended the Royal Society Club 
 dinner ; met Barlow, Sabine, Percy, Sir James Ross, etc. Went then 
 to the Chemical, then to the Royal Society, where I met Babbage, and 
 engaged to call on him shortly. Then with Percy to his house, just to 
 see Mrs. Percy; all extremely kind, with kind inquiries after you. ..." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "London, May 24, 1859. . . . Yesterday I called on Babbage 
 before the meeting. He was most agreeable, breakfasting in his library, 
 which is really the den of a true literary man. He is greatly interested 
 in the revelations made, and questions suggested, by caverns. He is 
 preparing a paper which he thinks will at least show that Falconer's 
 Palermian Caves do not compel us to believe that man is of such very 
 high antiquity; his hypothesis is ingenious. . . . The Geographical 
 dinner was a brilliant affair ; it was held in the Freemasons' Hall, 
 which was extremely well filled. ... I sat next Rupert- Jones, and next 
 to him was Balmat, the famous Swiss guide. Sir Roderick was sup- 
 ported by the Duke of Wellington and Lord Salisbury. The speakers 
 before I left (soon after ten) were Sir T. Pasley, Sir John Pakington, 
 the Earl of Ripon, the Danish Minister, and Lord Carnarvon, who was 
 on his feet when I left. . . ." 
 
 During his stay in London (on Friday, May 27, 1859), 
 Pengelly gave an evening lecture at the "Royal Institution," 
 entitled " The Ossiferous Caverns and Fissures of Devonshire," 
 in which he briefly explained his views on the probable origin 
 of caverns in general, and on the Windmill-hill Cave at Brixham 
 in particular. He concluded with some remarks as to the 
 remains of extinct animals, which were found there in conjunction 
 with " flint knives " of human manufacture, and the important 
 * Nicholas I.
 
 84 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. VII. 
 
 bearing which these facts had on the antiquity of the human 
 race. 
 
 The following month there are several letters from Pengelly 
 to his wife, who was away visiting. 
 
 " Torquay, June 4, 1859. . . . Feeling that it is time to give you 
 some account of myself and my doings, I put on my retrospective cap, 
 and take up my pen to furnish you with a record. Yesterday, I started 
 soon after two, with Mr. Robertson and Mr. Carrol, for the Brixham 
 Cavern in the yacht Edith ; we had a pleasant sail there and back, but 
 found nothing fresh at the cavern, and very much that was stale in the 
 Brixham odours. ... I spent the evening letter-writing, and received 
 a letter from Mr. Bastard, granting me permission to see the cave at 
 Yealmpton. I think I told you yesterday I had written Owen offering 
 him the Oreston bones, and also that I had been informed of the 
 exhumation of more bones at Oreston. I started for Plymouth to-day 
 at 11.30, found Robert Were Fox and his daughters in the train at 
 Newton ; they gave me a pressing invitation to visit them at Falmouth. 
 At the ferry I was joined by a Mr. Hodge, a good mineralogist, and 
 a fair geologist, residing at Plymouth. He was aware of the recent 
 ' find,' and was on his way to the quarry as well as myself. I purchased 
 all the bones. . . ." 
 
 ''June 5, 1859. . . . This morning brought me a letter from Keep- 
 ing (his head-workman at the cavern), announcing the discovery of gravel 
 with a flint knife on the summit of the hill, sixty feet above the Cavern ; 
 also a letter from Faraday. . . ." 
 
 "June 6th. . . . Yesterday evening I took a stroll through the 
 Abbey grounds and on to the new railroad,* just to keep up my 
 geography. What a superb burst Torbay and Torquay will be to 
 the stranger, who first beholds them from this station. I saw a 
 thousand things in the sections of the line, that cry aloud to be fully 
 worked out. ..." 
 
 "June 7//z. ... As I intended I went to Brixham yesterday, whence 
 I have just returned. I have worked like a slave for a couple of hours, 
 digging at the greatest depths we have yet reached, I was so fortunate 
 as to exhume a large bone. We have now four labourers at work, so 
 as to make a finish before midsummer. You never saw so filthy a 
 wretch as I was on emerging. I attracted great attention ! . . ." 
 
 "June 8, 1859. . . . Notwithstanding my visit to, and labour in 
 the cavern yesterday, in order that no grass might grow under my feet, 
 I took boat at 4.30 for Livermead Head, where I got some good 
 Beekites, and was much interested in the caverns there, of which I 
 had never seen so much before. This morning I took an early 
 breakfast, and at 8.15 went to assist poor Miss Phillips, by giving her 
 a lesson in the art and mystery of the ' Rule of Three,' which she is 
 
 * Then being made.
 
 1858-1859-] TUTOR TO THE RUSSIAN PRINCES. 85 
 
 suddenly called upon to teach, but which she has never learned, poor 
 thing ! I did my best for her, but it is sad to think of any one under- 
 taking to teach a thing of which they really have no knowledge. On 
 my way to her, I got your nice letter, for which many thanks. I saw 
 the gravel at the top of the hill at Brixham yesterday, and the flint 
 Keeping had found in it. It is perhaps no more than an accidental 
 fracture, but I am by no means sure. There are no indications of 
 bones, but the gravel is a great fact, and jumps quite in harmony with 
 my conclusions respecting the origin of what I call the ' Berry Head 
 Terrace.' ... I began to put my library in order ; nothing having been 
 done since we left, it is not by any means finished, but I have done 
 a good stroke there. I then went to the Infirmary meeting, where and 
 when a new house surgeon was appointed. Then home again at the 
 library. Then did some gardening. . . ." 
 
 "June gt/i. ... I have been at the library again all the after- 
 noon ; no order visible yet. . . ." 
 
 Amongst Pengelly's pupils at this period were two nephews 
 of the Czar, Alexander II. ; the elder, Prince Nicholas, who was 
 appointed by the Czar, in 1861, inspector of all the mines in his 
 dominions, said, when leaving, "I shall' often think of Mr. 
 Pengelly." 
 
 "June 10, 1859. . . . I called on Colonel Rehbinder, and 
 engaged to read six hours weekly with the two Russian princes.* 
 I have been to Barton this afternoon getting fossils for Oxford. At 
 Barton a lime-burner took me to his cottage, to see ' such a specimen,' 
 and indeed it is a good thing. ' Well,' said I, ' how much do you want 
 for it?' 'Why, sir, if you waz a downright regalar gentleman, and 
 had a got your thousands upon thousands every year, hang me if 
 you should ha'n for less nor half a crown, but since 'tes as 'tes, you 
 may ha'n for a shilling ; ' and for a shilling I obtained it. . . ." 
 
 "Jime 12, 1859. . . . Though I have just sent off a budget, that 
 does not seem any reason why I should not begin another. Last 
 evening I had a short walk with J. Lister, always a treat. I have just 
 read the first chapter in Bunsen's 'Signs of the Times,' and have been 
 intensely interested. . . . The library is finished, and looks quite 
 inviting. The Oxford fossils are not yet gone ; I am really working 
 hard about them, going all the world over for them. They ought to 
 be of prime quality, remembering who is the donor and who the donee. 
 ... I took boat at three for the Oreston, and never had a finer 
 geological day. I came back richly laden with fine specimens. . . ." 
 
 "June i4t/i. . . . Took 'bus to Brixham, went to the cavern, 
 saw all right there, and then off to Mudstone to seek fossils for Oxford ; 
 I have enjoyed the day. I have just written to R. W. Fox of 
 Falmouth, respecting the Longitude of the Perihelion, and Ascending 
 
 * Nephews of the Czar Alexander II.
 
 86 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. VII. 
 
 Nodes of the Planets, a subject on which we have frequently con- 
 versed. . . ." 
 
 "Jime 15, 1859. . . . This morning brought me three letters, 
 one from you, one from Prestwich, and one from Vincent of the Royal 
 Institution. That from Prestwich, contained the information that 
 Falconer is home. ... I started off in proper time for the rush on 
 the Russian princes. I saw them in the Apsley grounds shooting, with 
 Mr. Stewart the surgeon. The boys soon came to me, and I began 
 with the younger, a nice chatty little fellow, so very chatty, indeed, 
 that had I felt inclined I might have known how many pairs of stockings 
 he had, or anything else in his power to communicate, but of course 
 I checked his loquacity. I only remember that his mother is expected 
 here next month. The elder boy is equally agreeable, but less chatty. 
 The engagement promises to be very pleasant, they are thoroughly 
 simple. The Athenaum is very interesting this week; I have been 
 much pleased with an abstract of a paper read before the Society of 
 Antiquaries, ' On the occurrence of Flint Implements in undisturbed 
 beds of Gravel, Sand, and Clay (such as are known to Geologists 
 under the name of Drift) in several Localities, both on the Continent 
 and in this Country.' . . ." 
 
 "June 1 8/7*. ... I was so extremely negligent yesterday, that I 
 did not write you even one line. I was up early gardening, or rather 
 cutting laurels ; I have made such a slaughter amongst them, all round 
 the garden. Whilst thus engaged, came there a note from Mrs. Yorke, * 
 stating that she had returned, and inviting me to accompany her 
 on the water in the afternoon. I wrote a note accepting the invita- 
 tion, and fixing two o'clock as the starting hour, and stipulated to 
 be on shore again at six, as I had previously engaged to go for a 
 row with Mrs. Mallock and her party. At the right time, I went to 
 the Russian princes ; the younger is not very industrious, the elder, I 
 think, is, and is desirous of distinction. I find that he is sixteen, and 
 his brother twelve. We get on very nicely. Soon after two, I met 
 Mrs. Yorke, on the quay, and we started across the bay. I landed at 
 Brixham, in order to see how they were going on at the cavern ; and 
 then walking on to Mudstone to rejoin the yacht, Mrs. Yorke came in 
 the punt for me, and we then examined that glorious coast, on the 
 south of Berry Head, and went into the great cavern. I do not know 
 when I have enjoyed a thing so very, very much ; but, lo and behold, 
 half-past five had come, and we were there still ! I was at once landed 
 to go again to the cavern. Mrs. Yorke returned to the yacht, to pick 
 me up once more at Brixham; the wind was against us, and conse- 
 quently we reached Torquay at eight instead of six. So far from 
 Keeping being glad that his time is almost up, I believe him truly 
 sorry. I have copied my list of the Devonshire Cave Fossil Mammalia 
 for J. Lister. ..." 
 
 "June 2ist. ... I went to Teignmouth by 10.10 train this 
 morning, crossed the ferry, and walked under the cliff, almost to 
 * A geological pupil.
 
 1858-1859-] DR. FALCONER AND THE PALERMO CAVES. 87 
 
 Maidencombe, and then returned to Teignmouth, carefully noting the 
 prominent facts connected with the conglomerates ; in fact it may with 
 as much propriety be called Breccia as conglomerate. Many of the 
 stones are astonishingly angular ; and yet they have probably travelled 
 far, as I know of no parent rock near, whence they could have been 
 derived. Thereby hangs a puzzle, as I need not tell you. ' What was 
 the agent of transportation ?'..." 
 
 "June 22, 1859. I arranged some fossils, and reached 
 Apsley House as appointed at three o'clock. On arriving there I 
 found two carriages, into one of which the princes, Dr. Tillner (who 
 speaks English, and is probably a German), and I got. In the other 
 carriage were Colonel Rehbinder and Professor Bauer. We were 
 about an hour in the cave, and saw it pretty thoroughly, and the whole 
 party were pleased. We then proceeded in the same order to the cave 
 at Ansty's Cove. Dr. Tillner and I became very chatty ; he tells me 
 that it is most likely they will remain here all the coming winter. 
 From Ansty's Cove we took different routes. The colonel and pro- 
 fessor returning directly home, whilst our carriage drove round to drop 
 me at my own door. . . . The last Athenceum is worth looking at. 
 The first article is ' Recollections,' by Rogers, and is charming ; the 
 second on 'Hallucinations,' almost fearful, and fascinating; then a 
 somewhat interesting notice of books on America, but I am not going 
 on seriatim (absurd affectation, speak English like a man or rather 
 write it). There is an interesting letter, by Wright the antiquary, on 
 the papers by Prestwich and Evans on their Flint Implements in the 
 Drift, ^n the list of meetings for the ensuing week there is an ' Extra- 
 ordinarv Meeting of the Geological Society at 8 p.m. on Wednesday 
 (yesterday), to hear ' Further Observations on the occurrence of Human 
 Art in the Bone Breccia in the Caves near Palermo,' by Dr. Falconer, 
 and 'Reports on the Exploration of the Cave at Brixham,' by Dr. 
 Falconer, also 'On Flint Implements recently obtained from the 
 Gravel near Amiens,' by Mr. Flower. Flints are undoubtedly to the 
 fore. . . ." 
 
 "June 26, 1859. There is an end to most things, I suppose; 
 at any rate, the end of the Listers' tarriance here has come, so far as I 
 am concerned at least. I shook hands with J. J. Lister this evening, 
 and there is no prospect that I shall see him again, for some time at 
 least. And the longest day, too, has been with us, and is gone, and 
 shorter and still shortening ones will soon be here. I feel that I am 
 the same person that some years ago wished Time would be less tardy 
 in his movements ; one might almost question one's own identity, for 
 now I would rather that he would ' reserve his flight,' that is to say, as 
 far as I am concerned, not society. I do not believe in ' Good Old 
 Times,' taking ' Old ' in the most limited signification, or any other. 
 But enough of this. ... I begin to see land ahead, but it may be mist 
 merely; but I will confess to a hope that it is land, and that I may see 
 you home this week. I hope you will remain until Saturday, if you 
 desire to do so, or your mother wishes it ; nevertheless, I will now say, 
 and I think this is the first time 1 have allowed you to infer so much,
 
 88 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. VII. 
 
 that it is sadly dull here without you. I am pleased with Alfred's 
 letter.* I think the journey is not likely to be thrown away on him ; 
 he clearly has a decided taste for Natural History, and will of necessity 
 love the country. . . . This afternoon I wrote Salter and Prestwich. 
 Did I tell you I had found a remarkable fossil at Mudstone ? It is 
 very much of the character of the Polperro sponges, alias fish ; but 
 much more definite in outline, than I have previously seen. I am 
 most sceptical as to its being a sponge. Gosse called here and had a 
 chat this afternoon. . . ." 
 
 In one of his letters at the conclusion of the Brixham Cavern 
 exploration he writes : 
 
 "June 27, 1859. . . . We closed our labours at the cavern on 
 Saturday evening last, Philp having allowed us to work a day and a 
 half beyond the hour to which we were legally entitled. The workmen 
 are all discharged, the key is returned to Philp, all the specimens not 
 already in town, are at my house. ... I felt a little sorry to give up 
 the cavern. I have spent a good many hours there since last March, 
 when I first visited it. ..." 
 
 The Grand Duchess Marie, sister of Alexander II. of Russia, 
 daughter of the Emperor Nicholas I., and widow of the Duke 
 of Leuchtenberg, was at Torquay with her family in August 
 of this year. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "August 17, 1859. . . . This morning we had a two hours' visit 
 from the Russian Princess Eugenie, the Countess Tolstoi, and one of the 
 tutors. We were extremely pleased with them all. The Princess is not 
 pretty, rather small features, a very good forehead, and evidently very 
 intelligent, and extremely interested in what William told her. They 
 looked at the corals and fossils, etc., which she seemed to understand 
 thoroughly, and asked leave to come again and bring the younger 
 ones, who were much disappointed at not coming with them this 
 morning. ... I had a good deal of conversation with the Countess 
 Tolstoi ; she told me the eldest princess was on a visit to the Queen 
 at Osborne with her mother the Grand Duchess, and that they were 
 greatly pleased with the Isle of Wight. She said the young princes 
 and princesses are so happy here. I said, ' I suppose on account of 
 being so near the sea.' 'Oh no,' she said, 'they have a palace on 
 the seashore, a very magnificent one ; but they enjoy being here and 
 living in a plain simple way.' The Grand Duchess telegraphed to the 
 Emperor the other day after her arrival here, ' This is Paradise.' . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "... William went yesterday to Newton, with the Russian party, 
 to a little picnic in the Bradley Woods valley ; they seemed to enjoy 
 * His son by his first marriage.
 
 1858-1859.] BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT ABERDEEN. 89 
 
 it very much, and the little princess kept saying, 'Oh, it is so nice! 
 I am so happy ! ' She had a hammer which the tutor had bought for 
 her, and which soon broke. ' Oh ! ' she said, ' this is too fine, too pretty ; 
 I must have a large one like Mr. Pengelly's.' William says she is a 
 witch, for he never found so many good fossils before. Like so many 
 of his pupils, she enjoys her lessons greatly, and is much attached to 
 him ; Countess Tolstoi says she keeps running to the window to see if 
 he is coming. One day he had a very pleasant interview with the 
 Grand Duchess. The Princess Eugenie said the other day after 
 leaving us, 'I would rather have Mr. Pengelly's fossils than all my 
 diamonds. . . ." 
 
 During September, the British Association met at Aberdeen. 
 Pengelly was now beginning to take a prominent and useful part 
 in the proceedings of Section " C " ; and the meeting was espe- 
 cially noteworthy to him, as the question of the antiquity of man 
 was warmly debated. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "September. . . . William is very much occupied in preparing his 
 paper for the British Association meeting at Aberdeen. I have drawn 
 three large diagrams for it. I went on Friday to see the Grand 
 Duchess, by invitation, and we were introduced to the Princess Mary, 
 who has now arrived here, and is very nice. We paid a most pleasant 
 visit, but I am sorry to say the Princess is not at all well, she is certainly 
 a most interesting girl. The Countess gave a charming present to 
 little Lydia, who went with me by particular invitation, and of whom 
 they made a great pet. . . . The Channel Fleet are here now, fourteen 
 of those splendid vessels including the ' Royal Albert.' . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Aberdeen, September 16, 1859. . . . The meeting is a very large 
 one. There are said to be two thousand seven hundred persons ; if so, 
 it surpasses Dublin, and ranks as one of the largest meetings. This, no 
 doubt, is partly owing to the prince;* and truly he does seem to be 
 very amiable and intellectual. . . . Many of my old friends are here, 
 and all extremely cordial. Peach and I fraternize charmingly. Lyell's 
 introductory address was a masterpiece of ability and frankness, mainly 
 on the question of human chronology. The papers in our Section, i.e. 
 Geology the only one I attended were good, and drew forth much 
 valuable discussion. After the meeting Peach took me to call on 
 Mrs. Hugh Miller. Sir W. Jardine, with his two daughters, and 
 Symonds of Pendock, entered with us, so that she had a sort of levee. 
 By some mistake at the soirde, the doors were not opened until 8.45 
 instead of 7.15 as was expected; the result was an assembly of about 
 two thousand persons in the street waiting to enter, and about as 
 
 * Prince Albert was President that year.
 
 90 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. VII. 
 
 many more to see them, with a strong body of police to keep 
 order. . . ." 
 
 To the Same. 
 
 " Aberdeen, September 17, 1859. . . . Yesterday was a good day 
 here ; I speak as a member of Section " C." The fourth paper was by 
 Rev. Dr. Anderson (author of a book in my library, under the title of 
 ' The Course of Creation'), ' On Human Remains in Superficial Drift,' 
 in which he attacked all the evidence which has recently been produced 
 of ' Man amongst the Mammoths,' and a very great deal which no one 
 ever regarded as bearing on the question. After wading through a 
 great amount of rubbish, he boldly attempted to castigate Lyell for his 
 opening address; next he ridiculed Homer's argument of the pottery, etc., 
 in the silt of the Nile. (Lady Lyell was within a couple of yards of him. 
 I did feel for her, more especially as she is so sweet and charming, to 
 be thus compelled to witness a bungler, mangling both her husband and 
 father.) Then he ran off to Germany to cudgel Bunsen, then back 
 again, pitched me into Brixham Cave, and did his best to bury the Cave 
 and myself in ridicule, and finally he gave us a yard or two of bad pulpit. 
 There was a considerable amount of orthodoxy in the room, and he got 
 a very undue share of applause. And now per contra. Lyell handled 
 him as a gentleman and a philosopher alone can do it. Next Phillips, 
 having rubbed his hands in oil, smoothed him down, but in such a way 
 as to scarify him ; then Ramsay seized him by the button-hole, and 
 informed him of a fact or two connected with caverns, and finally 
 handed him over to me, upon which I seized him by the collar, dragged 
 him into Brixham Cave, and showed him its facts and their whereabouts. 
 Then came Symonds * and pulpited him. A few papers followed, and 
 then I read my paper, which was well received. . . . Last night Sir 
 Roderick delivered a lecture on the Geology of the North of Scotland 
 a very able performance after which a deputation from the Royal 
 Society of Edinburgh was introduced by the Chairman, and a gold 
 medal from the body they represent was presented by them to Sir 
 Roderick. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 '"'Aberdeen, September, 1895. This evening I took a ramble to 
 Old Aberdeen, a distance of fully two miles ; it seems a very decaying 
 old place, and a great and striking contrast to the New Town. Yesterday 
 
 I accompanied the s to tea with a person who has declined business, 
 
 having made a fortune. It was a very stiff affair. has realized a 
 
 good competency by trade, and hence must possess trade ability ; but 
 that I contend is no proof of intellect, or it proves that trade sometimes 
 dries up our mentality. Be that as it may, I would rather be an inmate 
 of a Union Workhouse, with such powers as God has given me, than be 
 
 in the condition of Mr. (who boasted of having no interest in science 
 
 of any kind) for all the wealth that has ever been represented by all the 
 ledgers in existence. . . ." 
 
 * Rev. W. S. Symonds, Rector of Penclock.
 
 1858-1859-] BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT ABERDEEN. 9 1 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Aberdeen, September 19, 1859. . . . You are anxious to know 
 whom I have seen. Well, then, 1 have seen, and been cordially received 
 by, Murchison, Lyell, Owen, Phillips, General Portlock, Peach, Sorby, 
 Ramsay, Hopkins, and all the stone-breaking fraternity. Whether they 
 have done wisely or not, I will not say, but they fully recognize me as 
 a descendant of Thor, like themselves. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "British Association, Aberdeen, September 20, 1859. Yesterday was 
 a great day in Section " C." In the Committee Room Lyell showed us a 
 green stone instrument which had been given him in Aberdeen, during 
 the present meeting, by a gentleman who five years ago saw a savage 
 use it in Australia for the purpose of opening a tree. Allowance being 
 made for the difference of material, it was so precisely like the flint 
 knives found in the drift at Abbeville, that the most sceptical must 
 admit the latter to be of human origin. Sir Charles also stated that in 
 the recent drainage of the Haarlem lake no human bones had been 
 found, though history assures us that positively thousands of bodies 
 have fallen into it in the course of centuries. In the Section, Moore of 
 Bath read a valuable paper on Brachiopoda, which drew an eulogy from 
 Owen. A letter from Dr. Dawson to Sir Charles Lyell, stating that an 
 air-breathing mollusk had been found in the carboniferous rocks of the 
 South Joggings of Nova Scotia a valuable fact, no such thing being 
 previously known to occur below the Cainozoic rocks. Then came a 
 great discussion between Nicol and Murchison, supported by Ramsay, 
 on the rocks of the North-west Highlands a highly important, though 
 local, subject. Then a great series of papers on the Stagonolepis of 
 Elgin, Huxley showing it to be a reptile of high order, and the other 
 geologists showing that there is reason to believe the rock in which it 
 was found is Devonian. In the evening I dined with the ' Red Lions ; ' 
 a most splendid time, Owen being Lion-in-chief. After this I went to 
 a lecture by Dr. Robinson of Armagh on Electricity." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Aberdeen, September zist. ... We had a capital day yesterday. 
 Sedgwick opened in his own style, with a paper on the Lake district. 
 Then came Rogers, on the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, producing some 
 new and important facts, and a monstrous hypothesis. The other 
 papers were of less interest, but excellent. At the soire'e, Anderson 
 and I had a somewhat long and animated discussion on the flint knives. 
 He informs me that Professor Macdonald is to lecture on 'Man' 
 to-night (Wednesday), and is intending to ' pound me to dust.' . . ." 
 
 Pengelly was included among the members of the associa- 
 tion, who, during the progress of the Aberdeen meeting, were 
 honoured by an invitation to Balmoral. Unfortunately the 
 weather on the day of the visit turned out wet and stormy. As
 
 92 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Ca. VII. 
 
 several accounts of the expedition have already been recorded 
 in other Memoirs, and as her Majesty has also mentioned it, 
 in that part of her journal which has been given to the public, 
 any further account of it is unnecessary. 
 
 Before leaving Scotland he received a kind and pressing 
 invitation from Sir George Sinclair to stay at Thurso Castle, 
 which time would not permit him to accept ; this was the more 
 disappointing as it prevented his making the acquaintance of 
 Robert Dick of Thurso, who was already attracting the attention 
 of geologists, as an active and successful worker. 
 
 Greatly as he enjoyed meeting scientific friends, Pengelly 
 always looked forward eagerly to a return to his family and his 
 quiet home at Torquay. His son Alfred was now old enough 
 to accompany him on some geological expeditions, and was 
 already distinguished by a love of Natural History, and great 
 success in athletic sports and other open-air amusements. Mary 
 Anne (the only remaining daughter of his first marriage) had 
 died during the year, tenderly nursed to the last by her step- 
 mother, to whom she was much attached. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly had now a little daughter of her own, named 
 Lydia, but generally called " Trottie " in her father's letters. 
 
 Late in the autumn of 1859, at a public dinner in Torquay, 
 in response to an unanimous call for a speech, Pengelly pointed 
 out that it was rather unwise to couple his name so frequently 
 with the toast of " Prosperity to Torquay," lest it should become 
 an established custom for him to respond to it. Speaking of 
 the attractions of the place, he recommended as an addition 
 ' the establishment of a County Museum of Natural History in 
 this town, which held out greater inducements than either 
 Plymouth or Exeter. The district was rich in natural history. 
 A large number of visitors came here in the winter for their 
 health's sake ; and those visitors would be very thankful to the 
 inhabitants, for providing the means of spending their time in 
 a way not injurious, but beneficial to body and mind. The 
 intellectual prosperity of the town must be looked to ; and 
 geology, as an intellectual research, was very interesting." He 
 concluded by strongly advocating the claims of the Natural 
 History Society, the Mechanics' Institute, and the Working 
 Men's Society.
 
 ( 93 ) 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 LECTURES AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION, AND PAPERS READ 
 BEFORE THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 
 
 1860 TO NOVEMBER, 1861. 
 
 IN 1860, Pengelly completed the formation of a fine collection 
 of Devonian fossils, from the counties of Devon and Cornwall, 
 which was presented in that year, by the Baroness Burdett 
 Coutts, to the New Museum of the University of Oxford, in 
 connection with the foundation of a geological scholarship. The 
 fossils are known as "The Pengelly Collection," as indicated 
 by the following regulation passed in a Congregation of the 
 University of Oxford on February 16, 1860: "The collection 
 of Devonian fossils presented by A. Burdett Coutts shall be 
 named ' The Pengelly Collection,' in honour of the gentleman 
 whose scientific knowledge has enabled the foundress to make 
 the collection." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "February 17 th. . . . Much enjoyed the evening on Thursday 
 at Miss Coutts' to meet Archdeacon Mackenzie, the new Bishop for 
 Central Africa (sent out by the special fund raised at Oxford and 
 Cambridge), and also the Bishop of Derry and his wife, and many 
 others. Miss Coutts has lent us the printed regulations from Oxford, 
 in relation to the Burdett-Coutts Scholarship, to read. William's collec- 
 tion of fossils, which he has made to be presented to the University, 
 is by her wish to be called 'The Pengelly Collection.' Have you 
 seen the very appreciative notices of it in the Times, and other 
 papers? Dr. Falconer told me of them to-day, and seemed much 
 pleased. William is reading Myers's Sermons to Miss Coutts, Mrs. 
 Brown, and Rajah Brooke, and they are greatly interested, the latter 
 says he shall get them. Lady Charles Wellesley is staying there now, 
 and we like her very much. ..." 
 
 Princess Mary of the Netherlands had now joined the ranks 
 of Pengelly's pupils, and proved both agreeable and intelligent.
 
 94 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. VIII. 
 
 Mrs. Pengetty to her Mother. 
 
 "March 17, 1860. . . . We spent an interesting evening with Sir 
 John Bo wring at Mr. Beasley's. Sir John looks much older than I ex- 
 pected a keen, thin, and intellectual, worn face, with great animation. 
 He is a capital talker and full of information. We talked of my old 
 friends, the Ashworths ; he says they were for some time at his house 
 at Shanghai, but are now in London. Sir John Kennaway was there 
 also, and we were invited to meet them the next evening at Mr. 
 Vivian's, but had engaged to go to Miss Coutts'. . . . William has 
 been, with the Prince and Princess of the Netherlands and the 
 Russian Princes, to the Cavern; he is much pleased with the two 
 latter, especially Nicholas the elder, who is reading Dr. Kane's Arctic 
 Travels with him with great interest. They are coming to us one 
 evening to look through the telescope. We had a long visit last week 
 
 from Lord and Lady . He prides himself on having the best 
 
 collection of marbles, I believe, in England; but some of the party 
 appeared amusingly ignorant on some points, inquiring if our corals, 
 etc., were Antediluvian ! . . ." 
 
 At this time Pengelly also was actively engaged in a 
 systematic examination of the deposits at Bovey. Sir Charles 
 Lyell considered the work of great importance, and on its 
 conclusion induced him to communicate a paper, entitled " The 
 Lignites and Clays of Bovey Tracey," to the Royal Society.* 
 
 This work was supplemented by Dr. Oswald Heer's account 
 of " The Fossil Flora of Bovey Tracey." The essays were re- 
 printed, with a preface; as a separate volume, in 1863, with a 
 dedication addressed to the Baroness Burdett Coutts, who had 
 generously undertaken the expenses of the publication. Mr. 
 Starkie Gardner's subsequent studies of the fossil flora of Bovey 
 Tracey, have modified opinions respecting the origin and age of 
 the deposits, and some doubt has been thrown on Heer's con- 
 clusions ; but Pengelly's work is still considered to be of great 
 scientific value. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 " April ith. . . . William is greatly interested in going about with 
 Sir Charles Lyell, yesterday and to-day. It happened rather nicely, as 
 he is taking a holiday just now, for a few days; so he was quite at 
 liberty to go with him, and Sir Charles seemed intensely interested 
 in the raised beach at Hope's Nose, etc. had his note-book in his 
 hand the whole time, and fully endorses William's views on the geology 
 of this neighbourhood, which is entirely new to him. To-day they 
 are going to Brixham, Berry Head, etc. Last night we had a nice 
 long call from Robert Were Fox of Falmouth, who is taking his 
 
 * Phil. Trans. Roy. Sac., vol. clii. (1862), p. 1019.
 
 1860-1861.] SIR C. LYELL ON THE GEOLOGY OF TORQUAY. 95 
 
 daughter Anna Maria away for a little tour to recruit. He says his 
 daughter Caroline is too ill to accompany them. They are both 
 nearly laid by with doing so much for the 'Navvies,' establishing 
 Reading Rooms, etc., for them." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "April 8, 1860. ... Dr. Falconer leaves with me by the ten 
 o'clock train to-morrow, for Newton, to go thence, and do what we 
 can in the Bovey Coal-Field. 
 
 "He asked me to ask you for a note to Miss (Cooke?), the 
 daughter of the late collector of fossil leaves of the Bovey Coal 
 also for any instructions you may have to give us, as to points to 
 visit ; but I think I understood you that we were to go to Bovey 
 Tracey. 
 
 " The problem to be solved at Torquay is not only the relative age 
 of three deposits 
 
 " i. The cave-deposits, including Kent's Hole with Machairodus^ 
 an oldish form ? and Hippopotamus ? which Owen, I believe, says 
 came from Kent's Hole. 
 
 " 2. The raised beach. 
 
 " 3. The submerged forest, with Elephas primigenius ; the tooth 
 dredged up from it having, says Falconer, rather the form of the 
 more modern varieties of the Siberian mammoth. 
 
 "Not only have we to correlate all these three, but to get them 
 into comparison as to their age with four deposits near Brighton. 
 
 " i. Elephant-bed, Brighton. Elephas primigenius. 
 
 " 2. Raised beach, with recent shells and rolled granite pebbles. 
 
 " 3. Erratics of French granite, nine feet diameter Pagham near 
 Selsea. 
 
 " Marine mud, with Elephas antiquus and thirty species of marine 
 shells. 
 
 " The granite pebbles of the raised beach, No. 2, were derived from 
 the older bed of glacial period, No. 3, of Sussex Coast. 
 
 " No. 4, a prse-glacial deposit, with shells not like recent British 
 fauna. . . . 
 
 " Has Mr. Battersby any of the fossils of the Hope's Nose beach ? 
 and has he identified the Cardium, the large Cardium, with the long 
 one of your bay ? or who has given a list ? " 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "April 13, 1860. . . . We have had such a pleasant visit from 
 the Princess Mary of the Netherlands, who is a pupil of William's now, 
 and a most agreeable one ; she is about eighteen, an extremely simple 
 open-hearted girl. To-day we have had a visit of two hours from Miss 
 Coutts and her party, and William is gone there to dine to-night. . . . 
 The last time we went the Prince and Princess W. were there, Sir 
 Charles and Lady Lyell, etc. . . . The Prince and Princess of the 
 Netherlands are returning home. Princess Mary and Mademoiselle 
 von Doom often walk down to town to meet William, when he is on
 
 96 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. VIII. 
 
 his way to give his lesson there, though it is before eight in the 
 morning. ..." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "April zist. . . . Had a delightful evening at Miss Coutts', 
 meeting Baron and Baroness Hoenick, Rajah Brooke, Dr. Falconer, 
 etc. Sir Charles Lyell and Dr. Falconer have set their minds on 
 William's working somewhat in the Bovey coal-beds, which he himself 
 has long been anxious to do they contain so many plants new to 
 science. One evening lately we spent at Mrs. St. John's (Sir Joshua 
 Reynolds' great-niece), with a very pleasant party. She has a good 
 painting by Sir Joshua. ... Sir Charles Lyell has left ; he has sent 
 William a geological map by Murchison. We have Murchison's 
 'Siluria,' which he sent us himself last year, with a kind letter of 
 appreciation respecting William's geological work. . . ." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "May 7, 1860. ... I am very glad of the prospect of our 
 knowing something of the Bovey coal-plants. It is almost a reproach 
 to English geology that they have been so little explored, as they are 
 perhaps the only fossils of the Tertiary period to which they belong. I 
 shall be glad to hear that Keeping's services are retained. 
 
 " All BarrandeY grand discoveries in Bohemia, and splendid collec- 
 tion of unique Silurian and pre-Silurian fossils, were made by opening 
 quarries expressly for his geological researches. 
 
 " In this case the old pits are flooded, and whether they (the pro- 
 prietors) will pump out the water again seemed doubtful. 
 
 "But I am not afraid that Miss Coutts will not be rewarded by 
 bringing to light at least so much of the ancient flora as will enable 
 Heer of Zurich to settle the age of the formation relatively to the other 
 lignite and brown-coal deposits of the Continent. 
 
 " The only Miocene plants discovered in the British Isles we owe 
 to the Duke of Argyll's exertions in Mull. 
 
 " I am going to beg you to send me any corrections you can suggest 
 for my ' Manual,' fifth edition, confining yourself at present to the first 
 part (say up to p. 235), or any of the earlier pages, as the last half may 
 be attended to some time hence. Besides positive mistakes, I shall be 
 glad of any hints and suggestions made freely, which your knowledge of 
 the manner in which beginners are struck with certain passages may 
 enable you to send us. > 
 
 " Dr. Falconer may depend on a large audience in Burlington House 
 when he reads his paper on the Welsh Caves. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 '''May 24, 1860. . . . William left for London yesterday; he is 
 
 going to stay with Dr. Skey, a very nice old gentleman of eighty-six, 
 
 who has been spending the winter here. The little trip to Cornwall with 
 
 Miss Coutts, Sir J. K. Shuttleworth, and Sir James Brooke,* he enjoyed 
 
 * Rajah of Sarawak.
 
 1860-1861.] BOVEY TRACEY FOSSILS BABBAGE'S WORKSHOP. 97 
 
 exceedingly. To-morrow night he lectures at the Royal Institution on 
 Devonian fossils, in reference to the Oxford scholarship. On his return 
 home he will be much occupied, using all his spare time in examining 
 the coal deposit of Bovey Tracey, towards the exploration of which 
 Miss Coutts has contributed ^50, and which both Falconer and Lyell 
 are most earnest for him to undertake, as they say it is quite a disgrace 
 to English geology not to know where rightly to place these beds. 
 They contain palm leaves two feet long. Bovey is twelve miles from 
 this, so it will be rather far for him to go ; but he has secured Keeping 
 his head man at Brixham who is most careful and trustworthy, to 
 work under him there. . . ." 
 
 During May and June of this year Pengelly gave a course 
 of geological lectures at the Royal Institution, which passed off 
 very successfully. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "London, May 26, 1860. ... I then went off to call on Falconer, 
 found him very cordial, agreed to dine with him at the Geological Club 
 next Wednesday. On leaving the house I met Mrs. M'Call, Miss 
 Milne, and their uncle. Next I went to the Royal Institution, to hang 
 my diagrams, etc. ; found my specimens had travelled well. Faraday 
 most agreeable. This done, I called at Tennant's, on my way to the 
 meeting. Met Ansted there, and had a good chat with him ; a very 
 agreeable man. I then went to Barlow's. The only stranger at dinner 
 was Archdeacon Sinclair, whom I had met at Miss Coutts' more than 
 once. The lecture went off satisfactorily, I believe, yet I did not think 
 I was so untrammelled as usual; I had paid too much attention to 
 preparation. The subject was also too large; yet it seemed to give 
 satisfaction, and I was frequently applauded. The specimens were 
 greatly admired after the lecture. The audience contained a good 
 number of truly great men Babbage, Faraday, Murchison (in the 
 chair), Tyndall, Grove, Bigsby, Daubeny, Wheatstone, and others. I 
 made the acquaintance of Grove and Daubeny. . . ." 
 
 ''London, May 29, 1860. . . . Yestermorn Dr. Skey and I sallied 
 forth, immediately after breakfast, to call on Lyell ; he received us very 
 cordially. He and I went through all my criticisms on his ' Manual,' 
 most of which he thankfully accepted, and reserved the rest for con- 
 sideration. I left him soon after eleven. I then called on Babbage, 
 and could not get away until after one. He is a splendid talker. He 
 seemed much pleased to see me, and complimented me very much on 
 my lecture, in which he was evidently much interested. He is the 
 most marvellous worker I ever met with. I never saw anything like the 
 evidence of multifarious and vast labour which his ' workshop ' presents ; 
 he sticks at nothing. One drawer full of riddles, another of epigrams, 
 one of squared words, etc. ... It is appalling ! And then the down- 
 right fun of the fellow ; it is almost intoxicating to be with him ! He 
 was so kind as to give me a copy of his ' Ninth Bridgewater Treatise.' 
 I dined with the Listers ; there was a large party. ..." 
 
 H
 
 98 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. VIII. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "London, May 31, 1860. . . . The days are rapidly flitting by, 
 and drawing my tarriance in the Modern Babylon swiftly to a conclusion. 
 I had received an invitation to dinner from Samuel Gurney, and accord- 
 ingly found myself in Lombard Street at the appointed hour. Many 
 old friends were present, and an Ojibbeway Indian woman, who has 
 been sent over by her tribe to plead their cause before the Great Mother 
 (the Queen). Hitherto she has not been able to obtain an interview. 
 She is a Christian, speaks choice English fluently, is very self-possessed, 
 and might pass muster easily for a rather coarse-featured Englishwoman. 
 . . . Yesterday I took Salter to see my fossils at the Royal Institution. 
 Then came the Geological Club dinner, which I attended as Lyell's 
 guest. I was well received by all ; many of them were old friends. 
 Amongst them were Horner, Murchison, Lyell, Percy, Godwin-Austen, 
 Smyth, Lubbock, Prestwich, and Falconer. It went off capitally. I sat 
 by Lyell, who told me spontaneously he would gladly vote for me as 
 F.R.S. ! My lecture was much and well spoken of. Then to the 
 Geological Society, where two papers were read by Falconer on the 
 Gower Caves. There was nothing new on the question of human 
 chronology. A good discussion followed, in which Lyell, Austen, 
 Prestwich, and I took part. . . ." 
 
 At the end of June, Pengelly attended the meeting of the 
 British Association at Oxford, and gives some account of the 
 proceedings in the following letters 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Exeter College, Oxford, June 28, 1860. ... I find, after all, I 
 did not send you my hasty scrawl of yesterday. But what of yester- 
 day ? . . . I went to hear the opening Address of the President at four. 
 You are aware, I think, that it is usual to have this address and the 
 lectures at eight ; instead of that, they are to be given at four here. I 
 do not think the change is popular; but it is said the authorities are 
 under oath not to allow lights in the building we should use on these 
 occasions after a certain hour. Prince Albert attended, and in a short 
 speech resigned the Presidency to Lord Wrottesley, who then delivered 
 his Address. The customary vote of thanks was moved by Lord Derby, 
 and seconded by Whewell. Neither of them succeeded in making a 
 very effective speech. After this to dinner at the Star Hotel a 
 villainous substitute for a meal ; so bad, indeed, in every respect that 
 a large party of us went in a body, headed by Professor Macdonald, to 
 the bar, and stated that we would never dine there again. Well, now 
 you want to know who are here. Murchison, Lyell, Horner, Falconer, 
 Harkness, Shuttleworth, Sedgwick, Moore, Chambers, etc. Phillips is 
 very friendly. Oxford is truly a superb place ; the new museum is, or 
 rather will be, magnificent. It is far from finished. 
 
 " Well, now I must close. I want my breakfast, and do not yet know- 
 where I am to get it. It appears that the authorities only provide us 
 with lodgings, meals we find where we can, or if we prefer it we can
 
 1860-1861.] THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT OXFORD. 99 
 
 go without. A grand-daughter of Lady Blakiston, an old pupil of mine, 
 claimed me as an acquaintance yesterday ; she is here with her husband, 
 Lionel Beale, Professor of Physiology, King's College, London. She 
 seemed much pleased to see me again. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Oxford, June 2()th. . . . Now then for yesterday. First I 
 went to the Inquiry Room, where I stumbled on Faraday, then to the 
 Committee Room, after which to Section ' C.' Sedgwick's opening 
 Address most characteristic, full of clever fun. Most imperative that 
 papers should be as brief as possible about ten minutes he thought 
 he himself amplifying marvellously. The papers were not of a high 
 order yesterday, excellent no doubt in themselves, but not of general 
 interest. There was one by my friend Mr. Tristram, of Durham (the 
 clergyman to whom I sent fossils), on the Sahara. Well, now, whom did 
 I see ? Prestwich, Salter, Bigsby, and lots of 'em. The evening 
 soire'e was very good ; it was held in the New Museum, from i Soo to 
 2000 people seemed lost in it There I met Sir Charles and Lady 
 Lyell, Falconer, etc., etc. I find that Prestwich is just over my head, 
 i.e. he has rooms in the college, just over mine. I suppose the great 
 event of yesterday was a paper by Dr. Daubeny on the Sexual Organs 
 of Plants, with special reference to Darwin's theory. A most smart 
 discussion rose on it between Huxley and Owen. I tried to get in, 
 but the room was most densely packed. One consequence of Sedg- 
 wick's law about time was that the section got through its business so 
 as to adjourn at two instead of three. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 ''Oxford, June 29, 1860, 11.30 p.m. . . . This has been a 
 very busy day. In the morning got journals, then off to hang my 
 diagrams, then to committee, and then section, where Dr. Daubeny 
 read a paper on the Elevation-Crater theory, which of course brought 
 up Lyell to defend himself. This took an hour. Then came a paper 
 on Dolomitization, which took half an hour. Then came mine. Dear 
 old Sedgwick wished it compressed. I replied that, ' I would do what 
 I could to please him, but did not know which to follow, his precept 
 or example.' The roar of laughter was deafening. Old Sedgwick took 
 it capitally, and behaved much better in consequence. My paper was 
 splendidly received, and drew forth an hour's discussion, in which 
 Phillips, Austen, Salter, Jukes, etc., took part ; they all spoke highly 
 of it, and many expressed a hope that it would be printed at full 
 length. We went off at the close of the section to hear Professor 
 Walker lecture on the Sun ; it was a capital lecture. A vote of thanks 
 to Professor Walker was moved in an eloquent, though, as I think, 
 unsound speech, by the Bishop of Oxford. The unsoundness consisted 
 in his laying it down as a law, that all things were made for man, and 
 are useful ; in fact, this idea seemed to run through the lecture too. 
 
 " I begin to feel that a short time will close proceedings, and put 
 me into harness again. . . ."
 
 100 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH.VIII. 
 
 Pengdly to his Wife. 
 
 "July i. 1860. . . . Yesterday was a great day. Called on 
 Mrs. Yorke by appointment to meet Moore of Bath, who was to show 
 us his fossils. They are really wonderful, upwards of forty thousand 
 fish teeth, and many thousands of other fossils, many of them micro- 
 scopic, dug or rather picked out of three cart-loads of rubbish. Next 
 to committee, where I found Sedgwick very cordial, took my address, 
 and talks of paying me a visit. A paper by Mrs. Yorke's Genevese 
 friend, M. Favre, on the ' Structure of the Alps,' was given in French, 
 but it excited much attention. Then Moore's paper, which truly and 
 deservedly astonished the section ; Lyell and Falconer spoke on it. 
 The latter said ' Mr. Moore was made for the Bone Bed, and the Bone 
 Bed was made for him.' Then left Section ' C ' and went to ' D ' 
 (Zoology) to hear a discussion on a paper which has direct reference to 
 Darwinism. The room was densely packed. The Bishop of Oxford, 
 Huxley, Dr. Hooker, Professor Beale, Lubbock, and others spoke on 
 it. The excitement was excessive, quite as great as at a political 
 meeting. . . ." 
 
 "Exeter College, Oxford, July 2, 1860. . . . Several good papers 
 at the sections to-day, especially one by a clergyman named Lister of 
 Wolverhampton, on some Reptilian Footprints from the New Red 
 sandstone north of Wolverhampton, a new locality, and therefore an 
 important fact. We shall get them in our New Reds by-and-by. The 
 section adjourned at two, to attend a meeting in the theatre, where the 
 degree of D.C.L. was conferred on Lord Wrottesley, Sedgwick, and 
 some one else, whose name I have forgotten ; it was a pretty spectacle. 
 At three, to General Committee, and settled the next meeting shall be 
 at Manchester. Then to theatre, to hear Sherard Osborn deliver a 
 Lecture on Arctic Enterprise. At six to dinner with Professor Walker, 
 in Hall at Wadham College. We were about a dozen, amongst others 
 Professors Rankine and Earnshaw, Sir Edward Pechell, and Gassiot. 
 Lots of fun. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly had now completed the notes which Sir Charles 
 Lyell had asked him to supply for the fifth edition of his manual 
 which was being prepared. 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "July 2, 1860. ... I have been reading over your useful 
 criticisms, all of which I have adopted or attended to, except where a 
 recast of the page or chapter had already superseded the necessity of 
 adopting them. I have to thank you much ; and shall only say a few words 
 on your reference to Mr. Hopkins' paper, vol. viii., Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc., 
 which I am glad to have been called upon to read over again, as I might 
 have omitted to do so. 
 
 " I had already considered it before the publication of my last 
 edition of the Manual, but found it would take me more time and space 
 than I could then afford to discuss it. So far as the Manual is con- 
 cerned, I am almost in the same state of feeling now, but should have
 
 i86o-i86i.] SIR C. LYELL ON THE GULF STREAM. IOI 
 
 liked to have had a talk with you on the subject ; for, if I mistake not, you 
 threw out some critical remarks on Hopkins' hypothesis of the change 
 of the course of the Gulf Stream, when I was at Torquay, and I should 
 be very glad if you would repeat them in a letter. 
 
 " My first difficulty is this. The glacial phenomena of the North 
 American continent imply, I think, a more southern extension of the 
 severe cold than do those of Northern Europe. 
 
 " Hopkins' theory, instead of helping us to comprehend this, diverts 
 the Gulf Stream, so as to warm up the American side of the North 
 Atlantic and cool the European side. 
 
 " 2. The delta of the Mississippi is, according to my notion, a 
 hundred thousand or two hundred thousand years old. And prior to 
 that was the older delta implied by the upraised ' loess ' of Natchez, 
 d, Fig. 23, 'Principles,' gth Ed. p. 265; and the older deposit was, I 
 think, more modern than the period of erratic blocks. 
 
 " All this time it is out of the question to suppose that the valley 
 of the Mississippi was a bay of the sea, connecting the Gulf of Mexico 
 with the Arctic region. 
 
 " Therefore we should have to throw back the Glacial Period very 
 far, in order to admit Hopkins' hypothesis, etc. Now, I have no 
 objection to give it an antiquity of several hundred thousand years, 
 but this would make us suppose it contemporaneous with the 
 European Northern drift, in which case I should require rather to 
 cool the Gulf of Mexico than to make the hot waters of that Gulf flow 
 northwards for a thousand miles or more. 
 
 " Nevertheless I am willing, on the other hand, to suppose great 
 local developments of cold, owing to elevation of mountain chains 
 and other combinations, so as to produce great north and south or 
 meridional lines of glaciation, for that would help us to introduce Darwin 
 and Hooker's migrations of North Polar species of plants and animals 
 into the equatorial mountains, and thence into South Temperate zones, 
 without a universal chill, or a simultaneous freezing of both hemispheres, 
 annihilating in Pleistocene times all the tropical forms of vegetation, 
 etc., and requiring a new creation of the same in Post-pleiocene times. 
 
 " Please to let me hear from you, if you have any thoughts on the 
 subject, for or against Hopkins' scheme. 
 
 "I suspect that Hopkins is in error in imagining that in an island 
 like Great Britain (or British Isles) there could not be an upheaval of 
 several thousand feet without contortion of strata. Take the steepest 
 of railway gradients, and see to what a vast height you may rise in a 
 few hundred miles. 
 
 "In a hundred miles with a slope of an angle of two degrees, 
 which would be to the eye horizontal, you would more than reach a 
 height above the sea-level of three miles or the height of Mont Blanc. 
 
 " But I must not run on. I wish you merely to tell me whether 
 you think there is so much weight in Hopkins' Gulf Stream diversion 
 hypothesis, that I ought to modify my southern curve of the lines of 
 cold in the Glacial Period, on comparing North America and Europe. 
 
 " My letters will be forwarded to me abroad wherever I may be 
 after Friday next, 6th inst., when I leave after post-hour. But in case 
 you write after that, do not write on very thin paper, as some of my
 
 102 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH.VIII. 
 
 friends do. Any news of the meeting after I left would be acceptable. 
 I have just seen Baron Anca, who has really found the Elephas 
 Africanus in the Sicilian caves, accompanying one of the extinct 
 Sicilian Hippopotami. . . . 
 
 "Your paper on the Devonian fossils made a very favourable 
 impression ; and under less chilly auspices I should like to have said 
 something on the conclusion to which it pointed. Shall you send it 
 to the Geological Society ? " 
 
 During August, 1860, the British Medical Association met at 
 Torquay, and Pengelly, in response to a request from several 
 medical friends, delivered a lecture before the members. 
 
 The lecture is thus referred to in a letter from an enthusiastic 
 pupil. " The day I left Torquay I was in a railway carriage 
 full of doctors, all speaking of your lecture the night before, and 
 seeming delighted. They spoke of it with rapture. ..." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell had been consulted by Pengelly with 
 reference to his collection of plants, and he wrote : 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "December 12, 1860. . . . I have been considering what I should 
 do, if I had myself collected the plants you allude to, and had to get 
 them figured, for I should require the same kind of help which you are 
 desirous of getting. 
 
 "As Dr. Hooker, who is just returned from Syria, and is over- 
 whelmed with arrears of work accumulated in his absence, is out of 
 the question, the next person I thought of as the most competent is 
 Sir Charles Bunbury. But he will not be staying in town till February. 
 I might get him to do something then ; but he could not be hurried, and 
 would take perhaps longer time to it than you could spare. Still I 
 think he might help greatly in February. 
 
 "The other person whom I should turn to is Professor Morris, 
 High Street, Kensington. You might address a letter to him, and 
 say I suggested his assistance, and try to get an appointment. Perhaps 
 you might offer to him, for the University College Museum, which is 
 under his charge, a set of duplicates. I gave him some good fossil 
 fish from the United States Trias, for that Museum, as an acknowledg- 
 ment of some help he gave me in the geological way a year ago. 
 
 " Morris has written an Appendix to a paper of Prestwich on fossil 
 plants of Colebrook-Dale Coal, and has studied also Tertiary plants, 
 and would, I think, be a safe adviser. I will call in and see your 
 plants ; but, even if I were not most fully engaged in trying to get 
 out my new edition, I really could not undertake the task for want 
 of knowledge on the subject. 
 
 " I am glad to hear of your having so many specimens of palms. 
 
 " I can see no objection to the course you are taking, or in that 
 proposal by me on the score of its interfering with Dr. Falconer. It
 
 1860-1861.] ADVICE TO A SON DESTRUCTION OF LIFE. 103 
 
 must be desirable to get drawings made before some of the specimens 
 fall to pieces, which they may do, if like those I saw at Bovey. . . . 
 " I saw Miss Coutts lately, and talked to her of your discoveries." 
 
 Some letters written by Pengelly to his son Alfred during 
 this and the following year, are valuable, not only for the 
 evidence they afford of his own occupations at this period, but 
 also as showing his ready sympathy with his son's pursuits. 
 
 Pengelly to his Son. 
 
 " Torquay, June 7, 1860. ... I was extremely pleased to find 
 you had been so successful in Chemistry. The failure in Geometry 
 was to be regretted, but it is not irreparable, we will hope. I do not 
 believe anything can compensate for a low amount of Geometrical 
 knowledge ; so read up and read hard, my boy. I rather regret your 
 giving up your Entomology. ' A rolling stone gathers no moss,' it is 
 said, and truly. If you have an enlightened conscientious objection to 
 fly-catching it is clearly your duty to give up the practice, and I desire 
 to encourage you to do so (in this matter as well as in all others). I 
 quite think no one should destroy life without a sufficient motive, and 
 in my judgment merely doing what others do is not a sufficient motive, 
 nor are we justified as I think to take life in order that we may make 
 a collection of things more or less pretty, and which, when well grouped 
 and arranged, will make an attractive show. But if the object is clearly 
 to study the works of Creation, I hold it to be a sufficient motive, and 
 I should have no scruple to kill any infra-human animal in order the 
 better to accomplish such object. If this is your view your duty is first 
 to ask yourself, ' What is my object in killing insects ? ' This answered 
 satisfactorily, I think you may safely kill them with a clear conscience ; 
 still, if you think otherwise, desist, for if you cannot clearly answer the 
 question, you ought not to kill. So far as it is a question of cruelty, I 
 cannot but think that the Aquarium is the worst. The animals in it 
 generally die more or less lingeringly, while in the hands of a good 
 entomologist, insects die suddenly and on the whole with greatly less 
 pain; but still it is a matter of individual feeling and judgment. I 
 must leave it to yourself. 
 
 Since I last wrote you I have been in town, and very much I 
 enjoyed myself. I should like to spend some weeks there yearly. 
 I reached London a little before midnight on 22nd ult. On Friday 
 I dined with the Secretary of the Royal Institution, and afterwards 
 gave my lecture to a good, and eminently scientific, audience. The 
 subject was the Devonian fossils of Devon and Cornwall. I had 
 compiled large tables showing the statistics of the question, i.e. the 
 number of species in the various classes and their distribution in 
 Time and Space. I took up seven trays of specimens for illustration. 
 It is considerably more than a joke to lecture to an audience composed, 
 as mine was, of such men as Faraday, Tyndall, Babbage, Grove, 
 Daubeny, Wheatstone, Murchison, etc., and also a crowd of non- 
 scientific folk ; the task then becomes difficult, as a lecture is required
 
 IO4 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. VIII. 
 
 to be at once profound and popular a not very frequent combination 
 of qualities, and perhaps not a desirable one. On Monday morning 
 I called on Sir C. Lyell and spent two hours with him criticising his 
 ' Manual.' Then I called on Babbage, the author or constructor of 
 the calculating machine, one of the most remarkable and talented 
 men the world has ever produced. On Wednesday I dined with the 
 Geological Club ; we were about thirty, including some of the most 
 eminent geologists. After dinner we went to the Geological Society, 
 where a paper was read by Dr. Falconer descriptive of some ossiferous 
 caverns near Swansea ; he made the astounding statement that between 
 ten and eleven hundred antlers of the Reindeer had been taken out of 
 ONE cavern. There is no manner of doubt about its correctness. On 
 Friday, the last day I spent in town, I heard Dr. Tyndall lecture at 
 the Royal Institution on a ' Winter Visit which he made to the Swiss 
 Glaciers.' It was extremely interesting, and he is a truly charming 
 lecturer. During my visit I was the guest of an old gentleman who 
 wintered at Torquay last season ; his name is Dr. Skey, he is eighty- 
 six years of age, and very bright indeed." 
 
 Pengelly to his Son. 
 
 " Torquay, May n, 1861. . . . My last visit to town was a very- 
 agreeable one. My lecture was warmly applauded. I left home on 
 Tuesday, so as to have a day at Oxford on my way, in order that I 
 might have an opportunity of arranging the ' Pengelly ' collection of 
 fossils. I got there just in time for Dr. Daubeny's dinner (I think I 
 told you I was to be his guest). We went in the evening to Magdalen 
 College, at the invitation of the President thereof. Next day I arranged 
 the fossils, and left for town at four o'clock. This I was sorry to do, 
 as Dr. Daubeny had invited a large dinner-party of all the eminent 
 men resident in the University to meet me. There was no help for 
 it, however, as I had made a previous engagement in town. Before 
 leaving, Dr. Daubeny informed me that a wish had been expressed by 
 the Vice-Chancellor of the University that I would deliver a lecture 
 on the ' Pengelly ' collection of fossils before the University some 
 time before June loth. I reached town just in time for dinner, after 
 which we all went to a large party at the Bishop of London's. I met 
 Murchison there, who told me that all the geologists connected with 
 the flint instrument question are to be immortalized in 'Punch' 
 next week. Your dad in the number." 
 
 Pengelly to his Son. 
 
 " Torquay, September i, 1861 . . . I fancy I ought to have written 
 you this day week, but truly I am almost worked to death (that is a 
 strong expression). My correspondence is becoming a grave affair. 
 I have four papers for Manchester. I do not suppose I shall be able 
 to get them all in, but that will not trouble me. I hope to leave this 
 on Tuesday, and go on, with Mamma, next day to Manchester. I 
 hope you are doing as much as you can towards the examination. Let 
 me advise you very, very strongly against taking up more than one
 
 1860-1861.] INVITED TO MAKE A GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. IO5 
 
 thing at a time. The classical subject and nothing else until that is 
 fairly conquered, ditto mathematics, ditto Milton, etc., etc. Speaking 
 of Milton, I strongly advise your reading the ' Paradise Lost ' quite 
 through from end to end, so as to get a general idea of the poem, 
 then return to the two books, and take them up critically. 
 
 "There is a splendid critique on the poem by Addison in the 
 Spectator, which you should. read by all means. If it is not in your 
 school library, it ought to be. I have engaged to deliver a course of 
 six lectures on Geology at Norwich in January next. 
 
 "Heer, the Swiss Fossil-botanist, has made out forty-one species 
 of plants at Bovey, and has pronounced the formation to be decidedly 
 Miocene. I am extremely busy professionally now, have no time for 
 gardening or geologizing." 
 
 Pengelly to his Son. 
 
 "Torquay, October 21, 1861. I was sorry not to be able to write 
 you as usual this day fortnight I went to London the day before to 
 look over the Bovey specimens with Dr. Falconer and Sir C. Lyell ; 
 they were both delighted with them. I dined and slept at Miss Coutts' 
 residence at Highgate, and returned home on Monday. You probably 
 remember that the huge pit at Bovey had a considerable quantity of 
 water in it when you were there. I am happy to say that by the, for 
 us, well-timed continuous pumping, which has been lately undertaken, the 
 water is so far gone that we reach the bottom of the pit at the western 
 end and work there with comfort You will probably remember that 
 the lignite beds were divided into two series, an upper and lower, by a 
 thick bed of sand. We have made a complete section from top to 
 bottom of the lower series, thereby revealing the thickness, character, 
 and fossils of the beds, and of the clays, etc., by which they are separated. 
 We purpose doing the same by the upper series, and shall probably 
 begin to-morrow. I purpose going to Looe on Tuesday next, to deliver 
 a lecture on ' Fossil Organic Remains.' Next day I go on to Penzance, 
 to read my paper on the Distribution in Time and Space of our 
 Devonian fossils the paper indeed which I read at Oxford somewhat 
 amplified. I am glad to find you liked Mr. Greenbank's professional 
 visit to you, and still more that you ' got on pretty well ' at your Reading 
 meeting. Good reading is a valuable, but almost equally rare, accom- 
 plishment." 
 
 In the summer of 1861 Pengelly delivered lectures, which 
 were well attended, at the Royal Institution and at Oxford. 
 While in London, General Wyndham asked him to go to India 
 in order to make a geological survey for the native prince of 
 the Cashmere region. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Royal Institution, May 23, 1861. . . . My lecture is just over, 
 and I am again breathing freely. We reached town safely about a 
 quarter after time yesterday. The dinner-party went off well. There
 
 105 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn.VIII. 
 
 were about forty, amongst them the American Ambassador, Lord and 
 Lady Elgin, Sir Hope Grant, Sir Thomas Cochrane, General Wyndham, 
 Lady Charles Wellesley, Tyndall, Wheatstone, Sir J. K. Shuttleworth, 
 the President of Magdalen, etc. I had a good deal of talk with 
 General Wyndham. Mr. and Mrs. President of Magdalen are also 
 stopping in Stratton Street. . . . Please remember to send my diagrams 
 in good time, and then I'll praise you to the skies. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " London, May 24, 1861. . . . Well, breakfast over, yesterday, I 
 went to hang my diagrams, and then returned here to meet General 
 Wyndham, to take him to Jermyn Street to introduce him to Murchi- 
 son, as the general is desirous of getting a geologist to proceed to 
 India to survey for the native prince of the Cashmere region. He 
 offered me the place, but it is out of the question altogether. We were 
 not so fortunate as to find Sir Roderick, and shall make another 
 attempt to-day. I then proceeded to Tennant's to take a Devonshire 
 Madrepore table, which he had promised to lend me to illustrate my 
 lecture to the Royal Institution. I went to Dr. Skey's, and then 
 returned to my lecture, which you will remember was on the Corals 
 and Sponges. It was quite as well attended as ever, and my audience 
 was very attentive. The polished specimens excited very great 
 attention, and the audience lingered long over them, and asked a 
 multitude of questions ; then called on Sir C. Lyell. The only remark- 
 able person at dinner at Miss Coutts', so far as I know, was Babbage. 
 I was so fortunate as to sit very near him. I forgot to say that Fechter, 
 the great Shakesperian actor, was at dinner. After our meal we went 
 off to an immense upper room on the first floor, which was soon filled 
 to the brim with men and women of all degrees, from dukes and 
 bishops to artisans, to hear Fechter read selections from Hamlet, which 
 he did most charmingly. In the company were Mr. Horner and Lady 
 Lyell, Dr. Daubeny, Crawford, and lots of others whom I more or less 
 knew. I arranged with Lady Lyell to go to Harley Street to-day at 
 1.30, to see Sir Charles. I will report progress in my next." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " i, Stratton Street, May 25, 1861. . . . Yesterday I went by 
 
 appointment to meet H at the Royal Academy, and spent an 
 
 hour in a mortal squeeze. This is a thing which I did enjoy (not the 
 squeeze, but the paintings) ; but it is in your line, not mine. Thence to 
 Jermyn Street, to meet and introduce General Wyndham to Murchison. 
 We found Sir Roderick, who was very gracious, and named a Dr. 
 Hector as the very man for the Indian geological business, and pro- 
 mised to set to work about the affair. Before I left Murchison invited 
 me to dine with him on Monday, at the Geographical dinner. . . . 
 Then off to Lyell's, where I had engaged to take luncheon. We talked 
 over the Bovey affair, and thus it stands : I am to prepare a paper to 
 be read at the Royal Society, at the first meeting in November. Heer 
 is to be asked to describe the plants, and the drawings, and some of
 
 1860-1861.] DISCUSSION ON ESSAYS AND REVIEWS. IO/ 
 
 the more portable fossils are to be sent to him, unless he thinks it 
 necessary to come to England, to examine the collection and 
 locality. . . ." 
 
 So much has been already written on the subject of the 
 celebrated " Essays and Reviews," that, though they greatly 
 interested Pengelly, it will not be necessary to quote more than 
 one letter of his on the question. After attending a meeting in 
 London, where the Essays had been discussed with much warmth 
 of feeling, he writes to his wife as follows : 
 
 " i, St ration Street, London, May 27, 1861. . . . On my arrival 
 at the meeting I found ' Essays and Reviews ' were under condemnation. 
 
 I was sorry I was not there in time to hear B 's speech on the 
 
 question, as from what I heard incidentally and allusively from other 
 
 speakers, it must have been a good speech. I am told that C was 
 
 most violent in his anathemas. After my arrival (don't suppose I mean 
 because of it), the speeches were temperate, which I was glad of, as 
 otherwise I should have felt it right to caution the meeting not to 
 persecute what they regarded as heretical opinions into notoriety, and 
 possibly to have said something like protesting against any opinion 
 being given on the work by a large miscellaneous body, composed of 
 persons of whom probably not three were capable, either from their 
 knowledge, or mental power, or freedom from prejudice, of giving a 
 verdict worth anything. The matter, however, was closed without any 
 remark valiant or otherwise from me. I dined at the Listers', where I 
 met amongst other old friends, R. W. Fox of Falmouth ; A. Tylor ; my 
 friend Joseph Lister; and most of the family. R. W. Fox and I 
 contended that 'Essays and Reviews' had met no refutation, and 
 
 could not be scoffed down, nor easily replied to. A thought 
 
 otherwise ; but, good man ! he will not be a philosopher for a day or 
 
 two to come at least ! F was somewhat impatient, so soundly 
 
 orthodox is he. I was not sorry that he left very early, as I am quite 
 certain he is illiberal to a very remarkable degree. ... I think I 
 forgot to tell you, that I learned from Lady Lyell that the great Darwin 
 has taken a house in Hesketh Crescent" * 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " i, Stratton Street, May 28, 1861, ... I left the meeting soon 
 after six, to attend the Geographical dinner. The company was a large 
 one. Amongst those known to me were H. Rogers, R. Chambers, 
 C. Landseer, E. W. Cooke (marine artist), H. Christy, S. Gurney, 
 Murchison, King, and a few others. . . ." 
 
 "London, May 29, 1861. ... I dined with the Listers, where 
 was a large party. I got back just in time to go to a conversazione at 
 Dr. Lankester's. The scene is fairly drawn in one of the numbers of 
 
 * At Torquay.
 
 108 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. VIII. 
 
 the CornhilL Such a squeeze ! I had pleasant chats with R. Chambers, 
 Dr. Gladstone, Dr. Daniel (a great scholar and traveller), and Mr. 
 Yates. I got home soon after eleven, and found Lyell had called. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " London, June 7, 1861. This is probably the last letter I shall 
 write you from town for some time ; and indeed, this will not be com- 
 pleted here, as I intend just to put in a line at Oxford, all being well, 
 so as to say how my lecture there goes off. Before my lecture yesterday 
 I called on Dr. Bigsby, and, I hope, prevailed on him not to take any 
 steps in my individual case with the Council of the Royal Institution, 
 leaving him to do as he likes with the general question. He told me 
 my lectures had been considerably better attended than Owen's, which 
 were concluded just before mine began. My last lecture was very well 
 attended, and gave much satisfaction, I think. The cuttlefish were a 
 decided hit, and were in no way offensive. After the lecture I called 
 on Dr. and Mrs. Percy. At dinner our party was a small one of fifty ; 
 amongst them Lord Lansdowne, Lord Hanover, Fechter, Sir Roderick, 
 Wheatstone, John Young, etc. I took in Lady (Philip) Egerton, so, 
 of course, we talked of the lines in Punch. The whole affair went off 
 capitally, and I to bed at half-past one. I shall not be able to get 
 away from here before eleven to-day, which will make me later at 
 Oxford than I could wish. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Botanic Gardens^ Oxford, June 8, 1861. ... I have not much 
 to communicate, but must keep up the daily letter. Our dinner-party 
 last night was a very agreeable one. Besides the Vice-Chancellor, his 
 wife and two daughters, there were Daubeny, Professor Phillips and 
 Miss Phillips, Dr. Thompson and wife, Professor Smith, Westwood, 
 and two or three others, whose names have escaped me. This morning 
 we had at breakfast a Mr. Jenyns, well known as a naturalist, related to 
 Dr. Daubeny. 
 
 " Next I went to the Museum, saw Dr. Rolleston, the distinguished 
 physiologist, and had a long gossip with him (he is shortly to marry a 
 Miss Davy of Ambleside, daughter of Dr. Davy, and therefore niece of 
 Sir Humphry). Then I had a chat with Westwood, who is one of the 
 professors at the Museum, as is Rolleston also. Next I strolled by the 
 river, and saw the students afloat, and all the fairy-like character of 
 the river. I am writing this partly for the purpose of making known 
 these important facts, and partly for the purpose of resting myself; for, 
 truth to tell, I am indeed very tired. The Vice-Chancellor was very 
 eulogistic about my lecture, and declared there was a family likeness 
 between Phillips and myself as lecturers. We have a dinner-party 
 to-night, so I must conclude. . . ." 
 
 The deposits at Bovey Tracey were now arousing consider- 
 able attention in the scientific world ; the part which Professor 
 Heer took in the examination has already been referred to.
 
 I86o-i85i.] FOSSIL PLANTS OF BOVEY TRACEY. IO9 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "June 17, 1 86 1. ... I received your letter returning Mr. Key's; 
 but you did not acknowledge one I sent you, giving you an abstract of 
 what I had written to Professor Heer. You will see by the enclosed 
 that he has made himself a good English scholar, so that I need not 
 have written in French. I am exceedingly glad that he can come here. 
 If he goes with you to Bovey Tracey, he has such an eye for plants that 
 it will surprise me if he does not find some which have been missed. 
 
 " He has such stores of books, and herbaria, private and public, 
 and living plants in the Botanic Garden, such a public and private 
 collection of fossil plants to refer to at Zurich, that I have no doubt 
 that it will be best to send to him at once all the specimens you can, 
 and all your drawings. He will get the additional drawings done 
 cheaply, such as may be necessary. 
 
 " If he makes out what subdivision of the Lower Miocene Bovey 
 belongs to, it will indeed be a great step; already it seems to be, as 
 Gaudin said, Lower Miocene. 
 
 "As soon as he gets the specimens, he may communicate such 
 conclusions as may enable you to draw up your application of the 
 botany to the geology. 
 
 "I was afraid that Heer's numerous academical and publishing 
 engagements would have made his visit to England impossible; but, 
 fortunately, his ' Tertiary Flora ' is finished. 
 
 " The Aspidium led two geologists into that astounding blunder of 
 identifying the Carboniferous and Tertiary flora. 
 
 " When you have quite done with Heer's letter, I shall be glad of it 
 again. 
 
 " Do you not think Miss Coutts should see it ? . . . 
 
 " I should be inclined to send off at once by post a small box of 
 minute fossil seeds of Bovey, that he may see them before he leaves 
 Zurich for his tour, and may write to you, and perhaps make sug- 
 gestions." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Torquay, August 19, 1861. ... I am just back from Exeter, 
 and having an hour before bedtime will occupy at least a part of it in 
 a narrative to you. This morning I went to Exeter by first train, my 
 travelling companions being Barnes and Wolfe, the last on his way to 
 Ireland, the former off to Switzerland. At Exeter I met R. Dymond, 
 who introduced me to the Devon and Exeter Institution, where I found 
 a copy of Lyson's ' Magna Britannia,' and made a copy of the account 
 of the Bovey lignite which it contains. Whilst there I encountered 
 Mr. W. Vicary, who took me to see the gravel deposit near the Nursery 
 Garden at St. Thomas's, remarkable as a geological formation, and still 
 more since very recently ROMAN pottery has been found in it, eight feet 
 below the surface ! ! ! What changes this river plain must have under- 
 gone within even the historic period ! I do earnestly hope that this 
 matter will be followed up ; it is a fertile subject. Next, Vicary took 
 me to his house to dine; but before dinner he showed me a lot of fine
 
 IIO WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH.VIII. 
 
 fossils, found in the pebbles on the beach at Budleigh Salterton ; also a 
 very splendid series from the Greensand of Haldon ; then a series of 
 Beekites from the red conglomerate of North Tawton, sufficiently like 
 those of Torbay to show that they are Beekites, and sufficiently unlike 
 them to show that the conditions could not have been identical. Lastly, 
 and best of all the good things, he showed me unquestionable pebbles 
 of the Dartmoor Porphyritic granite, found by himself in the red 
 conglomerate of Haldon. I hope to visit the locality with him on 
 Wednesday to get some specimens, and then prepare a paper on the 
 geological age of the Dartmoor granite. Why, it is really a jolly go ! ! 
 We can now limit the age of the granite on both the ancient and the 
 modern side. It is not so old as the Carboniferous age, since it has 
 sent veins into rocks of that period ; it is more ancient than the red 
 conglomerate, Le. Triassic probably, otherwise it is Permian, since it 
 sent pebbles to help to form the said conglomerate. Hence between the 
 Carboniferous and Triassic (if it be Triassic), that is, during the Permian 
 age, by no means supposed to be one of our long periods, there was 
 time enough for the granite to be formed and the rocks which MUST have 
 covered it, probably several miles thick, to be stripped off, so that the 
 granite was exposed at the surface ; or if the red rocks be Permian, then 
 between it and the Carboniferous era a vast period of time must have 
 elapsed, and this time is totally unrecognized in the chronological 
 series of the geologist. What an astounding, an overwhelming value it 
 sets on geological units in even the first case ! I must bring this matter 
 before the scientific world, and must do justice to Vicary in the case. 
 
 " Well, then we dined, and next to the Guildhall to see the Mayor 
 and Corporation receive the [Archaeological] Association. First came 
 the Mace-bearers, then the Sword-bearer with a marvellous hat presented 
 to the City by Henry VII., then the Mayor shook hands with Sir 
 Stafford Northcote the President, and Mr. Pettigrew the Treasurer, then 
 he asked us to take refreshment, which we did in the Council Chamber, 
 after which we went in a body to the Subscription Rooms, and Sir 
 Stafford delivered an excellent extempore address. This over, we went 
 round the City to see the fragments of the City Wall still in existence. 
 I fraternized with Pettigrew and Wright the Antiquary, whom I had met 
 before. I had to reach home that evening, so could not attend the 
 evening meeting, which I much regretted. . . ." 
 
 Pengetty to his Wife. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, August 22, 1861. . . . Yesterday morning 
 I took first train to Exeter, found Vicary and his carriage awaiting me 
 at the station, drove to Haldon, found and extracted granitic pebbles 
 in the red conglomerates, studied the greensand that caps the hill 
 until my heart ached to think of the thousand thousand questions which 
 forced themselves before me, and which I felt sure I shall never live to 
 answer, and my mental eyes ached at looking so far into the abyss of 
 antiquity. Drove back to Exeter to dinner with Vicary. Took a stroll 
 in Veitch's garden and then home, to find a letter from Lyell, inclosing 
 one from Heer, in French, which states that Bovey has yielded forty- 
 five distinct species (hip ! hip ! hurrah ! ! Again ! again ! again ! !
 
 i86o-iS6i.] ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION AT EXETER. Ill 
 
 Three cheers more ! ! For he's a jolly good fellow), decidedly Miocene.* 
 This morning I received a letter from Wright the Antiquary, proposing 
 that I should accompany him to Brixham Cavern. I put off several 
 lessons, then to the station just in time to see the train go off. So I 
 came home to work at my paper, and then at Tor Abbey to meet the 
 Archaeologists, got there at half-past two, and after waiting an hour they 
 arrived, but so much after time that the Abbey had to be scamped ; 
 down came the rain. Then home to work, and the Archaeologists to 
 the Hotel to dine. . . ." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyellto Pengelly. 
 
 " August 21, 1861. . . . I send you Heer's most interesting and 
 satisfactory dispatch, which I shall be glad to have again when you 
 have digested its contents. Not that I mean to forestall him and you, 
 for I shall have only room for a sentence or two about Bovey, but there 
 are several points in answer to queries of mine which I must again refer 
 to. I only got Heer's letter this morning, and I sent an abstract of the 
 leading results to Miss Coutts, thinking it right that she should know, not 
 only how fruitful your labours have been, but also that Heer, following 
 our instructions, has employed his artists largely on the forty-five species 
 (!) already made out. The Sequoia Coitttsitz is a good hit, as it is so 
 abundant, and furnished the lignite. 
 
 " I congratulate you on the prospect of Heer's visit to Torquay in 
 the middle of next month. You see, he will be here 3151 August, and 
 stay here ten or twelve days. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Lamorna, August 26, 1861. . . . I hasten to acknowledge the 
 receipt of yours just to hand, I seem to be always writing, and cannot 
 see my way to a moment's leisure, hence I fear my letters to you have 
 probably a hurried aspect. I begin to doubt whether I shall ever over- 
 take my work. . . . Well, well, it will all be over some day, and some 
 other person wijl be puzzled with the problem which puzzles me, to wit, 
 4 is there any real advantage in having a restless, active mind? ' . . ." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "August 26, 1 86 1. . . . Many thanks for returning Heer, to 
 whom I must write to-day at poste-restante, Paris. I see by the papers 
 that Miss Coutts is gone to the Continent 
 
 " Next to finding fossils to show whether the red conglomerate is 
 Permian or Trias, the granite pebbles are valuable. You remember 
 I inquired whether you had seen any. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Torquay, August 29, 1861. ... I saw the case of the Swiss 
 Guides some days ago ; it is very interesting, and proves that Forbes 
 
 * The important fact that these species were later on determined to be Eocene, 
 by Mr. S. Gardner, is mentioned at the beginning of this Chapter.
 
 112 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH.VIII. 
 
 (James, not Edward, remember) has real knowledge respecting the 
 laws, if not the cause, of Glacial Motion. We have knowledge when 
 we can predict, but not else, I think. The fossils are just back from 
 Zurich. I have not opened the box, and do not think of doing so before 
 I get back from Manchester. ' For Better for Worse ' is finished and 
 most charmingly. ' Philip ' is going on well under Thackeray's unmis- 
 takable guidance." 
 
 During September, 1861, the British Association met at 
 Manchester. Pengelly attended the meeting as usual, and had 
 the pleasure of being accompanied by his wife. He read the 
 following papers at the Geological Section : " A New Bone-cave 
 at Brixham," " The Recent Encroachments of the Sea on the 
 Shores of Torbay," " The Relative Age of the Petherwin and 
 Barnstaple Beds," " The Age of the Granites at Dartmoor." 
 
 Section " C " was that year ably presided over by Sir 
 Roderick Murchison. 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "September 4, 1861. ... I spoke to Professor Heer about Miss 
 Coutts' message. . . . 
 
 "He has arranged with Sir. R. I. Murchison that the drawers of 
 mull plants should be open to him, though the Jermyn St. Museum is 
 closed, and he is to visit that and the British Museum to-day and 
 to-morrow. He has plenty to do, and will, I expect, find among the 
 fruits and seeds in the Museum at Kew, some which will throw light 
 on the fossils. Dr. Hooker has told me when he can see them. 
 
 " He will be much more prepared by his stay here to do the Bovey 
 business well. 
 
 " I am sorry to say Heer has a cold, and must take great care of 
 himself. He has always had a consumptive tendency, and for that 
 reason went to Madeira, as I think I told you. Heer's address is 
 'Swiss House Hotel, Golden Square, London.' When you know on 
 what day you will join him, pray write to him. . . ." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "September 22, 1861. ... I confess I was surprised to hear that 
 Professor Heer could be two hours in your collection and find no 
 additional species. It shows how well you chose the set you sent to 
 Zurich, and how good an eye you had acquired for nice botanical 
 distinctions. 
 
 " You will be glad to hear that Dr. Hooker is much struck with the 
 work which Heer has done in the Bovey Coal plants. He pronounced 
 quite an eloge on it. 
 
 " Will you be so good as to give me notice when Heer will be in 
 town, and tell him Dr. Hooker wishes him to come again to Kew. He 
 -{Dr. H.) has also sent me some specimens of the seeds of Platanus
 
 i86o-i86i.] SIR C. LYELL ON PROFESSOR HEER'S WORK. 113 
 
 orientalis, and Platanus acerifolia, as bearing on a point discussed with 
 Heer, which I want to show him, and talk over. Please mention this. 
 
 " I have heard from M. Gaudin from Bex. He was to return to 
 Lausanne in time to see Miss Coutts. 
 
 " I hope that Professor Heer's health has not suffered, and that the 
 cold which he took away with him from London has not continued to 
 plague him. . . ." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "September 28, 1861. ... It is very remarkable that Professor 
 Heer failed to detect any new species in your collection, which you had 
 certainly mastered the contents of very thoroughly. 
 
 " I am glad you advanced the money which you allude to. 
 
 " As to reading a paper, I know of no way but writing to the 
 Secretary, Dr. Sharpey ; you may say I recommended you to do so, and 
 to ask when you can have an evening, or part of one. As to Heer not 
 being ready, it will do if he sends in such sketches as will enable them 
 to make rough estimates of the cost, and then the plates can be 
 engraved at Zurich, and more correct drawings used. 
 
 " Most of Heer's paper will never be read, and might remain 
 untranslated till later. 
 
 " You could not have had three more eminent men to show your 
 rocks to than the three Swiss * who were with you. 
 
 " If you could enable me to write to Professor Heer, I should be 
 glad of an address, to send to him a message from Dr. Hooker before 
 he gets here ; but if you do not know, you need not write. ..." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 " October 9, 1861. ... I have this day sent you the plates and 
 manuscript of Professor Heer's paper, which he gave me charge of 
 when he left London, and begged me to send it to you immediately, 
 and to say that a small part of the translation he had not time to add 
 in his handwriting, but you will find it given in Mr. Earle's manuscript, 
 which is sent 
 
 " I need not say that I shall be honoured by having to communicate 
 such memoirs. I am truly glad it is to come on so soon. I meant to 
 be at Barton at Sir C. Bunbury's, but must arrange to stay here till 
 2ist, so you must accept their offer and gain time. 
 
 " As soon as it is printed it may be distributed privately before the 
 volume is out. . . . 
 
 " Instead of fifteen to twenty species Heer has described 
 
 "Forty-nine Miocene, 
 
 " Four Post-pliocene. . . . 
 
 " Mr. Key of Newton Abbott has sent in his paper, with numerous 
 detailed sections, which I have communicated to the Geological 
 Society. They are very good, and will probably show some details 
 different from yours. 
 
 " I invited him to contribute his information to you and Heer, but 
 this he declined. . . ." 
 
 * Oswald Heer, Escher-von-der-Linth, and Peter Merian. 
 
 I
 
 114 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH.VIII. 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengdly. 
 
 " October 13, 1861. . . . I mentioned to you in a former letter 
 how much Dr. Hooker has been struck with the able manner in which 
 Professor Heer had executed his task, in getting drawings and descrip- 
 tions made of the Bovey Tracey fossils. The plates are certainly 
 beautiful, so admirably arranged and instructive. Dr. Hooker went 
 so far as to say that it would be well for us, after the publication of 
 Heer's paper, to consider whether we might not at the Geological 
 Society award the Wollaston Medal to Heer, for having so clearly 
 settled the age of the Bovey lignite, and given so good a botanical 
 account of the British flora of that Older Miocene epoch. We must, 
 of course, say nothing about the medal at present, but I shall not 
 forget the hint 
 
 " When I was last with Heer at Kew, Dr. Thomson, who has had 
 charge of the Government Botanical Garden at Calcutta, and is the 
 author of important works on the Indian flora, assisted us in comparing 
 the plants of the rich herbarium at Kew with Heer's fossils, and 
 Thomson told me he was much delighted with the knowledge of living 
 plants which Heer showed. Sir William Hooker also looked over the 
 twenty-one plates on the Bovey coal flora, and Dr. Booth, the botanist, 
 has seen Sir William since, who spoke in great praise of the drawings 
 and of Heer. His whole journey has been very successful. . . . 
 
 " It would certainly be more convenient to me if your paper and 
 Heer's were read one week later than the day you mention. If 
 you can so arrange it with Mr. Stokes, please to let me hear from 
 you, and I will make a point of attending at the Royal Society 28th 
 November. ..." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 " October 26, 1861. . . . William is gone over to Bovey this 
 afternoon with the two Savans. Professor Heer speaks very little 
 English. He found a few small leaves new to him, but had not time 
 to go down into the pit. One of the leaves was myrtle. He has 
 found nearly fifty species in the fossils William sent him, some very 
 interesting ones. He is accompanied by a clergyman named Earle, 
 from Bath, a friend of his, and an excellent German scholar, having 
 also a profound knowledge of Anglo-Saxon. 
 
 " On Saturday Professor Escher dined with us (as well as Professor 
 Heer and Mr. Earle). I enjoyed his company extremely. He gave 
 us a great deal of interesting information respecting the Lake-dwellings 
 in Switzerland, to which he has been devoting himself with much 
 ardour. He drew me a plan of them, and also drew me some of the 
 flint implements. Another day the two professors, with the addition 
 of Professor Merian, all came to spend the day with us. ... They 
 took leave with innumerable bows, thanks, and protestations; they 
 laugh and say they are ' Land-rats.' William says he thought he 
 should never have got them away from ' Hope's Nose,' they were so 
 astonished and delighted with everything they saw. William is very 
 much engaged getting his paper on the Bovey Coal ready to read 
 before the Royal Society in November. . . ."
 
 i86o-i86ij SHERIDAN KNOWLES AT TORQUAY. 11$ 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "November 5, 1861. ... I have answered all the queries in the 
 annexed except No. 6. I cannot offer to make the abstract, being 
 much driven for time, and I am in the press and must be out by a 
 certain month, or miss the season and a year. But if you will send 
 up any part of Heer's MS. which you have any difficulty with, it shall 
 be immediately returned with the passages written out as I understand 
 them. My wife is accustomed to Heer's writing in French, German, 
 and English, and will help. 
 
 " I will also help in any way I can, on points where you feel 
 responsibility. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 " November soth. . . . William read his paper before the Royal 
 Society on the Bovey Explorations, and it was very well received. I 
 wish you could have seen some of the drawings, they were so beauti- 
 fully done. One beetle's wing was discovered. 
 
 "We had a delightful letter from Professor Heer a week or two 
 since, enclosing a photograph, in which the three professors are depicted 
 in a group, and underneath the following lines, which amused us very 
 much, and showed more knowledge of English than we expected 
 
 " ' See, my good friend Lamornian,* 
 How Escher, Heer, and Merian, 
 United strong in heart and hand, 
 Go travelling to Britain's land.' 
 
 "William is delighted with it, and so is Sir Charles Lyell, who says 
 he shall not rest till he gets one. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "November, 1861. . . . We had a delightful call a few days since 
 from Sheridan Knowles, who sat a good while chatting and telling us 
 many interesting incidents of his past life. He is an old friend of 
 William's, and is looking for a house here, on account of the climate, 
 as he has become exceedingly infirm. He is very serious. He told 
 me he was offered ^500 lately to write a tale for a Magazine; but he 
 refused, thinking ' that, having put his hand to the plough, he ought not 
 to look back.' Speaking of his Plays, he said, ' there is something very- 
 good in the Public after all, for that sentiment (which he read us) on 
 Procrastination has never yet been repeated in the Theatre without 
 bringing down thunders of applause ; ' but you should have heard him 
 read it, it was very fine. ..." 
 
 Pengelly continued to enjoy taking geological expeditions 
 from time to time, and thus relates some of the adventures which 
 he encountered in the course of his rambles. 
 
 * In reference to the name of Pengelly 's house, "Lamorna."
 
 Il6 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. VIII. 
 
 " It is unnecessary to say that geologists are frequently trespassers 
 on other men's lands. Sometimes they remain in happy ignorance of 
 the fact ; but, when it is made known to them, they generally find the 
 simple statement that they are geologists and strangers sufficient to 
 secure a free passage. Occasionally, however, the battle is not so 
 easily won ; but, if it is ever lost, it may, in all probability, be ascribed 
 to defective tactics. 
 
 " A tempting cliff having once detained a companion and myself, 
 so long as to render it improbable that we should reach a neighbouring 
 railway station in time for the last train to the town whither we were 
 going, we committed the trespass of walking on the railway, by which 
 the distance would be shortened by fully one-half. When within 
 sight of the station our way was barred by a stop-gate, at a point 
 where the common road crossed the rails. The gate-keeper who 
 presented himself, possessed a countenance so far from assuring as to 
 satisfy me that he would, at least, turn us back. Resolved, however, 
 to make a push for it, I addressed him thus 
 
 " ' Of course, you have the power to turn us back, if you like to do 
 so ; and, though we shall lose the train and be put to great inconveni- 
 ence, we will retrace our steps at once, if you say we must. If, how- 
 ever, I can read faces, you are much too good-natured a fellow to do 
 anything of the kind. Which shall it be ? ' 
 
 " ' Well, sir,' he replied, ' I'll open the gate for you this time ; but 
 don't trespass again. And let me say that, though I like a little butter, 
 I hate grease? 
 
 " * Thank you,' said I. And we passed through. 
 
 " ' I think you're checkmated, old fellow,' said my companion. 
 
 " ' Never mind that. Whether butter or grease, it did the work I 
 intended.' 
 
 " A friend and I once spent a good deal of time, in studying a very 
 long and fine cliff section of the Keuper, or Upper New Red Sandstone. 
 We had proceeded in the direction of the Dip, until we had reason to 
 believe that the famous Bone Bed was so near at hand that a short 
 distance farther would bring it to the level of the beach, so that we 
 should be able to investigate it easily. Unfortunately, however, before 
 this point was reached, the entire section was concealed by the debris 
 of a great and famous landslip, which extended a considerable distance 
 along the coast. There was nothing for it, but to ascend the cliff at 
 the first point at which a path could be extemporized, and to seek 
 the outcrop of the bed at the summit. Having gained the top of the 
 cliff, we found it necessary to cross a hedge, on which I accordingly 
 got, and was about to descend on the other side, when a gentleman 
 standing just below me, and whom we had not previously seen, 
 said 
 
 " ' You can't come here ! ' 
 
 '"Why not?' 
 
 " ' This is my property ; and I allow no trespassing.' 
 
 " ' Is the land on this side your property also ? ' 
 
 " ' No ; that belongs to .' 
 
 " ' Well, I'm very sorry ; but it can't be helped.' 
 
 "Then, turning to my companion, I remarked
 
 1860-1861.] GEOLOGICAL TRESPASSERS. 117 
 
 " ' We must give up the search, that's all.' 
 
 "And I jumped back to the ground I had just left intending, 
 nevertheless, to get permission to cross the hedge, and, if possible, to 
 find the stratum we were seeking. 
 
 " The owner of the adjoining land walked leisurely away from the 
 cliff, keeping near the hedge which separated us ; and we did the same 
 thing on the other side. 
 
 " At length I ventured to say to him 
 
 " ' Allow me, sir, to congratulate you on your property ; and pardon 
 my adding that I really envy you as you are the fortunate proprietor 
 of the Bone Bed: 
 
 "The question was asked in a tone and manner that showed a 
 desire for information on it ; and I proceeded to explain the leading 
 characteristics of the stratum, its position in the geological series, and 
 the chief fossils it yielded. It was obvious that our new acquaintance 
 had some knowledge of geology, and that he was interested in the 
 statements to which he had listened. We accordingly felt that he was 
 disarmed, and would speedily strike. Having put a few pertinent 
 questions on the subject, he pointed out a comparatively low part of 
 the hedge, and said 
 
 " ' I think you can cross there, without doing any harm. I wish 
 you good luck in your search for the Bone Bed. Good day.' 
 
 " ' Good day, and thank you.' 
 
 " With this he left us. We returned to the cliff, were very soon on 
 the Bone Bed^ and extracted a large number of fossils from it 
 
 "On one occasion, the discovery of fossils of a remarkable and 
 interesting character in a new locality, tempted me to prolong my 
 search to a later hour than I intended. At length, just before sunset, 
 I started to walk to my temporary home fully eight miles distant. 
 Being familiar with the country, I knew that by crossing a couple of 
 fields, at least a mile would be saved. That this had been frequently 
 done, a well-worn path assured me; and that it was a trespass was 
 rendered equally clear by an announcement to that effect on a board 
 erected on a pole, at the point where I diverged from the highway. 
 I had almost cleared the distance, when, to my dismay, the farmer who 
 occupied the land a thorough John Bull was standing in the path 
 awaiting me. Putting a bold face on the matter, I marched on, as if 
 his presence in no way affected me, until well within earshot, when he 
 roared 
 
 " * You must go back ! ' 
 
 "'Go back! Why?' 
 
 " ' You're trespassing.' 
 
 " ' Trespassing ! I'm extremely sorry.' 
 
 " ' Sorry ! Yes, I reckon. You know you're trespassing. Sorry, 
 eh!' 
 
 " ' What makes you say so ? ' 
 
 ' ' Dedn't 'ee zee the board back there? ' 
 ' I saw the board on the pole, if you mean that.' 
 
 " ' Ees, I do mean that. I know'd you a zid en safe enough. Ded 
 'ee read what's upon en ? '
 
 llS WILLIAM PENGELLV. [Cn. VIII. 
 
 " ' My dear sir, pardon my saying so, but are you not going too 
 fast ? Should you not first prove that I can read ? ' 
 
 " Oh ! oh ! that's good, that es ! A man like you not able to read ! 
 Oh ! oh ! that's uncommon good. Beats cock-fighting all to fits. 
 Oh ! oh ! ' and his sides shook with laughter. 
 
 "Having succeeded in making him laugh, I knew he would not 
 turn me back ; so I said 
 
 " ' I have to go to L to-night ; and that, as you know, is a long 
 
 step. Nevertheless, I'll go back at once if you insist on it; but if 
 you'll allow me to go on, I shall feel much obliged.' 
 
 " ' Well, I don't s'pose you'll do much harm, zo you may go on now 
 you've got zo var ; but 'tez uncommon hard to have a lot of trespassers 
 'pon your ground day arter day. Ees, you may go on now.' 
 
 " ' Thank you very much. Good evening.' > 
 
 "When I had got some distance from him, he shouted after me 
 
 '"Holloa! I say!' 
 
 " ' What is it ? ' 
 
 " ' B'ant you a Methoday passon ? ' 
 
 " ' Oh dear, no. You flatter me too much.' 
 
 "I presume that he felt he had lost the battle, and had sent his 
 question after me as a parting shot." 
 
 When on these rambles, Pengelly often cultivated his chance 
 companions on the road, in the hope of obtaining insight into 
 local beliefs and superstitions. He thus describes one of his 
 conversations 
 
 " During one of my visits to the famous granite pile known as the 
 Cheesering, near Liskeard in Cornwall, I remarked to a man at work 
 hard by 
 
 " ' The Cheesering's very wonderful. Does anybody in the district 
 know how it came here, and got piled up, in that strange way ? ' 
 
 " ' Oh, by all accounts, 'twas washed there by the flood.' 
 
 "I thought, but didn't say, 'Oh, you ill-used, over-worked flood, 
 what labours are assigned to you ! ' " 
 
 In spite of much healthy out-of-door life, Pengelly was never 
 at any time a good sleeper, but he bore this inconvenience with 
 his customary cheerfulness, and even professed to have found 
 a remedy for it. A friend who knew him intimately sent the 
 biographer the following recipe against insomnia in Pengelly's 
 own words. 
 
 " One day I was introduced to young De Morgan, son of the well- 
 known Professor De Morgan. I said to him 
 
 " ' Mr. De Morgan, I am delighted to make your acquaintance, for I 
 am so much indebted to your father for his book on " Formal Logic." ' 
 
 " I noticed that the young man seemed confused and puzzled what 
 to say. At last he replied
 
 i86o-i86i.] VALUE OF DE MORGAN'S FORMAL LOGIC. 1 19 
 
 " ' Well, Mr. Pengelly, to tell you the truth, I have never read my 
 father's book on "Formal Logic."' 
 
 " ' Neither have I,' was my answer ; ' but the facts of the case are 
 these. I am sometimes troubled with sleeplessness. I keep your 
 father's book on a shelf in my bedroom, and when I am restless at 
 night, I get it down and begin to study it. Before I have got through 
 five pages I am fast asleep. So I may well consider myself indebted 
 to your father for that book.' "
 
 I2O WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. IX. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 GEOLOGICAL LECTURES AT NORWICH ; THE FOUNDATION 
 OF THE DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION. 
 
 EARLY PART OF 1862. 
 
 DURING the winter holidays, January, 1862, Pengelly delivered 
 a course of Geological Lectures at Norwich, of which he gives 
 some account in his home letters. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " The Close, Norwich, January 15, 1862. The journey here was in 
 no way remarkable, nor the country interesting. The only thing which 
 struck me was Ely Cathedral, which is a striking object, and stands 
 well. The lecture was largely attended. I do not think I was very 
 successful, and the audience by no means uproarious in their applause. 
 A party to supper very pleasant. To-day I give to seeing the town. I 
 hope you will not have any great trouble about sending off the box of 
 specimens to Heer at Zurich." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " i6M. Yesterday Mr. Compton called and took Mrs. Crowther 
 and myself to the Museum, which is a good though not a local one. 
 The collection of birds from every part of the world a hobby of J. H. 
 Gurney is excellent in every way, all but perfect. The collection of 
 mammalian, especially elephantine, remains, is capital. In the after- 
 noon I went on a voyage of exploration through the town, and wrote 
 to Heer." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "The Close, Norwich, January 18, 1862. . . . Yesterday I had a 
 second nice ramble in the neighbourhood. Tell Trotty I saw thirteen 
 great windmills all working away at once. We had a party here last 
 night before the lecture, which brought me an invitation from a Mr. 
 Jessopp * (head master of the Grammar School, of which Mr. Crowther, 
 
 * The Rev. Dr. Jessopp, author of 'The Coming of the Friars," and other works.
 
 I862.J GEOLOGICAL LECTURES AT NORWICH. 121 
 
 with whom I am now staying, is the second master) to stay at his house 
 during my second week, and from Mr. Field for my third week. 
 
 " The lecture hall last night was densely packed. I was listened to 
 with great attention, and all seemed greatly pleased. They are not an 
 applausive people, but so pleased were they, that they talk of asking me 
 to give twenty-four lectures; but of course I can do nothing of the 
 kind ! I think I lectured well ; but I also think I have lectured better. 
 I am getting very lazy, not up until nine in the morning. It is very 
 cold." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " The Close, Norwich, January igth. ... I could not very con- 
 veniently get off a letter to you this morning, hence I have two days' 
 journal to write. Yesterday, in the thick of breakfast, came my unshaven 
 friend I mentioned in a former letter, to take me for a walk, etc. Mr. 
 Crowther had previously arranged for me to call on a clergyman who 
 had promised to show me some of the chalk-pits in his neighbourhood ; 
 this being communicated to my friend B , he volunteered to accom- 
 pany me, and we accordingly started. The clergyman joined us, and I 
 saw several good ' sandpipes ' and ' potstones,' both of which puzzled 
 
 me much. We, the trio, then started under B 's (the unshaven 
 
 one's) guidance to see some of the principal antiquities in the place ; 
 they are interesting, but not pictorial in any way. The town has no 
 architectural pretensions of any kind, and is, indeed, of a mean appear- 
 ance. We then started for Caistor Castle, a fine old Roman ruin ; it 
 must have been a large and strong place. Nothing now remains but 
 the outer walls, which are all but entirely covered by greensward. On 
 the way I picked up what I believe to be a flint implement among a 
 
 heap of flints, for road repairs. We returned to B 's to tea, where 
 
 we were joined by Mr. Miller, his wife and daughter. Having passed a 
 pleasant evening, I returned to my quarters accompanied by my friend, 
 who, though rough, is extremely kind and intelligent, as well as 
 hospitable. ... I suppose I shall go to Mr. Jessopp's on Tuesday. I 
 have been extremely comfortable, and very much at home with Mr. and 
 Mrs. Crowther, both of whom are extremely kind. . . ." 
 
 The flint implement mentioned in the last letter was submitted 
 for examination to Mr. [now Sir John] Evans, F.R.S., etc., 
 undoubtedly the highest authority on this subject. Two letters 
 concerning it were received from him some months later, but 
 for the sake of the continuity of the subject, they are given now. 
 
 John Evans, to Pengdly. 
 
 " Nash Mills, Hemel Hemp sted, June 4, 1862. It is some time since 
 I saw a flint implement, which I was informed had been found by you 
 on a heap of stones near Norwich ; but my impression is that it was 
 not shown me by Dr. Falconer. I should like to see it again before 
 giving any decided opinion upon it; but as far as I remember (i) it 
 certainly was an implement, but (2) not of the Drift period, but rather 
 an unfinished or u/iground celt of the so-called Stone period, of which
 
 122 WILLIAM PEN CELL Y. [Cn. IX. 
 
 (3) specimens are found all over England, but about which (4) I should 
 like to refresh my memory before making any very solemn affidavit. If 
 it is in London, I would look at it again ; or if not, you could perhaps 
 send me a rough sketch of it. I am off into the north for a week or 
 ten days on Friday, so do not be surprised at not receiving a very speedy 
 answer to your letter, should you write. I hope to send you by this 
 post an account of some of the further discoveries of the implements in 
 the Drift, and also a few copies of a plate of their various forms, which 
 I hope may be useful for distribution, so that people may know what to 
 look out for. If ever I can be of the slightest use to you, pray don't 
 scruple to write to me." 
 
 John Evans to Pengelly. 
 
 "Nash Mills, Hemel Hempsted, June 18, 1862. I arrived at home 
 last night, and take the first opportunity of giving you my opinion, 
 valeat quantum, about the flint implement you found in Norfolk. I 
 have examined it carefully, and the conclusion at which I arrive is that 
 it does not belong to the Drift period, but that it must be classed among 
 the implements of the so-called Stone period. The general form is very 
 much that of the ordinary stone ' celt,' adapted for cutting at the broad 
 end ; a portion, however, of the edge has been broken or worn away. 
 I am not sure whether there are not some traces of its having been 
 ground on some parts of its surface, especially just below 'Caistor' on 
 the label, where there seems to be a tongue of polished surface between 
 the places where two chips have been struck off. Judging from the 
 appearance, I should say that the 'celt' had been lying upon or near 
 the surface for a considerable time in rather a sandy soil. It seems to 
 be altered superficially to a considerable depth, and the numerous rusty 
 marks upon it testify to its having frequently been brought into contact 
 with the plough and harrow, whose rude assaults its tough constitution 
 has enabled it to withstand. I have packed it up and sent it to London, 
 to be forwarded by Great Western Rail to Torquay, and hope it will 
 reach you safely. Some time, when you are coming up to London, I 
 wish you would arrange to run down here for a night. I have several 
 things that I think would interest you, and my collection of the Drift 
 implements is now very extensive, to say nothing of those of the later 
 Stone period. With many thanks for the sight of your specimen." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wtfe. 
 
 "The Close, Norwich, January zist. . . . Yesterday I went to 
 breakfast with a Mr. Crompton, once a Unitarian Minister, a brother- 
 in-law of George Dawson's. Mr. and Mrs. Crompton took me a long 
 walk to a village named Thorpe (taking an artesian well by the way), 
 where I had an opportunity of seeing the Norwich Crag for the first 
 time, It is just a bed of millions of shells, most of them recent species. 
 I thought of making a collection, but the remembrance of over-gorged 
 drawers at home flashed before me. I am glad, nevertheless, to have seen 
 them. We dropped in at a charming place and took luncheon, as we 
 quite intended to do. . . . I am very happy here, but shall be very glad 
 to get home. . . ."
 
 1862.] GUEST OF THE REV. DR. JESSOPP. I2J 
 
 Pengelfy to his Wife. 
 
 "Rev. A.Jessopp's, Cathedral Close, Norwich, January 22, 1862. . . . 
 I have now passed my first day here, and am quite at home. My stories 
 help me amazingly. I have done but little to-day. Yesterday I left 
 a card on Sedgwick, who is Canon of this Cathedral ; to-day I have 
 received a note from him stating that he was unable to call on me, as 
 he had to leave by an early train. In the afternoon I took Mr. and Mrs. 
 Jessopp to the spot where I found my flint implement, which is really 
 making a sensation, but we had not the good luck to find another. This 
 evening Mr. Firth, a leading surgeon here whom I had previously met, 
 called on me to offer to take me to Cromer in his carriage, in order to 
 see the cliffs. I do not know how it will eventuate, as I have scarcely a 
 day open for it Mr. Firth and some others subsequently came in to 
 spend the evening, and a merry one we certainly had. I really never 
 saw anything so truly hospitable as the Norwich people are." 
 
 Professor Sedgwick was now a great invalid, as the following 
 extract from one of his letters will show. 
 
 " Wednesday, 7 a.m., January 22, 1862. ... I am grieved much 
 that I cannot call on you, but I am packing, and about to start by an 
 early train for Cambridge. Some one told me that you are about to 
 give lectures here. Had I remained I could not have attended them 
 in consequence of the condition of my head. Thank God, by complete 
 rest I am much better ; but I am going back to attend an examination, 
 which I greatly dread. On your way back you will, I hope, make a 
 halt at Cambridge, and I shall be very glad to show you my 
 museum. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Rev. A.Jessopfis, Norwich, January 22, 1862. ... I have done 
 next to nothing to-day besides delivering my third lecture ; the audience 
 very large, and my lecture of two hours' duration was listened to with 
 very marked attention. Mr. Gunn,* a clergyman of this district, well 
 known as a geologist, called to-day and has arranged to take me home 
 with him, some ten miles off, after my lecture next Friday, and to keep 
 me there until Tuesday, when I return for my fourth lecture. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " The Close, Norwich, January 24, 1862. . . . This morning I 
 went to Yarmouth, and saw that dear fellow ' the Sea.' I was delighted 
 to see him, and he capered and bounded right rampantly. My audience 
 to-night was an enormous one. Mr. Gunn and Mr. King were both there. 
 Mr. Firth, the surgeon, takes me over to Cromer to-morrow, where Mr. 
 Gunn joins us, and on Monday Mr. King is to join us also. . . . Nothing 
 can be kinder than the Jessopps. Excuse haste, it is near midnight, 
 and I have to be up at six. . . ." 
 
 * The Rev. John Gunn, M.A., who died May 28, 1890, at the age of 88.
 
 124 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. IX. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Cramer, Noi-folk, January 26, 1862. . . . Dr. Firth and his son 
 took me from Norwich yesterday about nine, and by aid of their 
 fine pair of horses brought me here soon after one. As soon as possible 
 we took another pair of horses and got to Weybourne, where one of the 
 Ocean Telegraphs plunges into the sea ; but what shall I say of the in- 
 terminable beach of flints ? What an awful amount of time must have 
 been spent in denuding the vast body of chalk in which the now liberated 
 flints formerly reposed. We walked under the cliff about four miles 
 and saw some of the finest sections in the world, sections of ' Drift ' con- 
 taining mountains of fragments of chalk transported from afar, yet quite 
 angular. It was really overwhelming in the questions which it suggested. 
 We then returned here to a late dinner, and, that meal over, we had a visit 
 from a blind Captain Wyndham, brother of the General,* a Mr. Birch 
 surgeon here, and a Captain King of the Coast Guard. We remain 
 here to-night, and all being well, reach Norwich to-morrow night. This 
 must be a charming place in the summer. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Norwich, January 27, 1862. . . . Yesterday we had a very 
 pleasant walk in the neighbourhood of Cromer, and saw much 
 geological fact which will, I think, long live in my memory. It is 
 scarcely possible to conceive of the all but endless number of merchant 
 ships constantly passing along the coast. I think I never had so great 
 an idea of Britain's Commercial Marine. This morning we left about 
 ten for Mundsley, a village on the coast, where we spent an hour ; 
 then on to Happisburgh, where we remained four hours ; in this period 
 we walked to Eccles to see the remnant of a church which the sea 
 has taken possession of. 
 
 " Next we dined, and then drove home, Mr. Firth taking me to his 
 house to lodge. I have very greatly enjoyed my turn out, indeed it is 
 one of the most prominent of the many pleasing things with which this 
 lecture engagement has been associated, but I shall be delighted to get 
 home again. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Mr. Field's, Surrey Street, Norwich, January 28, 1862. . . . 
 On going, to-day, to Mr. Jessopp's I found a letter from Alfred. He 
 gives a good account of himself. At one o'clock I attended the annual 
 meeting of the Norfolk Archaeological Society, and was drawn out 
 to make a statement about the Brixham Cavern. On going to Mr. 
 Jessopp's for a dinner-party given in my honour I found your welcome 
 letter and enclosure from Heer. I am glad the parcel has come from 
 Heer. We had Mr. Gunn and Mr. King at dinner, with some others. 
 There was a great crowd at my lecture on the Antiquity of the Earth. 
 It excited much interest, and I was greatly cheered : the subject seems 
 entirely new to them. After the lecture I came here (Mr. Field's) for 
 
 * An old friend.
 
 1862.J NORFOLK GEOLOGISTS BABBAGE'S TROUBLES. 12$ 
 
 the first time. I never saw people so hospitable as they are here ; they 
 never seem to think they have done enough for one. I conclude now, 
 as I have very little time, it being near midnight, and I have to be up 
 very early. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Norwich , January 29, 1862. . . . This morning Mr. Field and 
 I were up early, got some coffee, and drove off to breakfast with Mr, 
 King at Saxlingham, where we arrived about 9.30, in time to see the 
 drawing-room fire lighted, and to welcome the family down as they 
 successively descended from their dormitories. When all assembled, 
 there were Mr. and Mrs. King, and their daughter, and Mr. Walpole. 
 Mrs. King is as enthusiastic a geologist as her husband, as is their 
 daughter also, a girl about twelve years old. Mr. Walpole is the 
 brother of the Earl of Orford. We spent the greater part of the day 
 looking over Mr. King's capital collection of Norfolk fossils, in which 
 are some unique mammalian remains. After luncheon we went to 
 see a few chalk pits, and then home to dinner. In the evening there 
 was a party and a good deal of pleasant chat. I am getting very 
 desirous of returning home, which really seems ungrateful, as nothing 
 can be kinder than the people are to me ; but still home is home, and 
 I hope to see it and all its dear inmates, in about seventy-two hours 
 from this ; it is now about midnight. . . ." 
 
 The last letter is good evidence that, in the midst of congenial 
 scenes, hospitable entertainment, and the pressure of continuous 
 work, Pengelly's thoughts and longings turned constantly home- 
 wards. Although extremely fond of society, he was not of that 
 temperament which causes a man to find one place as good as- 
 another. The scientific meetings in London attracted him 
 strongly, but in a letter to his wife he speaks of being glad that 
 he has not to live there, as, in that case, he fears he would 
 be less master of his own time, and thereby debarred from her 
 society. When away, scarcely anything was allowed to interfere 
 with his daily letter home. His aged mother (now a widow) 
 paid him and his wife long visits every year. Although she was 
 naturally very proud of her son's scientific work and attain- 
 ments, she felt too nervous ever to go and hear him lecture at 
 Torquay. 
 
 The following letter from Babbage, gives an example of the 
 unfortunate position, in which a scientific man is placed, when, 
 he has a reason to believe that his discoveries are unjustly 
 claimed by or assigned to others. 
 
 C. Babbage to Pengelly. 
 
 " Dorset Street, Manchester Square, May 27, 1862. ... I enclose 
 copy of the abstract of my papers on the ' Action of Ocean Currents.'
 
 126 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. IX. 
 
 " You will perceive that I have not raised the question of the 
 correctness of the 'geological doctrine of outliers,' but that I have 
 shown that another admitted geological cause may 'sometimes 1 (page 
 3) produce appearances which have been attributed to subsequent 
 denudation. 
 
 " Outliers may either be produced during the deposition of a 
 stratum or long subsequently; but I have not attempted to point 
 out cases of each kind. 
 
 "Geologists generally are but slightly acquainted with physical 
 science. Thus, when I published my theory of the doctrine of 
 isothermal surfaces in the abstract of a paper on the Temple of 
 Serapis examined by me in 1828, the geologists ignored the discovery. 
 But when at a later period Sir John Herschel arrived at the same 
 conclusions which I first published for him in the First Edition of The 
 Ninth Bridgewater Treatise, the Geological Society republished a few 
 days after in their abstracts that portion of his letter which contained 
 his view of the subject, without any reference to my publication several 
 years before in a former volume of their proceedings. 
 
 "This tendency first to ignore and then to transfer intellectual 
 property from an unpopular to a popular author has met with con- 
 siderable support from geologists. 
 
 " Sir Roderick Murchison, in his ' Siluria,' seems to wish to make it 
 a joint discovery of mine and my friend's. 
 
 "Other geologists have followed in his track, and foreign writers 
 have been misled ; until at last I was myself present at a meeting of 
 the Geological Society at which the theory of isothermal surfaces was 
 assigned entirely to Herschel. Neither the president nor any other 
 member corrected the error, and it would so have appeared in the 
 printed proceedings had I not mentioned the subject to the secretary, 
 who took upon himself the responsibility of mentioning my name. 
 
 " I have added a note to Stephenson's opinion, which I wish to be 
 inserted, with my name attached, if you wish it. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly's correspondence was now so large that it is 
 marvellous how a man, busily occupied as he was, could keep it 
 in hand. Strangers wrote constantly, asking his views on every 
 variety of subject That many of these letters were not of much 
 interest may be judged from his remarking occasionally that 
 the postmen had " brought him several envelopes, which did not 
 deserve to be called letters." In sending replies, he was greatly 
 assisted by his wife, who also helped him in a variety of ways, 
 especially in translating foreign scientific works and papers, and 
 acting as interpreter with scientific foreigners whom they met 
 at home and abroad, for he was no linguist. He laughingly 
 accounted for the inability of the French people to understand 
 him, by asserting that in passing through the capital his accent 
 had become too Parisian to be understood in the Provinces.
 
 i862.] CORRESPONDENCE ON HOME MATTERS. I2/ 
 
 His love of fun was infectious, and made him a pleasant 
 companion in every class of society. An inveterate punster, 
 and endowed with a keen sense of the ridiculous, his humour 
 was invariably kindly and genial. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Latnorna, June 5, 1862. . . . Since I last wrote you I have had 
 some letters from Dr. Falconer. I enclose them ; they will tell their 
 own story. Falconer's first was in reply to one I sent him, informing 
 him that I had given up all thought of London for the present. It is 
 most vexing about the plates,* but I confess I feared it from the first. 
 I wished much to have been in town to have looked after my paper 
 last night. I hope they treated me mercifully. I am progressing very 
 satisfactorily with my collection. I have finished the Sponges, and 
 am perhaps half-way through the Corals ; my last entry was number 
 576. This post has brought me a letter . from Falconer, and also one 
 from Miss Coutts. I must send Falconer's to her to-day. Heer insists 
 on seventeen plates. T. Hunton has been in to supper, and we have 
 had a nice chat. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Lamorna, June 18, 1862. . . . Here goes, I hope, for the last 
 letter to you on this occasion. Be sure to write me, by return if 
 possible, to say by what train I am to expect you. Tell Miss Forster 
 
 as is, but who is to be Mrs. , that I observe I am not invited to 
 
 the wedding, and that I am so far from being vindictive that I will 
 do her two kind acts. If she will send me a telegram just to say 
 at what moment the happy couple intend to tear themselves away from 
 their sorrowing friends for their journey, I will throw one of my oldest 
 slippers at my wheelbarrow. I would throw it at the carriage were I 
 at hand, but I am not without hopes that she will be nearly as much 
 benefited by the plan I propose. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Lamorna, June 18, 1862. . . . The party at Miss Hopperton's 
 school went off well. There was a crowd ; there was the ' Mademoiselle,' 
 the ' Fraulein,' C. Fowler, and myself. The visitors included Mr. and 
 Mrs. Pitcairn, Dr. Edersheim,f and lots of other folk, all very good 
 and proper. Plenty of music, instrumental and vocal." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " London, July 3, 1862. ... I reached this duly yesterday. 
 Found Dr. Falconer from home. Went on to Miss Coutts at once ; found 
 her cordial as ever, though in great bustle for her party in the evening. 
 It is said, and I believe truly, that there were a thousand guests. The 
 Duke d'Aumale was there, also Murchison, Falconer, Lankester, 
 
 * Illustrating Professor Heer's paper for the Royal Society. 
 
 t Rev. Alfred Edersheim, D.D., afterwards Greenfield lecturer at Oxford.
 
 128 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. IX. 
 
 Gladstone, Bowring, Landseer, E. W. Cooke, Fowler, and many others 
 I knew and had pleasant chats with. I slept in Stratton Street last 
 night, and am to go on to Holly Lodge to-night. Miss Coutts wishes 
 me to remain until Tuesday, which I shall probably do. I am in 
 great haste now, and hope to write you a better letter to-morrow. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 ''Holly Lodge, July 4, 1862. . . . Yesterday I spent the greater 
 part of the day at Falconer's, where I breakfasted. We went thoroughly 
 over my Bovey paper. I am to take it down to Torquay with me, and 
 Heer's also, for I am to prepare both. In the afternoon I called on 
 Dr. Skey, and finding that he was also going to Holly Lodge, I agreed 
 to accompany him ; but before we set out I went to Jermyn Street and 
 had a good chat with some of the men, chiefly Salter. I am sorry to 
 find he is about to leave the Museum. ... I hope to get home on 
 Tuesday, but I doubt my being able to go to the ' Field Club.' I 
 shall try to get to the Exhibition to-day. Yesterday was very wet; 
 this morning gives promise of a fine day, which I hope may be realized, 
 as Miss Coutts is to have a great Horticultural Fete here. All the 
 world is expected. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "International Exhibition, July 4, 1862. . . . Yesterday, having 
 received an invitation from my friend, E. W. Cooke (the Royal 
 Academician), to dine with him, I left Holly Lodge as soon as the 
 Flower Show opened, so as to secure a peep at it, and went to the 
 Exhibition. At 5.30 I went to Cooke's, where I found every evidence 
 of a successful artist and a man of great taste. You would enjoy going 
 over his house greatly ; it is a perfect museum of everything old and 
 interesting. Fossils, pictures, old furniture, antiquities generally; his 
 garden, too, is a gem, beautifully and expensively made the most of. 
 He had a rather large party, among them Ward the botanist. I have 
 given up all thought of the meeting on Haldon. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Holly Lodge, July 8, 1862. . . . This, in all probability, is to 
 be my last letter to you on this occasion. On Saturday morning two 
 carriages left this for the International Exhibition. The first contained 
 Miss Coutts, the Bishop of Cape Town and his wife (Mrs. Gray) and 
 myself; the second, Mr. St. John* (author of 'Life in the Forests of 
 the Far East,' i.e. Borneo, etc.) and Mr. Johnson (nephew of Sir J. 
 Brooke). 
 
 "The Exhibition opens on Saturdays at 12, and we got there at 
 11.30 so as to have a private view; this indulgence had been granted 
 to Miss Coutts. She left early ; but I remained there until 5 p.m., be- 
 lieving it would be my last visit. Truly it is a splendid thing. I cannot 
 
 * Now Sir Spencer St. John, English Ambassador at Stockholm.
 
 1862.] FOUNDING OF THE DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION. I2Q 
 
 particularize further than that the machinery astounded and even 
 awed me, and the Colonial Courts showed me the germs of future 
 empires. I saw nothing in the Picture department which pleased me 
 more than ' Eastward Ho.' I met many people I knew. I returned 
 to this to dinner, where I met the Bishop of Oxford and his son ; 
 the former is the most able and agreeable man in company I ever met, 
 the latter the most free-and-easy. Yesterday the Bishop preached here 
 a missionary sermon, very clear, very learned, and eloquent in a very 
 high degree, but over the heads of ordinary hearers. With this excep- 
 tion yesterday was a very quiet day. There is to be a great gathering 
 of Antiquaries in Stratton Street to-night, hence I stay over until to- 
 morrow. . . ." 
 
 During the summer of 1862 the first meeting of the Devon- 
 shire Association was held at Exeter. The idea of its forma- 
 tion had been originated by Pengelly, who received important 
 assistance from his friends, Sir John Bowring, Mr. Spence Bate, 
 and the Rev. W. Harpley. He had been for some time 
 anxious to form a County Association for the promotion of 
 Scientific and Literary objects, but at first received little en- 
 couragement even from some of those who afterwards became 
 his colleagues. He was not, however, easily discouraged by 
 difficulties, even though they might appear insurmountable to 
 others. He worked and waited, and was rewarded by the 
 eminently satisfactory character of the opening meeting at 
 Exeter, under the able Presidency of Sir John Bowring. The 
 gathering, though small, was distinguished by able and most 
 interesting papers, and animated discussions, and the Associ- 
 ation soon became recognized beyond the county of Devon as 
 a centre of intellectual life and work. 
 
 Pengelly, besides contributing numerous papers, managed 
 all the financial work with characteristic caution and success. 
 It is almost needless to say that his connection with the Associa- 
 tion, as with the other societies in which he was interested, was 
 purely honorary, although his labours connected with it involved 
 the sacrifice of a large portion of his time, inasmuch as they 
 necessitated his attending to numerous details which, though 
 apparently trifling in themselves, were indispensable to the 
 success of each meeting. Many of his friends regretted the 
 absorption of so much of his leisure, but he himself was always 
 anxious to devote any spare moments to the promotion of 
 scientific and literary objects in his adopted county. 
 
 At the first meeting he read a paper on " The Lignites and 
 
 K
 
 130 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. IX. 
 
 Clays of Bovey Tracy," and "The Age of the Dartmoor 
 Granites." 
 
 Pengelly's letters describing the Exeter Meeting, with accounts 
 of the various papers read, are nearly all missing; but one, giving 
 a sketch of the social character of the gathering, has been 
 preserved. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Exeter. . . . Many of the papers were short, and elicited good 
 discussions. We sat until about half-past four. The audience was small, 
 as there were the more popular attractions of a Bazaar and Flower 
 Show. At 5.30 we dined together, and had an ample supply of food 
 and fun. . . . After dinner there were some decent speeches ; and at 
 half-past eight we went in a goodly party to Lady Bowring's tea-table, 
 where Sir John christened me Mr. Pungelly. Friday was so wet that 
 we had to give up the excursions, and so I got home early in the 
 afternoon. I am happy to say mother is quite well now, though sorry 
 to lose Alfred, who has been extremely good and attentive to her. He 
 left us this morning in good spirits. . . ." 
 
 The Rev. W. Harpley, the valued Honorary General 
 Secretary, gives the following description of Pengelly's work in 
 connection with the Association.* 
 
 " In 1862, he started the Devonshire Association for the Advance- 
 ment of Science, Literature, and Art, of which he was President in 
 1867-8. Until the last few years he was the best-known figure at the 
 Annual Meetings of the Association, and for a considerable period he 
 regularly contributed papers upon a variety of subjects. Not only did 
 the plan of a County Association, on the lines, to a certain extent, of 
 the British Association, originate in his fertile brain, but it has been 
 chiefly owing to his instrumentality and careful and judicious organiza- 
 tion, that the Association has grown and prospered. He managed it 
 financially, until physical infirmities compelled him to relinquish the 
 work." 
 
 Another of the members has kindly written an excellent 
 account of the objects and scope of the Association. 
 
 " A Reminiscence of the late William Pengelly ', F.R.S., in his connection 
 with the Devonshire Association : by a Member of the Association, of 
 nearly thirty years' standing. 
 
 "It is commonly understood that what is now known as "The 
 Devonshire Association" owes its origin to a small group of men of 
 scientific and literary culture, resident at Plymouth. This is, in a sense, 
 
 * Transactions of the Devonshire Association, July, 1894.
 
 i862.] OBJECTS OF THE DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION. 13! 
 
 correct ; but, beyond controversy, the first idea of the scheme emanated 
 from Mr. Pengelly. At that time, however and I am referring to the 
 year 1861 the southern part of Devonshire was not unprepared for 
 some such development of intellectual activity. Plymouth had its 
 established local institution, publishing its Transactions. Exeter was 
 distinctly a literary centre, although the atmosphere of a cathedral city- 
 was not then altogether favourable, it was supposed, to scientific investi- 
 gation. And Torquay, with its leisured, if cosmopolite, circles had 
 already its Natural History Society, of which Mr. Pengelly had been 
 one of the founders. 
 
 " Some organization on a more comprehensive scale was now aimed 
 at, and at the right moment Mr. Pengelly, a born administrator, whose 
 scientific attainments had already been recognized on a wider field, and 
 who had acquired a practical knowledge of the working of the British 
 Association as one of the honorary secretaries of the Geological Section, 
 conferred with Sir John Bo wring and Mr. Spence Bate, who warmly 
 seconded him ; and the Devonshire Association, for the advancement 
 of science, literature, and art, was fairly launched. There were pre- 
 liminary discouragements, as of course; and Mr. Spence Bate had 
 almost feared that the bantling, as he facetiously called it, which had 
 been cradled in Plymouth, would never emerge to breathe the larger 
 air of the county. 
 
 " The professed objects of the Association were : ' To give a stronger 
 impulse and a more systematic direction to scientific inquiry in Devon- 
 shire, and to promote the intercourse of those who cultivate science, 
 literature, or art in different parts of the county.' The form which 
 the Association ultimately took, its aims and methods, from which it 
 has since departed only in details, was a modest imitation of those of 
 the British Association, only with the addition of literature and art to 
 its objects, and the limitation of its sphere of action to the county of 
 Devon. Science was to be at the forefront ; but latterly the tendency 
 has been rather towards historical and archaeological subjects. This, 
 however, has been probably due merely to a fluctuation of taste or 
 thought, that is to be expected from time to time. 
 
 " Of the group of original promoters of the Association only a few, I 
 believe, now survive, including W. Vicary, F.G.S., J. Brooking Rowe, 
 F.L.S., and the Rev. William Harpley, from the beginning to the present 
 time the General Honorary Secretary of the Association, who by his 
 eminent services has secured and retained the esteem and confidence of 
 the members generally. 
 
 " The first general meeting of the Association took place at Exeter 
 in August, 1862, under the presidency of Sir John Bowring, a man of 
 eminent ability, of broad sympathies, and of encyclopaedic knowledge, 
 with a reputation as a philologist almost European. I am not sure that 
 the meeting was not looked upon somewhat askance by a few persons 
 of light and leading in the city. Be that as it may, ten years later, 
 amidst the same surroundings, the annual gathering of the members took 
 place under the presidency of the bishop of the diocese. 
 
 "Six papers only were read at the first meeting, a contrast to the 
 six-and-twenty which is now about the average number ; but the promise 
 of the development and success of the Association was assuring. In.
 
 132 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Ca. IX. 
 
 accordance with its migratory programme, the Association, in the follow- 
 ing years, held its meetings in different towns in the county, gathering 
 new members everywhere and fresh interest as to its proceedings. 
 The influence of these meetings, while otherwise socially agreeable, has 
 been most marked in stimulating researches connected with local history, 
 archaeology, or science, which would otherwise have been neglected, 
 and in directing attention to objects of interest which would have been 
 overlooked or lost. Such obligations are rarely acknowledged ; but, if 
 all paid their due, many of us would have to account to the memory of 
 William Pengelly for a new interest in life. 
 
 " Without any fixed rule, the president of the Association of the year 
 has been usually selected on account of his recognized distinction in his 
 own department, whether of science, literature, or art ; and it is to the 
 credit of Devonshire that on several occasions the choice has fallen 
 within the limits of the county. At the Barnstaple Meeting, in the 
 year 1867, Mr. Pengelly, who had been recently elected a Fellow of the 
 Royal Society, filled the office with considerable eclat. His inaugural 
 address, being mainly a brilliant and lucid review of the then existing 
 knowledge of the geology of Devonshire, was listened to, as the demon- 
 stration of a master, with unmistakable interest 
 
 " In the year 1876 an alteration was made in one of the bye-laws of 
 the Association, at the instance, I believe, of Mr. Pengelly, to which 
 we had been rapidly drifting. The subjects of the papers to be offered 
 to the Association were henceforth strictly limited to those relating to 
 Devonshire. It might have been, and probably was, doubted by some 
 not having the advantage of being Devonians, whether, with this restric- 
 tion, the contributions to the paper-list were likely to be of sufficient 
 volume to do credit to the Association. But the justification was the 
 immediate advance that took place in the number of members from 
 three hundred and fifty-six to four hundred and seventy-one within the 
 next two years, and the obvious satisfaction with which the localization 
 of the aims of the Association was received. Since that time nearly 
 thirty original papers, including reports of committees, have been, on 
 the average, annually read before the Association, all relating to Devon- 
 shire ; and there is, as yet, no sign of any diminution in the rate of 
 their production. 
 
 "At the annual gathering of the members there was perhaps no 
 gratification so much looked for, when Mr. Pengelly was present, than 
 the discussions elicited by the reading of the several papers. A 
 characteristic of Mr. Pengelly on these occasions will be at once 
 remembered. There was no mistaking the evident zest with which, 
 after the reading of a paper, he initiated, as he generally did, a dis- 
 cussion thereon. He took his part with unfailing geniality, and his 
 views upon the value of facts, upon the importance of precision of 
 language, and upon the folly of hasty generalizations, were pretty sure 
 to come to the fore. Mentally I am disposed to bracket him with a 
 famous Oxford tutor who lived to be a hundred years of age, and who, 
 on being asked what oracular advice he could give to his pupils as 
 a result of his long experience, replied, 'Verify your references.' 
 
 "An extra work at the Association which extended over a period 
 of eight years, has been the translation, extension, and printing of the
 
 i862.] WORK OF THE DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION. 133 
 
 Domesday record so far as it related to Devonshire. Mr. Pengelly had 
 grave misgivings as to the strain which this undertaking might have 
 upon the finances of the Association. But there can be no doubt that 
 the Association has done nothing more creditable ; and it may be hoped 
 that the great cost of producing the two handsome volumes of the 
 Devonshire Domesday will be recuperated as the value and importance 
 of the work one of the bases of the history of our land and people 
 become better known. 
 
 " With regard to the quality of the papers contributed to, and subse- 
 quently printed in the Transactions of the Association, it is not perhaps 
 too much to say that those of few local associations of a similar 
 character possess a higher general level of ability or interest. Notwith- 
 standing the indulgent censorship of the Secretary, there are not many 
 that can be said to sink below mediocrity. It would be invidious in 
 the present connection to specify the many of absolute excellence ; but 
 there can be no question that the series of geological and palseonto- 
 logical papers which, during a period of more than twenty years, were 
 contributed by Mr. Pengelly, are a monument to his accurate and 
 recondite knowledge of his facts and of his peculiarly happy manner 
 of treating and expounding them, and also a testimony of the permanent 
 value of the work which he left behind him. To this general estimate 
 it may be added that the Transactions have been not infrequently 
 quoted for proofs and evidences of the original research by some of our 
 most eminent writers. 
 
 " In the last few years of Mr. Pengelly's active connection with the 
 Association, he contributed a series of three papers on a subject that 
 led him into an entirely new domain of study, that of comparative 
 biography. The papers were written with remarkable acumen and 
 minute criticism which might have been expected from the writer, and 
 were certainly read, and will continue to be read, by not a few with 
 appreciative interest. 
 
 " There was, I am sure, only one feeling of regret among the members 
 of the society with whom Mr. Pengelly had been for so many years 
 associated, when he withdrew to the retirement which increasing years 
 and infirmities imposed upon him. He had finished his work. Yet, 
 to the last, he retained an almost pathetic interest in the Devonshire 
 Association, which he had founded and for which he had done so 
 much.
 
 134 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. X. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ELECTED A FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY. 
 SEPTEMBER 1862 AND 1863. 
 
 IN the autumn of 1862 Pengelly interested himself in the 
 disposal of Mrs. Griffith's beautiful and valuable collection of 
 sea-weeds, which Miss Coutts was about to present to Kew. 
 
 Later in the year he attended the British Association which 
 met at Cambridge ; an additional interest was attached to this 
 visit to the University, as his son Alfred was soon to begin his 
 college life there. 
 
 In 1863 Pengelly was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, 
 and though he usually cared very little for honours and distinc- 
 tions, was naturally gratified that his scientific services should 
 have been recognized, by what Sir Joseph Hooker once admirably 
 described as "so high an honour as Fellowship of the Royal 
 Society, the only one of the kind in England that is limited as 
 to the number annually elected, and selective in principle." * 
 
 At the close of July of this year the second annual meeting 
 of the Devonshire Association was held at Plymouth, under the 
 presidency of C. Spence Bate, F.R.S. Pengelly, who com- 
 municated a paper on " The Chronological Value of the Red 
 Sandstones and Conglomerates of Devonshire," was greatly 
 encouraged by the complete success of the gathering, and the 
 evidences afforded of the interest in science which it had already 
 fostered in the county. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " i, Stratton Street, September 6, 1862. Yesterday Miss Coutts took 
 me to the banking house to see the sea-weeds, and having given them 
 some attention, she returned home, and I went on to Tennant's, Somerset 
 
 * Presidential Address to the Royal Society, November 30, 1878.
 
 1862-^63.] SIR C. LYELL AND DARWINISM. 135 
 
 House, and Jermyn Street ; saw Ramsay at the last, and had a good 
 chat with him. Then to Kew, to see Sir William Hooker about the 
 sea-weeds, and there I remained until it was quite time to return to 
 dress for dinner. Sir William was extremely kind, and took me 
 through all the gardens, houses, and museums ; it is a fine affair truly. 
 Soon after I called, a gentleman, at the head of the hospital at Trinidad, 
 called also ; and we got on capitally. After dinner we went to see 
 Lord Dundreary. The piece is stupid and absurd, but the part of Lord 
 Dundreary is acted to perfection, and I think I never laughed more in 
 my life." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " London, September 9, 1862. Yesterday, after a late breakfast, I 
 called on Lyell, and had a long chat with him. In his new book, he 
 says he is ' going the " whole hog " both in the Antiquity of Man, and 
 Darwinism, and if any man ever deserved excommunication, he thinks 
 he certainly will.' I did not gather from him when the book will 
 appear. 
 
 " I then went off to the British Museum, and whilst talking with the 
 brothers Woodward, in their private room, Falconer came in ; he was 
 very pleasant, and we engaged to go together to Somerset House. 
 
 " My business at the museum was to take S. P. Woodward's opinion 
 as to the best museum to which to send the collection of British shells 
 made by Mrs. Griffiths and purchased by Miss Coutts. Woodward 
 strongly desired to have them there, and referred me to Owen. I took 
 my fish ' scale ' with me, and got the opinion of Mr. Davies, a good 
 ichthyologist, on it. He decided it to be a scale of Phyllopeles con- 
 centricus, a fish characteristic of the uppermost old red sandstone of 
 Glenburnie in Scotland. The fact is a very important one in its 
 bearings, and furnishes me with matter for a paper for the British 
 Association. It is so important that Owen took a note of it at once. 
 Owen also wishes to have the shells there, in the event of their getting 
 a grant for the removal of the museum into a larger building. Falconer 
 and I then started for Somerset House, where I got, through him, all 
 the ' plans ' of the Brixham cavern. Having arranged to call at 
 Falconer's between four and five, I called at Tennant's to name some 
 Devonshire corals, etc., for him. This done I started to see R. Godlee 
 at his chambers. Then to Mudie's, where I bought Percy's 'Metal- 
 lurgy.' Then to Falconer's, where I made the few alterations in my 
 paper which I desired, and then back to Stratton Street. We dined at 
 6.30, and afterwards Miss Coutts and Mrs. Browne, Miss Savage and 
 I went to Drury Lane to see the Colleen Bawn, which greatly delighted 
 me, and then home to bed. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Cambridge, October 6, 1862. After breakfast yesterday, several 
 of our Corpus party walked into the country, about three miles, to 
 attend church. The building was extremely simple, the preacher a 
 decidedly good man, but not a philosopher. He preached on angelic 
 existences. We then walked back to hear, at St Mary's, what may be
 
 136 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. X. 
 
 called the British Association sermon, by a celebrated man whose 
 name has escaped me. It was the first of a series of lectures on the 
 Life of St. Paul, and was devoted to the consideration of the Apostle 
 as a man of tact and presence of mind ; it was extremely able, and was 
 listened to by a large party of the Association men. Another stroll 
 into the country brought the hour for dinner. I think I told you I was 
 to dine at Potts'. There was a large gathering of ladies, Mrs. Fison, 
 a cousin of Mrs. Potts', being amongst them ; but besides Potts and 
 myself there was only one other gentleman, a Dr. Heaton of Leeds. 
 Mrs. Potts is beautiful, young, and clever, and talks admirably. Potts 
 is elderly, and talks excellently. We had a good time. I scarcely 
 think ' there is a better time coming.' Brixham was loudly called for, 
 and made a decided impression. . . ." 
 
 To ameliorate in any small way the condition of the poor 
 Irish fishermen was a most congenial task to Pengelly, the 
 humane and serious side of whose character was well known to 
 intimate friends. Any memoir would be imperfect which left 
 unnoticed his strenuous efforts to improve the prospects of 
 others, and his many acts of unostentatious kindness. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 "January 15, 1863. . . . Please tell M * that Mr. Crawfurd, 
 
 whom she will remember as Chairman of the Ethnological Section at 
 Manchester, is coming to-morrow on a visit to Miss Coutts, and William 
 is going to dine with him to-morrow and the next day. He has been 
 in correspondence with R. Were Fox, for Miss Coutts, about the Irish 
 fishermen, as she is very desirous of doing something to improve 
 them. . . ." 
 
 Surprise has often been expressed that a complete account of 
 the results obtained by the Brixham Cavern Committee was so 
 long in being given to the scientific world. Pengelly, having 
 personally conducted the whole of the work himself, had lost 
 no time in preparing his own report. The latter part of the 
 following letter will show that he was in no way responsible for 
 the delay which caused so much comment. 
 
 Pengelly to Dr. Falconer. \ 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, December 16, 1862. 
 
 "... Of course I have not forgotten that 'the Brixham Cave 
 exploration was carried on throughout under the Committee of the 
 Geological Society,' seeing that I was a member of the committee. 
 But, truth to tell, I had come to the conclusion that the committee had 
 
 * A married sister. 
 
 t The early part of this letter, which is omitted, refers exclusively to Professor 
 Heer's work, and has no reference whatever to Brixham Cavern.
 
 1862-1863.] REPORT ON BRIXHAM CAVERN. 137 
 
 ' died and made no sign,' since it had allowed three years and a half to 
 elapse, since the exploration had closed, without anything in the shape 
 of a report. 
 
 "Until receiving your last I was not aware that Mr. Prestwich was 
 the secretary of the committee. 
 
 " Since I last wrote you I have decided to wait until I have had 
 the opportunity of reading Sir C. Lyell's book, which, right or wrong, 
 we are looking for daily here in the country. After that, since the 
 committee is still alive, I shall, with great pleasure, be prepared to 
 submit my paper, on the Cavern, to the committee, through Mr. 
 Prestwich, the secretary ; as soon as I hear from him that the other 
 reports of which you speak on the Bones, the Flints, and the Gravels 
 are also ready. 
 
 " I presume this will be the right course, since you think it doubtful 
 ' whether the Royal Society would entertain a paper on an isolated 
 part of the investigation.' 
 
 " I am very sorry to hear of Mrs. McCall's indisposition, both on 
 her account and on yours. We men are but part of ourselves without 
 the kind offices of a woman." 
 
 " P.S. I will write to Mr. Prestwich, at once, to inform him that 
 I have a paper on Brixham, and asking for information." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "London, February 18, 1863. ... I thank you much for the 
 notes and corrections on the Torquay cave, all of which are adopted. 
 
 " Although the errata already amount to about forty, scarcely any 
 one has hit on the same mistakes as another, even of the attentive 
 readers. 
 
 " So when you have read more you will greatly oblige me by sending 
 any remarks. 
 
 " The history of the obstacles put in the way of your publishing the 
 Brixham results makes me somewhat indignant, and if I were not 
 afraid of doing mischief I should take it up more vehemently, but I 
 shall not forget it. 
 
 "I shall tell the President of the Royal Society how the matter 
 stands, and how injurious I consider it to be to you personally. . . ." 
 
 The following letter received from Lyell tells its own tale : 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 .,London, Monday, April 13, 1863. . . . I have just 
 
 returned to town and find your letter. I may say that, being a member 
 of the Committee [Brixham Cave], I always understood that the idea 
 of working it systematically had originated with the Nat. Hist. Soc. of 
 Torquay. . . . that they were in treaty for a lease, had secured the 
 refusal, and that they had caused the ransacking of the contents to be 
 discontinued. . . . There can be no harm in my saying that you had 
 previously studied caves, served on the Kent's Hole committee, and 
 objected to former mode of working, etc. I may also say that Mr. 
 Pengelly was the first geologist who visited the cave. . . ."
 
 138 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. X. 
 
 Notwithstanding the time occupied in scientific work and 
 correspondence whilst in London during the summer of 1863, 
 Pengelly had numerous social engagements, from which he 
 derived great pleasure. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 11 i, Straiten Street, May 28, 1863. Yesterday after breakfast I called 
 on Sir C. Lyell and remained with him until about noon. Then to the 
 British Museum to see Woodward about Mr. Vicary's * box of fossils. 
 He could make nothing of them. Afterwards to South Kensington 
 Flower Show. The azaleas and geraniums were quite gorgeous ; and 
 the ladies many of them very beautiful, so it was not a great trial of 
 one's self-denial to be there. I forgot to say that I called at Jermyn 
 Street to see Salter about Mr. Vicary's fossils ; but he was out, so I left 
 the fossils, and saw Sir Roderick, who gave me a ticket for his gathering 
 as President of the Geographical, telling me that Miss Coutts had 
 written informing him of my being in town, and that he was that 
 moment about to send off a card to Stratton Street, for me. At seven 
 dined." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " i, Stratton Street, London, May 29, 1863. ... I returned here 
 about four o'clock, and found an arrangement had been made for me to 
 go to the House of Commons, where I should meet John Abel Smith, 
 who would take me into the House to hear a debate on the Dover Con- 
 tract I heard Mr. Walpole, Gladstone, Lord J. Manners, Lindsay, 
 Lord R. Cecil, and Whiteside. The last I can scarcely say I heard, as 
 the House was impatient to divide and made a great row. The division 
 at length came, 191 to 205, i.e. 14 for Ministers. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 (Date uncertain?) 
 
 "... Next I called on Tennant, and then back to dinner. I 
 knew most of the guests, to wit Dean and Mrs. Milman, Mr. Harness 
 (author of Miss Mitford's Life and Letters), Miss Moore (niece of Sir 
 John Moore), Miss Smith, etc., etc. After dinner came Crawfurd, 
 Count Strelezski, and General Kmety, a Hungarian, who was the real 
 defender of Kars, and so the evening passed off mighty pleasantly. 
 The lecture seems to be the only real business I have in town. 
 
 " There appears to be some scheme afoot to bring me permanently 
 to town. At any rate, J. A. Smith spoke to me on the subject, but I 
 think it is no more than a vague and misty idea, and will probably 
 melt away. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Stratton Street, June 2, 1863. . . . You will see that I am really 
 going off to-day. I am getting quite proud of my self-denial, for there 
 
 * William Vicary, Esq., F.G.S., of Exeter, an intimate and highly valued friend.
 
 1862-1863.] SIR R. MURCHISON DEVONSHIRE FOSSILS. 139 
 
 is much to tempt me to remain. There is to be a good meeting of the 
 Ethnological to-night, and to-morrow night the whole Abbeville case 
 comes on at the Geological, yet I mean to go. Yesterday I made a 
 delightful call on my pupil, Mrs. Cavendish, then to see the Ghost at 
 the Polytechnic, which is well worth seeing. Then to the House of 
 Commons with Captain Gordon, then with Miss Coutts and Mrs. 
 Browne to Lady Lyell's party. Lady Lyell very beautiful. I met 
 Murchison, Cooke, Sir P. Egerton, Bunbury, Babbage, etc." 
 
 Early in June Pengelly received a letter from Mr. J. W. 
 Salter asking him to procure some Devonshire fossils, which Sir 
 Roderick Murchison had long been desirous of securing. 
 
 /. W. Salter to Pengelly. 
 
 ''June 2, 1863. . , . I am sorry I was out, the more so as I hope 
 to be down in your neighbourhood for a day or so in August, and 
 should be very glad if you were to meet our party and give us the 
 benefit of your local knowledge. Perhaps we may meet? At all 
 events I shall drop you a line when we have made our day out, and 
 take the chance. As Austen and Pattison will probably be with us, 
 you would not think the day ill given, I know. 
 
 " Now to business. Those fossils, which I asked you three years 
 back to procure, and which you promised to try for, are still desiderata 
 in our cabinet. I have Sir R.'s sanction for saying, that though we 
 have no cash for a general collection of Plymouth fossils, he should 
 feel obliged by your looking out for specimens of these if they should 
 fall in your way for us. You know best where these occur, how they 
 occur, and why they occur. And it occurs to me, that if they occur to 
 you, it may occur to the men to offer them to you, and we shall be all 
 the better and happier and richer if you cause them to occur in our 
 museum, and some of Sir R.'s spare cash in the men's pockets. 
 Q.E.D. 
 
 " I was at Dudley at Whitsuntide. Such fun ! Why not leave your 
 box ? I would have sent them to you. Will August do ? " 
 
 The tie between Pengelly and many of his pupils was 
 exceedingly strong, as will be seen by an extract of a letter from 
 one of them, who had heard there was some prospect of his 
 leaving Torquay. 
 
 "My first feeling on reading the latter part of your letter was one 
 of such intense selfishness, that I would not let myself write for a few 
 days, till I could say that if you leave Torquay for your own advantage, 
 I shall be glad of it, though I shall miss you more than any friend you 
 have there. . . . Tell me what to look for near Lewes in the Chalk. 
 I mean to work very hard ; can I get anything for you ? I don't care 
 for Mr. Gosse or his book ; or anything, till I hear whether we are to 
 lose you."
 
 140 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Ca. X. 
 
 Several well-known men were amongst the fifteen candidates 
 admitted this year to the Royal Society ; namely, Sir Henry 
 Roscoe, Professor William Crookes, E. W. Cooke, R. A., Professor 
 Daniel Oliver, Dr. Robert Harley, Dean Stanley, and the Rev. 
 Dr. Salmon, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin. All the active 
 work of Pengelly's candidature had been undertaken by Sir 
 Charles Lyell, who wrote to congratulate him, as did numerous 
 other friends. 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 " London, May 9, 1863. . . . On my return to-day from Osborne, 
 I am happy to find that you are one of the fifteen selected by the 
 Council of the R.S., for election on the 4th of June as an F.R.S. 
 Of course, until the ratification takes place on that day you will say 
 nothing, but in truth all is now safe. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Lamorna^ Torquay, June 7, 1863. . . . This is the eighth letter 
 I have written to-day, so I opine it runs a risk of being short. 
 Yesterday brought me a letter from the Royal Society, informing me 
 of my election. ... I have to-day received the first-fruits of my 
 F.R.S. in the form of No. 55 of the 'Proceedings' of the Royal 
 Society. It looks wonderfully dry ; a few copies would be of immense 
 value to a laundress. I wonder whether I shall ever get my work 
 done? . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Torquay, June n, 1863. ... I find I must go to town next 
 Thursday, the i8th, to be presented ('admitted' is the right phrase) to 
 the President of the Royal, or defer it to one or other of the two first 
 meetings in November; failing these, my election is void. As there 
 seems to be little to prevent my going up next week, I think of doing 
 so. My intention is to go up on Thursday and back on Friday. Miss 
 Coutts, finding that I must be in town, asked me to go there, and to be 
 present at her ball on the i ith (to-night). I should have liked it ; I 
 have no doubt it will be a brilliant affair. The Princess Mary * and 
 Duchess of Cambridge are to be there. Brave moral courage ! Re- 
 member these facts ! State in my epitaph that I was proof against the 
 discussion on the Abbeville jaw and Miss Coutts' ball, yet that I could 
 have enjoyed both. I am writing in the little parlour, all clean and 
 tidy, and most sweet and comfortable, more especially as it smells 
 villainously of Turpentine and Co., who have been introduced here by 
 
 Mademoiselle New-broom, f I have received Mrs. R 's and Mrs. 
 
 W 's accounts, and am now as rich as a Jew, and am thinking of 
 
 setting up a carriage and pair." 
 
 * Now Duchess of Teck. t A servant. . -.
 
 1862-1863.] ELECTED A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY. 141 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "London, June 22, 1863. . . . On Saturday I spent the entire 
 morning at Jermyn Street. In the evening Lady Beecher, formerly 
 Miss O'Neill, dined here. . . . 
 
 "June 2$rd. I am sadly vexed to find in my pocket this morning 
 this letter which should have been posted yesterday. I spent the 
 morning in a visit to Miss Coutts' school, at the east end of London. 
 After luncheon, Mrs. Browne and I went to a huge concert at 2, and 
 about 3.30 Miss Coutts joined us; it was an enormous crowd, and all 
 the vocal stars were there. Then home to dinner, and at 8.30 I started 
 alone for the Geographical meeting, to hear the Nile explorers (Captains 
 Speke and Grant) give an account of their travels. It was a great crush. 
 Speke is a poor speaker, so the meeting was, on the whole, a failure. 
 Grant spoke but little, being second in command." 
 
 The distance between London and Torquay often prevented 
 Pengelly being present at meetings which it would have been a 
 great pleasure to him to attend. It was a serious disappointment 
 to him to miss the discussion on the " Abbeville Jaw," a subject 
 frequently referred to in his letters at this time, when it was 
 greatly interesting the geological world. The claims of the local 
 societies which he assisted, and the difficulty of sparing much 
 time from his numerous pupils, however, combined to keep him 
 in Devonshire, although the absence of Mrs. Pengelly, who was 
 staying with her widowed mother (now too great an invalid to 
 come to Torquay) made his home less cheerful than usual. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "Torquay, June 27, 1863. William has returned, having much 
 enjoyed his visit to London. He was at a very large party on Tuesday 
 night, where, amongst others, he met Baron von Brunnow, the Russian 
 Ambassador, with whom he had much interesting talk about his old 
 pupils, the Russian princes, and he made the acquaintance of Whewell 
 and several others. The Duke of Cambridge also was there. Since his 
 return he is very busy with a cavern he is examining, and has got a wall 
 made, and a second door in it ; he is, as usual, very closely engaged." 
 
 At this time, and on many future occasions, he had the 
 pleasure of accompanying his friend Mr. Vicary on short 
 geological expeditions. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Ilfracombe, July 4, 1863. . . . We have very much enjoyed our 
 visit here. On Thursday we went to Baggy Point and got some fossils, 
 and saw a gloriously wild coast. Yesterday we went to Lynton, where 
 we saw the Valley of Rocks, and the East and West Lyn, and found a
 
 142 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Of. X. 
 
 few fossils. I have received your enclosures, and feel that I ought to 
 be back to-day on account of Etheridge ; but as he cannot arrive before 
 twelve on Monday, and probably not so soon, I have accepted Mr. 
 Vicary's invitation to remain until Monday, when I hope to get home 
 between two and three. ..." 
 
 The cave-bones which Pengelly had found in Devonshire 
 proved of great importance to Sir Charles Lyell in his in- 
 vestigations. 
 
 Sir C harks Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "53, Harley Street, London, W., July 16, 1863. I was glad to 
 receive your report on my return from a visit to the Museums of Paris 
 and Chartres, as well as to the Drift containing Elephas meridionalis at 
 St. Prest. I send you Desnoyers' two papers on the marked bones, of 
 which I examined some hundred and fifty or more, and most interest- 
 ing they were. If by any chance you possess Desnoyers' papers, please 
 return them to me ; but, if not, I wish you to study them. 
 
 " From this time forth we shall want abundance of specimens of 
 bones collected from caverns in which we are certain that man dwelt 
 or took refuge. I am not sorry that you are working at a collection of 
 remains of comparatively modern date. 
 
 " I think I can disprove Desnoyers' glacial strictures, or his ice-theory, 
 but the human agency is more promising; but here we have a new 
 language to learn. All the negative and positive observations of your 
 cave-bones will acquire new importance. Lartet distinguishes at once 
 between the marks of teeth of dogs (or wolves) and hyaenas, or rodents 
 and carnivora. There are cuts circling half round some bones which it 
 is most difficult to refer to any action yet known, save human tools. 
 
 " An argument at Paris against certain marks indicating man's inter- 
 vention was that there are too many of them at St. Prest; but on 
 counting the unscratched or uncut bones, I found them far more 
 numerous in proportion than had been supposed. I must have seen 
 two or three hundreds. 
 
 " Every one of your bones of the commonest animal acquire a new 
 interest by these new theories. How many are free from all marks ? 
 How many exhibit scrapings, sawings, cuttings, fractures, etc., which 
 are distinct from furrowing caused by organic structure and from teeth- 
 marks of animals, and modern pickaxe blows and scratch of finger-nails 
 in clearing? 
 
 ' I shall be for four days (from July 2oth to 24th) at Col. Wood's, 
 Southall, Swansea, and shall be glad of a letter if, after reading 
 Desnoyers, any queries or facts suggest themselves. I shall have my 
 friend Symonds with me, and we shall go into some of the principal 
 Glamorganshire caves and over Col. Wood's museum. 
 
 " No less than one hundred and twenty molars of EL meridionalis 
 have been found in one large gravel-pit at St. Prest, unaccompanied by 
 any other species of elephant ! "
 
 1862-1863.] BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT NEWCASTLE. 143 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "53, Harley Street, London, August 6, 1863. I returned to-day 
 from a three weeks' geological tour through South and North Wales, 
 with Rev. W. S. Symonds, Pendock Rectory, Tewkesbury, who is 
 coming out with a second edition of his geological book, and would be 
 well worthy of one of the six copies of the Bovey paper, which looks 
 very handsome, and will, I am sure, read well when I can get a few 
 hours to study it. I should have replied to your letter before, but we 
 had, what is almost unheard of in Wales, uninterrupted fine weather in 
 July, so I never had the rainy day which I had determined to spend 
 in answering letters. . . . 
 
 "... I am glad you are persevering in the cave exploration. I 
 have not time to enter on the Gower caves to which we gave nearly 
 a week. 
 
 " I collected arctic shells from the glacial drift of Moel Tryfan near 
 Snowdon, at about 1400 ft. of elevation." 
 
 The meeting of the British Association at Newcastle-on- 
 Tyne was a great success. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Newcastle-on-Tyne, August 27, 1863. . . . The opening meeting 
 last night was in every way a success. The number of persons present 
 was beyond all precedent, they say 2850. The President's address the 
 best I ever heard, splendid in matter and excellent in manner. Lots of 
 my acquaintances here, amongst them Falconer ; Lyell and Owen to 
 come on Monday. I am happy to say I am well and happy, i.e. as happy 
 . as I can be when absent from the best of wives. I fear I must con- 
 clude having no matter or too much or no time." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " August 30. The dinner-party at Sir William Armstrong's last 
 night was large, and the whole affair enjoyable. Crawfurd, Harkness, 
 Bate, Sorby, and I sat together. In the midst of the dinner Sir Charles 
 and Lady Lyell came in, having just arrived. After dinner a huge con- 
 cert was provided by the Mayor for the Association. Altogether the 
 Newcastle folk had eclipsed all known in the history of the Associa- 
 tion. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Newcastle-on-Tyne, September \, 1863. . .. We had a great day in 
 Section 'C' yesterday. Afterwards we fixed the next meeting at Bath, 
 with Lyell as President. Hurrah ! . . ." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell appears from the following letter to have 
 left during the meeting. He consulted Pengelly frequently at 
 this period with reference to the new edition of the " Manual " 
 which he was preparing.
 
 144 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. X. 
 
 Sir Charles Lyellto Pengeliy. 
 
 " 53, Harley Street, London, September i, 1863. . . . Mr. G. Austen 
 tells me he is to come on with a paper on the Loess of the Rhine, and 
 he told me the purport of it. He promised to send me any abstracts 
 which may be given of it ; but I should consider it a great favour if you 
 will order any newspaper or journal (Literary Gazette? or other) which 
 may give reports of the section on this or other matters relating to the 
 Association, as I cannot attend personally. 
 
 " I will repay you by postage stamps or if we meet in town. My 
 chapter on the Loess has been in print this four months, and I hardly 
 think I shall have to alter it, but should like to hear what is said on this 
 or on any cave remains, or flint implements, or on the controversy 
 between Owen and Huxley on Man and Ape. 
 
 "You know well what would interest and concern me, while I am 
 rapidly passing my sheets through the press. The glacial period is 
 largely treated of by me. Mr. King said he had thoughts of reading a 
 paper on Scotch glacial clays, etc., to the section. I suppose he is in 
 Cambridge, and therefore I do not hear from him in answer to my last 
 letter. I had some other news to send him on the subject of his last 
 to me, had I been sure where to address him. If you see him in the 
 Geological Section, please tell him this. 
 
 " I know how precious moments are in the bustle of the meeting, 
 so excuse my writing and asking you to order some papers to be sent to 
 me. I shall not grudge a duplicate should Austen chance to send me 
 the same as you. But his would probably be confined to his own 
 subject, and I should like to see about things in general. I do not take 
 in the Athenaum or Literary Gazette, so any paper that is really giving 
 the notices would be welcome." 
 
 Sir Charles Lydl to Pengelly. 
 
 "53, Harley Street, November 2, 1863. . . . I am sorry it would 
 cost so much to do justice to Kent's Hole. We might get a grant of 
 ^200 or more from the Royal Society, and perhaps some from the 
 British Association, but I do not see my way for the rest. I would join in 
 .a private subscription, but we could hardly raise enough. . . . 
 
 " In the Gibraltar cave there are human jaws of individuals of two 
 races, and much pottery of two ages, and below the stalagmitic crust 
 rhinoceros, ursus, leopard, zebra or small horse, hyaena crocuta, ox, 
 deer, etc. 
 
 " The Bovey Tracey paper is very well done, and makes a handsome 
 and instructive work. I hope soon to send a copy of 3rd Edition of 
 4 Antiquity,' with additions in appendix." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 " 53, Harley Street, December 21, 1863. 
 
 " I find my wife is writing to you on behalf of a governess, which 
 reminds me that when I read over my twenty-sixth Chapter of the 
 ' Manual ' or ' Elements,' which has required much re-casting in the 
 Scotch part, I was rather wishing to have your criticism on pages 423
 
 1862-1863.] THE GEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF DEVON. 145 
 
 and 424, etc., on the South Devon Devonian. I am trying not to 
 extend the text, both because I am pressed for time, as well as for 
 space. My getting out the book will depend on my being able to 
 leave a good deal of it unaltered, except where there are positive 
 errors. But if a good writer like yourself could suggest a sentence 
 or two by way of modification, improvement, or addition, it would be 
 welcome and not cause delay. The pages I allude to struck me as 
 rather dry, and might be enlivened by citing briefly your palaeonto- 
 logical results on the corals. I shall not want it before a month hence. 
 In a day or two I hope to send you the third edition of my * Antiquity 
 of Man ' by post, in which you will see not a few of your suggestions 
 adopted." 
 
 Pengelly to Sir Charles Lyell. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, December 24, 1863. 
 
 "Many thanks for yours of the 2ist inst. I need not inform 
 you that though Sir R. Murchison regards the Slates, Grits, and 
 Limestones of Devon and Cornwall as strictly contemporaneous with 
 the Old Red Sandstones, and, indeed, places the Upper, Middle, and 
 Lower divisions of the former on precisely the same horizons as the 
 groups bearing the same names in the latter (see Siluria, 3rd edition, 
 p. 433) ; and though Mr. Salter has recently endorsed this doctrine 
 (see Quar. Jour. Geol. Soc. for November, 1863, pp. 474 to 496), 
 there are many who do not subscribe to it. 
 
 "To pass by all other dissidents at present, I may mention that 
 Mr. B. Jukes, knowing that Mr. Davidson is now engaged on his 
 Monograph of British Devonian Brachiopoda, has recently been in 
 correspondence with him on the subject. The latter has been so kind 
 as to forward to me all the letters as they came in, so that I am pretty 
 well acquainted with Mr. Jukes' present views. I say ' present ' 
 because he has recently taken them up. 
 
 " The first part there will be three of the ' Devonian Brachiopoda ' 
 will contain something probably not much on the question. It will 
 appear early in 1864; it is hoped in January, say February. I wish 
 you could have the advantage of seeing it before completing your 
 corrections. 
 
 " The following passages will put you in possession of Mr. Jukes' 
 opinions : 
 
 " ' The beds of North Devon are identical in mineral character with 
 those of South Cork, and the fossils' (many of which he says are 
 identical) ' occur in precisely the same positions, etc. But clearly the 
 whole of our Carboniferous slate ' (of South Cork) ' is above the top 
 of the Old Red Sandstone, as may be seen in section after section for 
 hundreds of miles, therefore it cannot be called Devonian anyhow. 
 And if, as I believe, it is merely the muddy and sandy representative 
 of the Carboniferous limestone, it follows that all the Marwood and 
 Pilton beds of North Devon are so too. I am perfectly convinced that 
 this is the true interpretation, and that in North Devon there is not a 
 fossil that is not a genuine carboniferous one, and no such thing as a 
 Devonian one at all. What is the case in South Devon I do not
 
 146 
 
 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 [CH. X. 
 
 know . . . but I suspect all the so-called Devonians are merely 
 geographical representatives of the carboniferous beds, and that 
 Calceola and Stringocephalus, etc., are merely southern carboniferous 
 forms, contemporaneous with the well-known carboniferous in Britain 
 and Ireland, and not preceding them. 
 
 '"As to the Old Red Sandstone, it will have to be split into two 
 if not three. The Cephalaspis beds are the top of the Upper Silurian, 
 the Cocostens beds will probably form the base of the carboniferous. 
 Perhaps there might be a middle group, which may be called Devonian, 
 provided it can be proved to occur in Devonshire.' 
 
 "In writing Mr. Davidson I made the following remarks, which 
 will give you my opinion on the question. 'Mr. Jukes appears to 
 hold that the entire Siluro-Carboniferous interval is represented by 
 the Old Red Sandstone. If he is correct in this, it will follow, I 
 think, that our lower slates, i.e. those below the Torbay, Newton and 
 Plymouth limestones, are the only true Devonian beds we have, all 
 above them being Carboniferous.' (See my paper in Geologist for 
 1862, pp. 456-9.) 'Nay, if Mr. Jukes carries out his threat of 
 handing over to the Carboniferous system the upper Old Red, our 
 lower slates must go too, as they are, I think, on the same horizon. 
 My impression, however, is that the Old Red Sandstone represents 
 the lower, and the Devonshire or Devonian beds the upper part, of 
 the Devonian period or Siluro-Carboniferous interval as in the following 
 scheme. 
 
 Carboniferous. 
 
 Petherwin. 
 
 Dartmouth, or Upper Slates. 
 
 Torquay, or Limestones. 
 
 Mead foot, or Lower Slates and Upper Old Red. 
 
 Middle Old Red. 
 
 Lower Old Red. 
 
 Silurian. 
 
 '"I believe the Pilton or Barnstaple group to be rather Carboniferous 
 than Devonian, perhaps passage-beds between the two ; hence they are 
 omitted here. 
 
 " ' The Dartmouth and Petherwin groups may be on the same 
 horizon, but the former has yielded very few fossils. . . . 
 
 " ' It is no doubt the truth that there are certain species common to 
 Devonshire and to the Carboniferous system ; but it is not the -whole 
 truth, for there are also some species common to Devonshire and the 
 Silurian system, whilst by far the greater number are neither Silurian
 
 1862-1863.] GEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF DEVON. 147 
 
 nor Carboniferous, but intermediate forms, that is, they represent an 
 intermediate period, if it be possible for fossils to do so. There is no 
 doubt that, both specifically and generically, the connection with the 
 Carboniferous is closer than with the Silurian system ; but this appears 
 to prove merely that we have no lower Devonian rocks in this county.' 
 
 " I fear, Sir Charles, this long affair will have wearied you. I will 
 only add that I am engaged in making an abstract of all that has been 
 written on our Devonian rocks since 1836, and that you will find all I 
 have written on them in the following papers, viz. ' On the Devonian 
 Age of the World' (see Geologist for 1861, pp. 332-347), 'On the 
 Geographical' (misprinted 'Geological') 'and Chronological Distri- 
 bution of the Devonian Fossils of Devon and Cornwall ' (see Geologist 
 for 1862, pp. 10-31). This paper was printed more correctly in the 
 Report of the Cornwall Geological Society. I think I sent you one of 
 the reprints, ' On the Correlations of the Slates and Limestones of Devon 
 and Cornwall with the Old Red Sandstones of Scotland ' (see Geologist 
 for 1862, pp. 456-459). 
 
 " I trust I need not say that I shall be delighted, and indeed proud, 
 to write anything to be added to or cited in your Devonian chapter ; 
 but as all I can say on the fossils of this district will be found in the 
 papers just named, you will, perhaps, be more likely to please yourself 
 by boiling down to a sentence or two, all I have written in many. . . ." 
 
 Amongst the visitors to Torquay in the autumn were Dr. 
 Day and Mr. D'Israeli. This was the commencement of an 
 intimate friendship between Pengelly and Dr. Day which lasted 
 till the death of the latter. Although closely occupied at this 
 time, he paid very frequent visits to this invalid friend, en- 
 deavouring to cheer his sad and painful hours. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 "November, 27, 1863. Yesterday I went to call on Dr. Day, late 
 Professor of St. Andrews, and a friend of Professor Edward Forbes, 
 who is come here in a very feeble state, from the effects of a fearful 
 accident he met with some years ago on Helvellyn, falling down the 
 shaft of a disused mine; he is almost confined to his bed. He is 
 quite an intellectual man ; his relative, Miss Otte^ who lives with them, 
 is a clever, interesting woman. She translated Humboldt's ' Cosmos.' " 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 " Torquay, 1863. . . . We have had several calls lately from Mr. 
 Dillon Croker, son of Crofton Croker the author ; he brought a letter 
 of introduction to William from Mr. Wright the antiquary, whom he 
 knows intimately. He tells us that Wright is often up at four in the 
 morning at his writing, and gets through a vast amount of work. . . . 
 Mr. Croker is also a friend of Halliwell, the Shakesperian writer, so 
 he and William have much in common."
 
 148 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. X. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 " Torquay, November 29, 1863. . . . Dined at Mrs. Cosway's on 
 Friday, meeting amongst others Sir John and Lady Harding ; he is a 
 lawyer, and had the chief settlement of the Trent question. D'lsraeli 
 is staying here at present, the old lady he used to come to see having 
 just died Mrs. Bridges Williams. She was over a hundred. It is 
 more than eighty years since she was married. She lived near the 
 Hacks, who knew her well and said she was very eccentric, keeping 
 a whole colony of cats. She had no near relations, so some time ago 
 wrote a letter to D'lsraeli saying how much she admired him, and 
 should like to make his acquaintance. When he got the letter, he 
 was staying with the father of Monckton Milnes, and read the letter 
 out at dinner, as a good joke ; but a lady who was present told him 
 she came from Torquay and knew Mrs. Bridges Williams, and advised 
 him to answer it seriously ; so he came to Torquay to visit her, and 
 now she has left him ^50,000. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly's geological rambles frequently landed him at 
 nightfall in out-of-the-way districts. He describes, in the 
 following words, the difficulties he sometimes experienced in 
 finding a night's shelter : 
 
 "I once spent a summer morning in a quarry of yellowish 
 argillaceous deposits. The commencement of the day was fine, but 
 not assured. Its beauty was somewhat enhanced by a suspicious 
 indication of eventual rain, which was strengthened by the fact that 
 several immediately preceding days had been very wet. About eleven 
 o'clock it accordingly began to rain, but so gently as not to interfere 
 seriously with my work, and as the sky for some time seemed not to 
 have quite decided on its course of action I continued to seek and 
 extract fossils. Soon after noon, however, all hesitation was abandoned ; 
 the rain became so very decided and energetic that there was nothing 
 for me but to seek a temporary home. The nearest town was several 
 miles distant, but I strode rapidly on, through the heavy rain and 
 abundant mud, and soon became thoroughly wet through, whilst my 
 clothing failed not to testify to the colour of the deposits in the quarry 
 where my morning had been spent. Had the question been put 
 respecting my appearance, I must undoubtedly have replied that it was 
 bedraggled, pitiable, and utterly unclean. My only thought, however, 
 was that of reaching the town, in which, though an entire stranger, I 
 knew there were plenty of inns. At length I stood at the bar of the 
 principal hotel, but was told that they were quite full, and could not 
 make up another bed. Application to the next inn produced the same 
 result, and so on to the sixth. The case had now become serious ; 
 and at length the truth flashed upon me that my appearance was 
 neither respectable nor assuring, and that my ability to pay was 
 probably doubted. Acting under this idea I placed ten sovereigns on 
 my palm, and with open and outstretched hand, proceeded to the next 
 house which promised ' Good entertainment for man and beast,' and
 
 1862-1863.] A FIELD GEOLOGIST'S EXPERIENCES. 149 
 
 asked, ' Can I have a bed ? ' The effect was magical. ' Certainly, sir,' 
 was the immediate response. Everything was done to make me com- 
 fortable; and in a short time I was enjoying an excellent meal, and 
 laughing over my adventures." 
 
 On another occasion we find the following amusing account 
 of a ramble near Modbury : 
 
 "To Kingsbridge Road by train. Pleasant walk from station to 
 Modbury. Lanes of the true Devonshire type. Ferns very numerous 
 and luxuriant. Modbury a quiet old town. Walked on to Kingston. 
 Found a comfortable inn the Britannia kept by Mr. Berry, who was 
 my pig-killing host of the Jolly Sailor at Mothecombe. The Britannia 
 is at the same time an inn and grocer's shop, and Berry was gone to 
 Plymouth (twelve miles) to lay in a stock of ales, porters, and groceries. 
 Ten o'clock at night having arrived without him, his wife became 
 uneasy, but tried to console herself with the remark, which she 
 frequently made, that the cart would be heavily laden, and the roads 
 very bad. As time crept on, so did her anxiety, which at length became 
 very serious ; at last, however, just as the clock had struck eleven, the 
 rumbling of cart wheels in the distance had a tranquillizing effect on 
 her nerves ; but when Berry entered the house, it was found he had 
 lost his coat. He had not previously missed it, and thought it must 
 have dropped from the cart not far back; so the tiny servant, only 
 eleven years of age, was sent in search of the missing garment. I 
 volunteered to go too, and at something less than half a mile we found 
 the coat. On our return it appeared the unfortunate Berry had not 
 paid due attention to the stocks of groceries required from Plymouth, 
 and he was being very decidedly, and in no gentle terms, reminded of 
 many such shortcomings on former occasions. His better-half had 
 carefully treasured up all his little as well as his great peccadilloes, and 
 with these, as a ' Cat-o'-hundred- tails,' she certainly did flagellate the 
 poor offender, in the most merciless manner. Berry meekly bowed his 
 head so as to allow the storm to pass with as little injury as possible, 
 and when an auspicious lull came, he volunteered a story he had picked 
 up, which proved to be a charming bit of gossip, that is, judging by the 
 effect which it seemed to produce on the mind of the landlady."
 
 150 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Ci. XL 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF THE EXPLORATION OF KENT'S HOLE. 
 
 END OF 1863 TO DECEMBER 1865. 
 
 PENGELLY'S many-sided activity continued to be manifested 
 by ever-increasing interest in geological, palaeontological, and 
 anthropological research. Some correspondence with Mr. J. 
 W. Salter (who has been already mentioned) has been preserved, 
 and is specially noteworthy, as Mr. Salter's name is known and 
 respected wherever palaeontological work has been carried on. 
 Dr. H. Woodward, F.R.S., speaks appreciatively of his labours,* 
 and especially mentions the work on British Trilobites to which 
 the following letters refer : 
 
 "J. W. Salter, Esq.," Dr. Woodward observes, "undertook a 
 monograph on the British Trilobites for the Palseontological Society 
 in 1864, of which four parts appeared from 1864-1867. This work 
 occupies two hundred and twenty-four pages of letterpress, illustrated 
 by thirty-one quarto plates, and contains descriptions of one hundred 
 and fourteen British species (leaving about two hundred more to be 
 described). No one who takes up this fine work of our old friend can 
 avoid a feeling of regret that Salter's valuable life and splendid 
 palaeontological knowledge should not have been longer spared to us, 
 to carry on to its completion this most important service." 
 
 J. W. Salter to Pengdly. 
 
 " I only keep your Cheirunis, as they will come into an early plate r 
 Nos. 948, 949, 957. 
 
 "But I have taken notes of the numbers and localities of all the 
 others I shall want to see and describe some future day, so I hope your 
 methodical collection will remain nearly as it is. You have some very 
 choice specimens ; a new Phillipsia among the rest, and the only 
 specimens I have yet seen that show the heads of the Bronteus eye, 
 
 * See Anniversary Address delivered before the Geological Society of London 
 in 1895.
 
 1863-1865.] j. w. SALTER'S GEOLOGICAL WORK. 151 
 
 etc. Cyphaspis, too, and other good things. May you prosper and 
 increase ! Many thanks for your prompt kindness in sending these. I 
 thought you would like to have all back which were not in early use, 
 and I take advantage of the opportunity to return them. 
 
 " Mr. Vicary and the others are extremely kind. I ought to have 
 come down to see you from Exeter ; but I could not do it. It was all 
 I could do to get through my actual business there. What a wonderful 
 shorthand report of my lecture, to be sure ! " 
 
 /. W. S alter to Pengelly. 
 
 "Finchley, November 2, 1863. 
 
 "There are five tablets I discovered after I had written you all 
 safe. Decade eleven is not out. But why ask me to send a list of 
 Survey publications, I have o to do with it now. Reeks would 
 send you one directly. On second thoughts I send you my own copy 
 and will get another, that will be less trouble to you. 
 
 " Oh yes, I've thought about the Dodman ! I believe they are the 
 same set, and told Vicary so. Some I know are. Why should not 
 those who have the B[udleigh] S[alterton] pebbles compare them with 
 those in Cornwall ? 
 
 " I've stated in my appendix about these Great Peraver fossils. Thank 
 you for the hint and for all your good will" 
 
 Pengelly to J. W. Salter. 
 
 " Torquay, January 28, 1864. Many thanks for your kind note of 
 25th inst. . . . But to the real business of your note. I can only send 
 you localities for three out of the five species you have figured, namely 
 Phacops lavis, Trappean Ash, Knowle Hill, Newton Bushell, S. Devon ; 
 Phacops latifrons, very deep down in the Pleurodictyum slates at Black 
 Hall, near Totnes, S. Devon. P. arachnoides, very deep in the Pleuro- 
 dictyum slates at St Keyne Hill, near Liskeard, Cornwall. No other 
 Torquay collector has anything worth your notice, I find. In our 
 Museum we have Dr. Battersby's collection, which I should like you to 
 see. If you wish I will apply to the Committee to have all the trilobites 
 sent you. Let me hear from you on this point. I have forwarded your 
 slip of figures to our friend Vicary, and have asked him to send it on to Mr. 
 Valpy of Ilfracombe. Besides these I know of no collector in this 
 district. I have no doubt there are some good specimens in the Geo- 
 logical Museum at Penzance, of which SamL Higgs, jun., Esq., F.G.S., 
 is secretary, and also in the Museum at Truro, about which Dr. Barham 
 of Truro can give you information. I have no doubt an application 
 from you, with a statement of the object, would bring you the specimens. 
 If you write to either or both you can use my name if you wish. . . ." 
 
 /. W. Salter to Pengelly. 
 
 " St. John's Wood, April 22, 1864. ... I do not quite know the 
 locality or name of the Museum at Penzance where Professor McCoy 
 saw, and whence he described, the list of species occurring at Gorran
 
 152 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XI. 
 
 Haven and Great Peraver. But I wish much to examine all the trilo- 
 bites from that locality, and should be glad through yourself to make a 
 formal application for the loan of them to figure in the plates now 
 executing for the Pateontographical Society. I am moreover describing 
 the Budleigh fossils, and these documents would be valuable just now. 
 McCoy describes Homalonotus and Calymene and Phacops, etc. I want 
 to see the whole of the trilobites. Will you try to get them for me ? " 
 
 Dr. Daubeny was at Torquay on several occasions this year, 
 and was much interested in Pengelly's work. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Mother. 
 
 " Torquay, Jamiary 22, 1864. Our little party was very pleasant. 
 We had several friends to meet Dr. Daubeny and Professor Phillips, 
 and they all seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves, and there was no 
 lack of conversation. Professor Phillips is a most agreeable man, 
 every one liked him. He was very much pleased with some of William's 
 fossils, and has given him the new edition of his last work. William 
 has taken him and Dr. Daubeny to see the working at Bovey Tracey 
 which much interested them. I forgot to tell you Professor Phillips 
 was at William's lecture on Monday which was so crowded, that chairs 
 had to be put up all the middle of the room and every spare corner. 
 Some of our friends who came over on purpose to attend it from 
 Plymouth, though only five minutes late, would have had to stand all 
 the time but that more seats were with difficulty carried up for them." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Torquay, June 30, 1864. . . . On Monday I went to Newton 
 and joined Vicary in a drive to Denbury and Ipplepen. On reaching 
 home I found that Dr. Daubeny had left a card, with a message that 
 he is here for a few days only. Tuesday Alf. and I called at 
 Dauben/s ; we had a long chat, amongst other things with regard to 
 the evening Lectures at the British Association. He told me our 
 
 friend almost insists on giving one it is an immense blunder. . . . 
 
 This morning my mother informs me that Jane * intends giving you 
 warning, as soon as you return, as she is about to marry. The con- 
 fidence of this young couple in each other is really most touching. 
 Jane doesn't know what is John's employment, and John cannot get 
 from Jane what her name is. She informs my mother that the 
 business began thus; and in Holy Week. John came with butter 
 on Monday. Quoth Jane: 'Be you a promised?' John : 'No, but I 
 be a looking out.' Jane : ' So be I.' John : ' Shall I come on Good 
 Friday?' Jane: 'I shan't be out then ! you can come next Sunday if 
 you like.' So John came ; and now ! Well, well ; and all this in Holy 
 Week ! . . . I think our Cornish journey may take about a week. 
 We start in a few days. . . ." 
 
 A project was on foot for exploring the limestone caverns 
 * The cook.
 
 1863-1865.] INVITED TO UNDERTAKE EXPLORATIONS. 153 
 
 of Sarawak, but Pengelly never thought of doing the work 
 himself, though it would be gathered from the following letter 
 that he had done so : 
 
 Sir James Brooke* to Pengelly. 
 
 " Barraton, February 20, 1864. 
 
 " I enter heartily into the project mentioned by Sir Charles 
 Lyell for exploring the limestone caverns of Sarawak, and beg you 
 will assure him that any and every assistance shall be given to 
 carry it through. I only wish the Government was in a position to 
 defray the expenses under Sir Charles' direction. It will be no easy 
 task, for the caves are of great and unknown extent, and our Dayaks 
 not infrequently lose their lives in collecting the edible birds' nests 
 found there. Every appliance for the examination should be con- 
 sidered and provided in England. There are fossil remains of shells, 
 etc., found in the strata of the stream both in the right and left hand 
 branches of the river. When you determine upon going, pray inform 
 me, as I shall be tempted to become your companion ! I am not 
 sure whether Mr. Wallace visited these caverns when he was in 
 Sarawak. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly was always greatly interested in those who could 
 claim Keltic origin, and the Welsh and Bretons, as having an 
 especial affinity with his native Cornish stock, particularly 
 attracted him. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Torquay, April 4, 1864. . . . William has much enjoyed his 
 visit to London. He was a good deal with Sir Charles Lyell, who is 
 very desirous for William to accompany him this summer to the South 
 of France ; but he fears he will not be able to arrange it, though it would 
 be a great pleasure to him to join Sir Charles, they have so much in 
 common. He was also extremely interested in attending the Soire'e 
 at the Royal Society, which he speaks of as a very bright gathering ; 
 he was introduced to a Monsieur Pengouilly from Brittany, so of course 
 they fraternized. William says that Colenso, who was standing by 
 listening to them, seemed much entertained with their endeavours to 
 understand each other. ..." 
 
 Pengelly was contemplating a short stay in Cornwall, to 
 continue some of his investigations in the rocks of his native 
 county. The following letter from Mr. C. W. Peach is in reply 
 to a letter written earlier in the spring by Pengelly, asking some 
 questions regarding localities he wished to examine : 
 
 * Rajah of Sarawak.
 
 154 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cii. XL 
 
 C. W. Peach to Pengelly. 
 
 "Wick, N.B., March 18, 1864. 
 
 " Accept my very best thanks for your four papers. I hope to read 
 them carefully, and thus again see, through your description, the rocks 
 of Devon, etc. Bovey Tracey I have never visited ; I think I once 
 saw that spot at a distance. I shall, however, I am sure, have much 
 pleasure in perusing the book and examining the drawings of the plants. 
 I have ascertained this much, that the plates are beautifully done, and 
 no doubt the papers equally well. Thanks, dear friend, thanks for 
 ( them. How I wish I could go with you to the hard quartz rocks of 
 Cornwall ; not being able to do so, I will do my very best to give you 
 directions. I did place some of the Silurian fossils in the Museum at 
 Truro. ... In the Geological Museum at Penzance my best fossils 
 collected for my own collection are. They, as well as the Silurian 
 fossils, are beautiful ones from every locality in Cornwall and Devon. 
 Amongst these are two Ichthyodorulites from Polperro, which, I would 
 stake a good deal on, are really fish defences. Probably you will be 
 able to see them. There is one specimen from Polruan which I now 
 know is a coprolite. I've seen so many in Scotland, that I can speak 
 with confidence now. I should like to see the collection again, and 
 hope yet to see it. St. Austell is the best spot to go to first thence 
 to Mevagissey, and so to Goran Haven. The spot I got the Silurian 
 fossils first at is the great Cairn near Goran Haven. The quartz is 
 the highest point in Great Peraver. . . . The fossiliferous blocks are 
 at the foot of the cliff. When I left, the spot I got most at was partly 
 covered with the debris from the cliff. Amongst the large blocks there, 
 you will find rolled ones, and others in which you will find trilobites 
 and small shells ; the larger shells in the large blocks, which have 
 not been disturbed. As well as the quartz rock, there is a blue gray 
 softish sort of rock, in which curious black fossils may be got. I only 
 wish I was amongst them now, for I am sure additions to the Cornish 
 list may be made in them. These rocks are next the quartz towards 
 Bodrigan. . . . The next locality for fossils (Silurian) is the quartz at 
 the Diamond rock near Cayerhayes beach. . . . The blocks of quartz 
 are the best to search ; and as well as Orthides you will meet with a 
 curious coral-like fossil. But only in the Cairn, Great Peraver, these 
 occur. I ought to have mentioned this before. This curious fossil 
 is most abundant in the quartz rocks of Assynt, Durness, or [elsewhere] 
 in Sutherland. I was very much struck on seeing them there, and 
 at once recognized them as like those in Cornwall. They are called 
 by Mr. Salter 'Annelide bores.' I rejoice exceedingly to think that 
 you are going to visit my old haunts. I am often there in fancy. By- 
 the-by, I got on the top of the Great Cairn at Peraver a piece of quartz 
 beaut'fally polished and striated evidently by glacial action. I did not 
 know then what I do now after having seen acres of polished rocks 
 ah ! scores of miles. Now, then, for my own work, should all be well 
 this summer. By the same post that I got yours, I received an invitation 
 from Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys of London to go with him on a dredging voyage 
 for two months to Shetland. To start in May. I hope to go. I fear 
 you will tire of my long yarn."
 
 I 
 
 1863-1865.] GEOLOGICAL EXCURSION IN CORNWALL. 155 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Torquay, July 10, 1864. ... I got home safely last night after 
 a pleasant, toilsome week in Cornwall. The following brief sketch 
 will show you our movements. 
 
 "Monday, ^th. Left by first train, and at Newton joined Scott and 
 Vicary. We proceeded to Penzance without delay, which we reached 
 soon after 3 p.m. Having secured rooms at the Queen's Hotel on the 
 Esplanade, between Penzance and Newlyn, we went to the Geological 
 Museum to see the Lower Silurian fossils found by Mr. Peach in 
 the quartzites of Gorran Haven. There are numerous but indistinct 
 specimens of few species. We could only identify one as belonging to 
 the Budleigh Salterton species. This done we called on Kenwood, 
 who received us very pleasantly; we then returned to the hotel to a 
 meat tea. Whilst we were discussing this, Mr. Henwood came in to 
 take us to see sundry Elvan dykes; this completed, we went to see 
 the lighthouse in course of preparation for the Wolf Rock between 
 Land's End and Scilly. 
 
 " Tuesday, $th. All to breakfast with Henwood, after which we drove 
 to the Logan Stone, and thence to the Land's End. Had a capital 
 view of the Scilly Isles, which remained visible all day. Walked to 
 Sennen and Whitesand Bay. Much interested in the granite and 
 blown-sand phenomena. Back to Penzance to a late dinner. Mr. 
 Bolitho (my former pupil), having heard from Henwood of our being 
 in Penzance, called and invited us to dine with him next day. After 
 dinner Henwood came in for a chat. 
 
 " Wednesday, 6th. Left for Marazion by 6.5 a.m. train, ordered 
 breakfast at an inn at Marazion, and took a boat for the Mount 
 Went through the castle, and carefully inspected the granitic veins and 
 joints, after which back to breakfast. At 11.15 left by 'bus for Hel- 
 stone, where we overtook a trap for the Lizard and Kynance Cove. 
 At the latter there were several holiday parties, amongst whom I found 
 some old acquaintances. We also encountered young Cooke, son of 
 the artist, rambling about solitarily ; he is on a walking tour in Corn- 
 wall. We returned to a late tea at Helstone. 
 
 " Thursday, ith. Walked to Looe Pool, and at 10.30 left by 'bus for 
 Falmouth, which we reached soon after twelve. Walked to Pendennis 
 Castle and the Raised Beach. Called on R. Were Fox at Grove Hill, 
 but found that he and his daughters were at Penjerrick. Met Alfred 
 Fox and his daughter Mrs. Pease, and also Alfred Lloyd Fox and his 
 brother. Dined at the Royal Hotel. Took train for Truro about 
 four; where, having arrived, we went to the museum, with the same 
 purpose, and with the same result, as at Penzance. Took train for 
 St. Austell, and got there soon after eight 
 
 " Friday, Sf/i. Drove to Gorran Haven (nine miles), and after much 
 search found Mr. Peach's fossiliferous bands; but, though we got 
 several specimens, could not identify more than one with the Budleigh 
 Salterton fossils. Returned through Mevagissey, which is more of a 
 town than we had supposed.
 
 156 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XL 
 
 " Saturday, g/A Visited, the Clay Works. Left St. Austell by 2.50 
 train, and got home about 8.45, heartily tired, but very glad to find 
 your letter. ..." 
 
 Pengelly to Dr. .Davidson. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, February i, 1865. 
 
 " Thank you very much for your kind letter of yesterday's date, 
 and also for that of the 15th ult I have great pleasure in furnish- 
 ing you with such information as I can (from memory) respecting 
 the fossiliferous beds of my native place, Looe. East and West Looe, 
 in Cornwall, are two small towns on the opposite sides, and at the 
 mouth, of the narrow tidal estuary of the river Looe, and are situated 
 about fourteen miles, nearly due west, from Plymouth. The rocks of 
 the district are essentially bluish grey slates; the stratification is 
 beautifully distinct, and the dip, both in amount and direction, is 
 characterized by very considerable uniformity, through great vertical 
 and horizontal spaces. According to Professor Sedgwick, it is ' about 
 30 east of Line South at an angle of 40 (jQuar. Jour. Geol. Soc., vol. 
 viii. p. 1 6). In some places there is a considerable amount of inter- 
 stratified schistose grit, and a few thin calcareous bands here and there 
 present themselves. What appears to be contemporary hornblendic 
 ash is occasionally met with, and in some localities quartz veins are 
 numerous. Some of the less gritty beds are not infrequently 
 ferruginous, in which case the newly exposed surfaces are of a 
 .k yellowish-brown or reddish-brown colour ; these are the principal, but 
 by no means the only, depositories of organic remains. All the Looe 
 JT Brachiopoda which I sent you were from beds of this character. Well- 
 defined joints most of them at (sensibly) right angles to the plane of 
 the horizon, and also to that of stratification are common, and such 
 i| as have been some time exposed to the weather frequently disclose 
 P small orifices, which are trustworthy indications of fossils. The 
 remarkable coral Pleurodictyvm problematicum which, according to 
 Murchison, is a characteristic fossil of the Lower Devonian Rocks 
 (table, p. 433, Siluria, 3rd ed. 1859) is very abundant in the same 
 beds. Some of the specimens are of considerable dimensions, 
 measuring fully seven inches in diameter. This coral occurs also in 
 the slates of Meadfoot, Torquay ; and Mr. Godwin-Austen speaks of 
 it as ' ranging through the whole middle slate district of South Devon ' 
 {Trans. Geol. Soc., 2nd series, vol. vi. part 2, p. 468). The finer 
 varieties of the Looe slates contain the fossils formerly known as the 
 ' Polperro Fish-remains,' but which have been pronounced to be sponges 
 by Messrs. McCoy and Carter, who founded the genus Steganodictyum 
 for their reception. These sponges extend from Looe, westward as far 
 as Fowey, and eastward to the Rame Head, at the entrance of Plymouth 
 Sound. I have met with them also at Bedruthen Steps, on the north 
 coast of Cornwall, a few miles south of Padstow harbour; and at 
 Mudstone Bay, near Brixham in South Devon, in the slates which 
 underlie the great limestones of Berry Head and Sharkham Point. 
 Like Pleurodictyum, they are confined to slate rocks. I have troubled 
 you with these particulars in order to indicate the range of some of the 

 
 1863-1865.] GEOLOGICAL LETTERS TO DR. DAVIDSON. 157 
 
 organisms that were undoubtedly contemporaries of the Looe Brachio- 
 poda. I am glad, but not at all surprised, to hear that you are to 
 receive the Gold Wollaston Medal. I know of no one who has more 
 thoroughly earned it. I beg most cordially to congratulate you on the 
 distinction, and the council on their decision on the question. May 
 you live long and happily to enjoy this mark of the appreciation of 
 your scientific friends and contemporaries. I am getting quite anxious 
 to see your second instalment of your Devonian Monographs, especially 
 your Tables of Distribution. I have great belief in tables for those 
 who geologize as well as for those \^Q jolly gize. After that fearful pun 
 I will close. 
 
 "P.S. If I can give any further information on Devon and Corn- 
 wall, I shall be most happy to do so. Have you seen any of the 
 Lower Silurian Brachiopoda from the quartzites of Gorran and the 
 Great Peraver in Cornwall, besides the one or two I sent you ? " 
 
 Pengelly to Dr. Davidson. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, February 6, 1865. 
 
 " Thank you very much for your letter of the 3rd inst. I now, to 
 the best of my ability, beg to send you replies to your various queries. 
 I would ' locate the Looe grits' (more correctly slates) not in the Middle 
 Devonians at all, but near the top of the Lower Devonians (I scarcely 
 need say that I use the terms Lower, Middle, and Upper Devonians as 
 terms of convenience merely, not as equivalents to Lower, Middle, and 
 Upper Old Red; see pp. 44, 45 of the first part of your Devonian 
 Monograph} ; and here also I would place all the slates of South-east 
 Cornwall, as well as of Mudstone Bay near Brixham, Galmpton Creek 
 on the Dart, and Meadfoot near Torquay ; in fact, all the Plenrodictyum 
 and Stcganodictyum beds. In the first part of your Devonian Monograph 
 you recognize the Looe beds as Lower Devonian (pp. 19, 40), and at 
 page 4 you give, from me, a chronological scheme in which they are 
 thus located. You are quite correct in supposing that I hold the 
 Petherwin beds ' being, as to age, intermediate between the upper beds 
 of the Middle Devonian and the Marwood ones.' I fear I cannot send 
 you any more Upper Devonian localities in either Devonshire or 
 Cornwall. We have no beds of that age in South Devon. Tintagel 
 is certainly Upper Devonian (see Part I., Devonian Monograph, p. 4). 
 I^andlake (not ' Landlabe ') is in Cornwall. You will find it in "" 
 XXV. of the Ordnance Survey Map, a short mile nearly due 
 South Petherwin, and barely two miles south of Launceston. 
 believe, in the parish of South Petherwin, and is the chief fossil-Locality. 
 .in the district. In the writings of geologists, Landlake and South 
 Petherwin are synonyms. There are no _ fossils at the latter place. I 
 am glad to find that Mr. Champernowne is so zealous. . . . 
 
 " Ramsleigh (not Ramsleugh) is situated between Ogwell and Wool- 
 borough ; if we were sure of an unbroken sequence (which we very 
 certainly are not), the Ramsleigh beds would be far above those of 
 Ogwell and Bradley, and below those of Woolborough. Lithologically 
 they resemble the Woolborough beds rather than those of Ogwell, but 
 
 , . . -jrv^ 
 in Sheeti^ 
 e east of] 
 It is, II 
 
 iLLocalitvl
 
 158 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XI. 
 
 they have very few zoophytic fossils in common with either, whilst the 
 Ogwell, Bradley, and Woolborough beds have a large number of corals 
 and sponges in common. I shall return to this point. I observe that 
 in your Table you put Linton and Ilfracombe together ; they are fully 
 twelve miles apart, and this distance is by no means in the direction of 
 the strike of the beds; moreover, the rocks differ a good deal litho- 
 logically. Linton is undoubtedly at the base of the Devonian series in 
 that part of Devonshire, and unless the beds there are Lower Devonian, 
 there can be none of that age in the county. Murchison ('Siluria,' 
 Table, p. 433, 1859), Lyell (' Elements,' _Sixth Edition, p. 532, 1865), 
 and Salter (Quar. Jour. GeoL Soc., vol. xix. p. 489, 1864), unanimously 
 place them on this horizon. Should you, however, decide otherwise, I 
 shall be glad to find that you have given each of the two localities a 
 separate column. 
 
 " You have done well to give Woolborough a column to itself, and 
 there seems no objection to the union of Lummaton and Barton ; the 
 argument, however, is still greater in favour of Ogwell, Bradley, and 
 Chircombe Bridge being united. In fact, there is no such fossil locality 
 as Chircombe Bridge at all. It is simply a small bridge across the 
 little river Lemon, a tributary of the Teign, which it joins at Newton. 
 The Ogwell quarries (there are two, Westhill and Ivy Green) are on the 
 right or south bank of the stream, and Bradley quarry is on the left 
 bank. These quarries are almost within a stone-throw of one another 
 and of Chircombe Bridge. When a geologist uses the words 'Chir- 
 combe Bridge,' he means Bradley or Ogwell, or both.* . . . At Bradley 
 and Ogwell quarries the limestone beds dip about 20 towards S. 39 E., 
 and therefore strike about S. 5 1 W. to N. 5 1 E. (true). ... At the 
 village of East Ogwell there are numerous interstratified, and therefore 
 contemporary, beds of ash and slate, apparently conformably overlying 
 the limestones just mentioned. These ash and slate beds are succeeded 
 conformably by the Ramsleigh limestones ; but in the quarry it is next 
 to impossible to make out stratification at all. Woolborough quarry is 
 in an outlier of limestone, and the ground between it and Ramsleigh is 
 occupied with grits of carboniferous age which entirely conceal the 
 Devonian beds. Moreover, it is quite impossible to make out stratifi- 
 cation at Woolborough. To use Murchison's expression in October 
 last, ' it is a charming piece of bedevilled limestone.' My advice is, 
 that you unite your Bradley, Chircombe Bridge, and Ogwell columns 
 into one, under the name of ' Chircombe Bridge,' with a footnote to 
 say that it includes the two adjacent fossil localities of Bradley and 
 Ogwell. 
 
 "P.S. Instead of 'Meadfoot Sands' at the head of one of your 
 columns, I would use the word Meadfoot simply. It is a sea beach, 
 hence the word sands, which I find has led some strangers to suppose 
 that the fossiliferous beds there are sands instead of slates, which they 
 are in reality." 
 
 The important and striking results which had arisen from 
 * Here follows a roughly drawn ground-plan.
 
 1863-1865.] EXPLORATION OF KENT'S CAVERN. 159 
 
 the workings in the Brixham Cavern induced many leading 
 geologists to desire a systematic exploration of Kent's Hole. 
 It was therefore decided that an application for funds for that 
 purpose should be made to the British Association at the meet- 
 ing at Bath. The result of which was the grant of 100 for 
 the beginning of the work, Sir Charles Lyell, the President, 
 taking an active interest in it 
 
 This opened a new chapter in Pengelly's life, for he not 
 only superintended the exploration of the Cavern, but undertook 
 its entire management, throwing himself, heart and soul, into 
 the numerous duties which it entailed. The labour was arduous, 
 and severely taxed his energies for more than fifteen years ; but 
 it was a congenial employment, and most faithfully performed. 
 He was always happy in the midst of his constant and un- 
 remitting labour, which was in itself a sufficient recompense to 
 one who worked, not for fame or reward, but to advance the 
 sum of human knowledge. 
 
 Pengelly to Sir Charles Lyell. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, April 2, 1864. 
 
 " . . . It is not unlikely that you have given up all thought of 
 exploring Kent's Hole, nevertheless I wish it could be managed. . . . 
 I cannot but think that there are reasons why an application for ;ioo 
 to the British Association at the next meeting might be successful. 
 You will be President, Professor Phillips (who is favourably disposed) 
 will be President of the Geological Section, and I am to be one of 
 the Secretaries. If you decide on the application, it would be well for 
 you to see Sir L. Palk about it. 
 
 " The Duke of Argyll has spent a few days here. He was at my 
 Lecture last Monday, and on Wednesday I went with him to Bovey, 
 and in returning, to some of the Devonshire Limestone quarries near 
 Newton. My wife unites with me in kind regards to Lady Lyell, and 
 the expression of sympathy with her under her recent bereavement" 
 
 After undertaking the exploration, Pengelly became such an 
 enthusiast in the progress made, that, when in Torquay, he never 
 (unless prevented by illness) failed on a single week-day to visit 
 the Cavern, while he devoted many hours at home to the 
 examination of the specimens exhumed. He even abridged as 
 much as possible his short holidays, and all idea of living in 
 London was abandoned on this account. " It falls to the lot 
 of but few men," writes a brother geologist,* " who have spent 
 their lives in a provincial town, to attain to so eminent a 
 * Henry Woodward, LL.D., F.R.S.
 
 l6o WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XL 
 
 position in science, and become so widely known and highly 
 esteemed, as was the late William Pengelly, of Torquay." 
 
 But to return to the Bath meeting, which was interesting and 
 important, though clouded by the sad fate of Speke, one of the 
 discoverers of the Sources of the Nile, who was to have given 
 his narrative in full on this occasion. 
 
 The next letter will show the generous manner in which 
 Pengelly was supported by his colleagues, on the reading of 
 his Paper entitled " Changes of Relative Level of Land and Sea 
 in South-Eastern Devonshire in connection with the Antiquity 
 of Mankind," and the pleasure that the favourable opinion of 
 his views (bearing on this question) by such eminent scientific 
 experts, naturally gave him. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Bath, September 17, 1864. ... I have been very sadly neg- 
 ligent ; but, in truth, I have worked extremely hard. I read my paper 
 (Changes of Level, etc., and Antiquity, of Man) on Thursday, to a 
 densely packed house. The success was immense. Murchison com- 
 plimented me on my 'eloquence and clearness.' Harkness declared 
 I had made a ' great hit.' Etheridge said it was ' the best paper I had 
 ever written.' Evans backed me up like a brick. Phillips, Warington 
 Smyth, Symonds, Evans, and Boyd-Dawkins spoke in unqualified 
 approval. Colenso, finding I was a Cornishman, almost shook my 
 hand off. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " i, Stratton Street, November 23, 1864. . . . Yesterday at break- 
 fast I found who were staying in the house ; there were Mr. Gladstone, 
 his wifei and daughter, and Sir Stephen Glynne (Mrs. Gladstone's 
 brother). Breakfast passed off very pleasantly; Gladstone is a good 
 talker. After the meal Miss Coutts, Miss Gladstone, and H. Wagner 
 went, under my guidance, to Jermyn Street Museum, and I played the 
 showman. Having seen the ladies off, I had a chat with Percy and 
 also Etheridge, and then returned to luncheon, when Sir Charles and 
 Lady Lyell, the Rajah,* and Mr. John Abel Smith were added to the 
 party, and after the meal Crawfurd called, and we all did talk amain. 
 I then went off to Somerset House to make arrangements about the 
 meeting of the Kent's Hole Committee. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " London, November 25, 1864. ... I was glad to get your nice 
 budget of letters yesterday. I called at the British Museum with my 
 Rocombe Kitchen Midden under my arm, where I got S. P. Woodward 
 
 * Sir J. Brooke.
 
 1863-1865.] FIRST REPORT ON KENT'S CAVERN. l6l 
 
 to name the shells, W. Davies the bones, and A. W. Franks the 
 pottery, etc. ; then to the Royal Society to call for the Phil. Trans. 
 due to Dr. Day and myself; then to College of Surgeons to see 
 Flower, respecting the Whale Vertebra ; all very pleasant At dinner 
 we had the Gladstone party, Lord Harrowby, etc., etc., all fortifying 
 themselves to hear and endure my lecture on the Arithmetic of 
 Creation. The lecture was very largely attended. Sir Harry Verney, 
 John A. Smith, and many other friends there." 
 
 Pengelly, with his friend Mr. Vivian, was now occupied with 
 arrangements for the opening of the Kent's Cave work, which 
 entailed much writing and thought, it being especially requisite 
 to provide very careful and trustworthy workmen. He was 
 disappointed in not being able to secure the services of his head 
 workman at Brixham, Henry Keeping, an intelligent and most 
 reliable man, who was now permanently engaged by Prof. 
 Sedgwick in the Museum at Cambridge. His brother Charles 
 Keeping, with a very steady assistant named Smerdon, was 
 finally engaged, and the following extracts from Pengelly's 
 Kent's Cavern Journal (in which for the succeeding fifteen years 
 is recorded the daily work of the exploration) mark the begin- 
 ning of operations : 
 
 "March the z^th [1865]. Went to the cavern with Mr. Vivian, 
 when all necessary instructions were given to C. Keeping, who attended 
 us. Engaged Smerdon as a labourer to work under Keeping. 
 
 " Tuesday, March 2%th. To the cavern. The workmen, as directed, 
 had broken ground outside the cavern, for the purpose of cutting a 
 roadway through a talus of earth and stones wh'ich almost closed the 
 southern (arched) entrance, which for the present is to be the entrance 
 used exclusively by the superintendents and the workmen, the visitors 
 and guide being confined to the northern entrance. The talus consists 
 of fine earth and stones, popularly, and perhaps correctly, believed to 
 have been thrown out of the cavern by the earlier explorers, etc., etc." 
 
 The following letter to Sir C. Lyell accompanied the first 
 Monthly Report : 
 
 Pengelly to Sir C. Lyell. 
 
 "Torquay, May i, 1865. 
 
 " I enclose our First Report of Progress, and have no doubt that 
 you will think we have made a good beginning, and that the British 
 Association is not likely to throw away its money." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Torquay, April, 1865. ... I was very busy two days colouring a 
 very large Diagram for William's lecture, so of course had a crowd of 
 
 M
 
 1 62 \VILLIAMPENGELLY. [Cu. XI. 
 
 callers, amongst others Mr. Gunn, an old clergyman from Norfolk, 
 who remained a long time looking with intense delight at some of the 
 Cavern bones ; he has a splendid collection of fossil Elephant remains, 
 is a good archaeologist, and is brother-in-law to our friend the botanist, 
 Sir William Hooker. Lady Hooker is spending the winter here ; she 
 is a fine old lady. The other day Miss Croome (Dr. Daubeny's niece) 
 went to call upon her, and found her embroidering a frock for her 
 great grand-child, who is just three months old. We have had delightful 
 visits from Sir Wm. Hooker ; he was very much pleased with some of 
 our ferns." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Torquay, April, 1865. . . . W T illiam is extremely occupied with 
 Kent's Cavern just now ; they have not got inside yet, but even on the 
 outside have found a considerable number of shells and bones, not, it is 
 supposed, of great antiquity. He went to Brixham Cavern yesterday 
 with Mr. Gunn and a large party, who were all greatly interested. He 
 lias had a nice letter from his old pupil, the Princess Mary of the 
 Netherlands. 
 
 " You will be pleased to hear that Alfred has got a Scholarship at 
 Christ's College, Cambridge, which is very satisfactory." 
 
 Princess Mary of the Netherlands to Pengelly. 
 
 "Huts de Parar near the Hague, April a,, 1865. . . . Princess 
 Mary of the Netherlands thanks Mr. Pengelly for his letter and for the 
 beautiful volume of Lyell's ' Geology,' which she has received through 
 the agency of Mr. Murray. The Princess recalls with much pleasant 
 recollection the delightful months which she spent at Torquay, and 
 the many geologizing and jollygizing hours for which she was indebted 
 to Mr. Pengelly. Miss von Doom desires to be kindly remembered 
 to him." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 11 Torquay, June 18, 1865. . . . Your letter duly reached me 
 yesterday. I am glad to find you got and get oh so well. I am doing 
 my best to imitate you. On Friday afternoon I took a friend to Kent's 
 Cavern, and had the pleasure of finding that a splendid oval flint 
 implement had been turned up ; it was lying four feet deep and mixed 
 up with teeth of the hyena. Yesterday a capital flake was found. 
 Yesterday Alfred and I went to Hope's Nose, geologizing, and spent 
 the. evening at Mrs. Yorke's, all mighty agreeable." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Torquay, July 5, 1865. ... In the Cavern we are at present 
 removing huge blocks of fallen limestone, and consequently finding 
 little or nothing. Vivian is now at St. Ives. He does not think he 
 has much chance, but is satisfied that were the voters left at liberty he 
 would beat Mr. Paull two to one. It appears there is great excitement 

 
 1863-1865.] SIR J. SIMPSON ON CAVE SCULPTURE. 163 
 
 there. ... I have just received a good volume from the Palaeonto- 
 graphical Society. Davidson has figured a good many of my fossils, 
 and has done me full justice." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Torquay, November, 1865. . . . Yesterday I was prevented 
 finishing my letter by a visit from Sir John and Lady Lubbock, who 
 came to see the fossils from Kent's Cavern, and as William was out I 
 had to show them. Sir John seemed exceedingly interested in them, 
 and sketched the Flint implements, making notes of them. William 
 dined with them, and took them over to Brixham and through both the 
 Caverns." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 "November 19, 1865. . . . Yesterday we had a visit from Sir E. 
 Lytton Bulwer,* who came to see the Kent's Cavern fossils, and remained 
 for some time chatting, so we had a nice opportunity of making his 
 acquaintance ; but he was very deaf unfortunately. He has lately come 
 to live here." 
 
 The following passage in a letter from Sir James Simpson, 
 whose name is so honourably and inseparably connected with 
 the use of anaesthetics in surgical operations, refers to the Cave 
 work at Torquay and elsewhere. 
 
 Sir James Simpson to Pengelly. 
 
 "Edinburgh, October 31, 1865. ... I took the liberty of sending 
 to you yesterday a copy of the London Medical Times, with an article 
 on 'Sculpture in Cave-halls,' marked; and I did so, knowing as all 
 know that you have worked more successfully on the archaeological 
 secrets of caves than any other man living or dead. If perchance any 
 sculptures are ever found in the various caves near you, I should feel 
 deeply obliged by any notice of them, however slight. I have found 
 them now in four Fife caves. . . ." 
 
 During his rambles Pengelly had noticed signs of ice-action 
 in Devonshire, which pointed to the probability that the climate 
 had at one time been much colder than at present. 
 
 Pengelly to Professor/. B. Jukes. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, October 6, 1865. 
 
 " I have just seen, in the October Geol. Mag., your interesting 
 
 note on Glaciation in Devonshire. Years ago, I was in the district 
 
 you mention, walking from Bampton to Porlock; when I observed a 
 
 remarkable series of mouldings on an almost vertical rock surface, 
 
 * The celebrated novelist Lord Lytton.
 
 164 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XI. 
 
 adjacent to, and on the right-hand side of the road, just before reaching 
 a wayside hostelry known, I think, as the ' Rock Inn.' This cannot be 
 far from the spot you name. Is it the same ? I have never seen it 
 since, but it has frequently occurred to me as a probable case of glacia- 
 tion. If you have five minutes to throw away, I shall be glad to know 
 whether or not it is the same as the case you mention." 
 
 The following letters from Sir Charles Lyell, referring chiefly 
 to St. Michael's Mount and the change of level in land and 
 water on the Cornish and Devonshire Coasts, were received by 
 Pengelly during the summer and autumn of 1865. His answers 
 to the various queries in these letters are unfortunately missing 
 in several cases. 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "53, Harley Street, May II, 1865. 
 
 "Referring to your letter of November 3, 1864, I find the question 
 as to the date of my first mention of St. Michael's Mount, and 
 whether it was formerly in a wood, etc., and you say that in your next 
 address to the Nat. Hist. Society of Torquay you meant to allude to 
 what Sir H. James had said on the subject. 
 
 " I am going over page 323 of the ' Principles,' and should be glad to 
 see your address for 1864 (I have that of 18153), or perhaps, still better, 
 if you would tell me whether you think what I have said should be 
 altered or modified. 
 
 " I enclose the page of last edition, lest you should not have it by 
 you, and beg you will return it. 
 
 " Have you not in some paper spoken of the submerged vegetable 
 stratum at Torquay, in which the elephant's tooth was found ? I cannot 
 find it in the papers you have given me." 
 
 Pengelly to Sir Charles Lyell. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, May 13, 1865. 
 
 "My address for 1864 to the Torquay Natural History Society 
 was never printed. I send you by this post thirteen pages of the MS., 
 in which you will find all I said about our submerged forests, the 
 insulation of St. Michael's Mount, etc. I shall be glad to have my 
 MS. again in a few days or a week. . . . 
 
 "The paper about which you inquire, in which I speak of the 
 Torbay submerged forest containing the elephant's tooth, was read at 
 Bath, and printed in the Reader for November 19, 1864, page 643. You 
 will find the subject more fully treated in the MS. now sent. I need 
 not say I shall be very happy if it can be made of service. I presume 
 you are preparing a new edition of your ' Principles,' which I am very 
 glad of. In looking over the paragraph on p. 323 (which I enclose), it 
 appears to me that, since the submerged forests are more modern than 
 the ossiferous caverns which are now admitted to contain evidence of 
 the presence of man, it has ceased to be ' very remarkable ' that ' there
 
 1863-1865.] SIR C. LYELL ON ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT. 165 
 
 seems evidence of the submergence having been effected, in part at 
 least, since the country was inhabited by man.' I think this, the last 
 sentence of the paragraph, requires a slight modification. Perhaps all 
 that is needed is to substitute 'interesting' for 'remarkable.' 
 
 " Before concluding, I trust you will excuse my calling your attention 
 to a paper on 'Recent Encroachments of the Sea on the Shores of 
 Torbay,' which I read in Section "C.," British Association, at Manchester, 
 in 1861. It is printed in extenso in the Geologist for 1861, page 447, etc. 
 I was not favoured with proofs by the printer, hence there are a few 
 typographical errors, and Figs, i and 2 are atrocious." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengclfy. 
 
 "53, Harley Street, May 15, 1865. 
 
 " Your MS. has arrived, and I will return it by to-morrow's post. 
 It is well worth printing, and some day I hope all these scattered papers 
 of yours, which I value much, will be put together in a work on the 
 geology and modern changes of the district. . . . 
 
 "This reminds me of the Brixham Cave meeting. A previous 
 engagement made it impossible for me to attend it ; my notice also was 
 much too short in this busy time in London.'" 
 
 "I think it possible that a low tract with wood may have been 
 swept away at St. Michael's Mount ; but it probably had nothing to 
 do with the submerged forest, which, like that of Torbay, may have 
 belonged to the mammoth era. 
 
 "How old do you imagine the Cornish language to have been? 
 Professor Nilsson, who is a much higher authority than Sir G. Cornewall 
 Lewis, believes that the Phoenicians had a tin trade with the Cassi- 
 terides (as argued by Dr. George Smith) twelve hundred years B.C., 
 and that their trade lasted a thousand years. 
 
 "After reading your paper in the Geologist, which I shall cite on 
 the encroachments of the sea in Torbay, one cannot help wondering 
 that Ictis and St. Michael's Mount agree so well geographically, but 
 they must have been the same ; and it only gives one the more respect 
 for the antiquity of the Torbay elephant, to say nothing of the beach of 
 Hope's Nose, and the antecedent Kent's Hole and Brixham flint im- 
 plements, and yours of the remoter glacial." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelfy. 
 
 "53, Harley Street, May 22, 1865. 
 
 "I have no summons yet from the Brixham Cave,f which is strange. 
 
 "As you are going to St. Michael's Mount, I have determined to 
 send you the two views given by Sir Henry James of the Mount at high 
 and low water, which I was just putting into the hands of an artist to 
 reduce them to half their present size, in order that they may serve as 
 illustrations for the new edition of my ' Principles.' 
 
 * Amongst Pengelly's papers reference is made more than once to the impossi- 
 bility of his attending these committee meetings on the same account, 
 f Committee.
 
 1 66 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XT. 
 
 " I shall employ a good artist, who will put the figures, to give an 
 idea of different distances, out of his own head, and would make any 
 other alteration which you might suggest, if you would kindly criticize 
 the drawing on the spot. In the first place, I learn from Sir H. James 
 that Plate I. was made from a small engraving sold at Penzance as a 
 heading to notepaper, and Plate II. was produced by merely represent- 
 ing the water over the part which is overflowed at each tide. 
 
 " Now, if you could buy for me the original from which he took 
 Plate I., it might be more nearly the size that I want, if not exactly. 
 At any rate, it could not fail to be a great help to me. I should also 
 be glad if you would tell me whether my friend Mr. Edward Bunbury is 
 right, and that the isthmus is made of rock (query, granite or slate ?), 
 covered partially with sand and shingle. 
 
 " Also, Whether St Michael's Mount is made of granite and clay- 
 slate, the last invaded by granite veins. 
 
 " Thirdly, It is difficult to determine whether certain projections on 
 the surface of the rock in the meridian A, B, are of stone, or meant, as 
 I suppose, for bushes or trees. 
 
 " Fotirthly, Is the great mass of bare rock under the castle granite 
 or slate ? Is there some greenstone ? 
 
 "Fifthly, Does not the width of the isthmus here represented in 
 Plate I. indicate very low water ? 
 
 " Sixthly, How many feet of water may there be over the isthmus 
 in Plate II. at ordinary and at highest tides? 
 
 " Seventhly, The port which we see is, I presume, the only one. 
 
 " Mr. Bunbury, who has lately been at St. Michael's Mount, and 
 who is a good archaeologist and scholar, is quite convinced that the 
 mount is the Ictis of Diodorus ; but he does not believe that in the last 
 two or three thousand years there could have been trees here. 
 
 "As to the submerged forest in Mount's Bay, it may be as old as the 
 Tor Abbey mammoth and Bos longifrons, and of higher antiquity than 
 the Phoenician, even allowing that they traded with the Cassiterides a 
 thousand years or more B.C. 
 
 " Please to buy freely anything that may help my two woodcuts, 
 and send back the plates as soon as you can, and tell me what you 
 have spent. Return them also, should anything prevent you going to 
 St. Michael's Mount. I would not trouble you with so many queries if 
 I did not think that the subject would interest you, and beg you will 
 not go out of your way to answer them, as I can put my case tolerably, 
 having seen the Mount long ago, even without the replies." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "53, Harley Street, June i, 1865. 
 
 " I am very much obliged to you for the views and photographs, and 
 am glad that I shall have your paper to refer to long before I print what 
 I have to say. I mean freely to use for illustration the materials you 
 sent me, including the small general view slightly dipt on the exterior. 
 . . . Look at the fifth edition of Murray's ' Handbook of Devon and 
 Cornwall,' in which there are some remarks on the waste of land in 
 Mount's Bay, not all of it, I think, in the fourth edition.
 
 1863-1865.] SIR C. LYELL ON GULF STREAM AND SAHARA. 167 
 
 "In all estimates respecting the rate of waste in past times, we are 
 apt to err in not allowing for considerable pauses. Nature, having 
 infinite time at her disposal, proceeds in a most leisurely way, taking 
 up her operations with activity for a short spell, and then suspending 
 them for ages. In going along a coast where waste has occurred here 
 and there in the last five centuries, there would be long spaces where 
 no work of destruction has been done. To strike an average you must 
 take these areas of inaction into account." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyett to Pengelly. 
 
 " Munich, July 26, 1865. 
 
 "... I hear from Mr. John Carrick Moore that you have written 
 an important paper about the Trade Winds, Gulf Stream, Sahara, etc. 
 As you may not have had separate copies so as to give me one, I shall 
 depend on your telling me in what journal I can buy it, for it is a 
 subject which I am working at. Is it not singular that the hot water 
 of the Tropical Indian Ocean should, as we are told, flow round the 
 Cape of Good Hope across the Atlantic to Brazil, while the water of 
 the Gulf of Mexico flows north-west towards Polar regions ? If the 
 Equatorial Sea north of the Line sends its hot water towards Arctic 
 regions, the Equatorial Sea south of the Line ought to send its warm 
 water towards the Antarctic latitudes. I suppose it is the geographical 
 conformation of the land and bottom of the sea that causes this different 
 behaviour of the southern and northern hot currents. If you have 
 been studying the Trade Winds you can perhaps enlighten me. I 
 presume that, if there were no such winds, the heated tropical waters 
 expanding and becoming lighter would flow towards the north, and 
 towards the south from the Equator, while cold undercurrents would 
 be flowing in opposite directions." 
 
 Pengelly to Sir Charles Lyell. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, August 6, 1865. 
 
 " I am afraid, from your remark, that Mr. John Moore attaches 
 undue importance to my brief communication on the Sahara, etc. 
 The facts are as follows. In the Quarterly Journal of Science for last 
 April, there is a note from a Rev. I. H. Ward, on 'The connexion 
 between the supposed Inland Sea of the Sahara and the Glacial Epoch;' 
 in which the author thinks most geographers think with him, that the 
 north-east trade wind is mainly caused by the Sahara. Believing this 
 to be an error I sent to the editor a note to that effect, which was 
 printed in the July number of the same journal. This is the note to 
 which Mr. Moore refers. I am sorry to say that I have no reprints of 
 it, as the proprietors object to allow any to be struck off. I am some- 
 times afraid that there may be a tendency to overrate the unquestionable 
 influence of the Sahara on the Glaciers of the Alps. Can you, without 
 great inconvenience, let me know who has written on the subject, and 
 put me in a way to get a sight of these writings ? I should like to 
 know (i) what is the proof of the synchrony of the drying up of the 
 Sahara and the diminution of the Alpine Glaciers, and (2) whether 
 this proof is more conclusive than that of the synchrony of the Glacial 
 ages in North America and in Europe.
 
 1 68 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XI. 
 
 " My opinion on oceanic currents is of little or no worth ; but, so 
 far as I understand the question, it appears to me that were our world 
 entirely without dry land, and were the ocean everywhere of uniform 
 depth, the excessive heat of the tropics would produce both excessive 
 expansion and evaporation of the waters there ; but that the evaporation 
 would so much exceed the expansion, as to tend to empty the tropical 
 seas. This would cause a constant flow of water in both hemispheres 
 towards the equator, but in consequence of the earth's rotation, these 
 currents would move towards the south-west and north-west in the 
 northern and southern hemispheres respectively. The ascended 
 vapour would pass poleward, with the trade wind counter currents, in 
 north-easterly and south-easterly courses. But these effects would be 
 not only confirmed but augmented by the trade winds. By the intro- 
 duction of land varying in outline, in height, in horizontal extension, 
 and in thermal relations and qualities and by the formation of 
 inequalities in the sea bottom, the scheme would be so overlaid every- 
 where with modifications as to be scarcely recognizable. Nevertheless, 
 all other things being the same, the modifications would be least com- 
 plicated in the hemisphere having the least land, or, more correctly, 
 least coast, hence we are entitled to expect, that in the southern 
 hemisphere there will on the whole be a more marked movement of 
 water towards the equator, than there is in the north. The Gulf of 
 Mexico is so well represented by the Bay of Bengal and the Chinese 
 Sea, that it may be expected that the thermal characters of the North 
 Pacific and North Atlantic will be very similar, and, judging from the 
 Isotherms, this is the fact as I have endeavoured to show in the 
 Quarterly Journal of Science for January last. . . ." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "53, Harley Street, October 6, 1865. 
 
 "... I write to ask you a question respecting the age of what 
 Mr. Godwin- Austen called New Red Sandstone in his paper on ' The 
 Valley of the English Channel,' Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc., vol. vi., 1850, 
 p. 97. He says that subangular blocks of porphyry of large size show 
 agency of floating ice. In conversation he now tells me that what he 
 called New Red in Devonshire, in 1850, would probably now be more 
 correctly referred to the Permian period ; in which case it would help 
 to confirm Ramsay's Permian glaciers. Do you think that the breccia 
 he alludes to is of Permian age ? Does it appear to you, whatever be 
 its age, to have the characters of a glacial drift ? 
 
 " I have read your paper in the Quarterly Jotirnal of Science for 
 July, which is very interesting. Is it admitted that the north-east trade 
 wind by raising the Gulf of Mexico (Ward says thirty feet) gives origin 
 to the Gulf Stream ? 
 
 " As to what you said of evaporation in tropical seas causing a loss 
 which currents from higher latitudes must supply, do not the heavy 
 tropical rains, sometimes equal in a day or two to our whole annual 
 rainfall, supply the loss by evaporation? The moment you pass 
 beyond the tropics there is a rapid diminution of rainfall, so that I 
 doubt whether currents from temperate regions are much required, if
 
 1863-1865.] TENGELLY'S VIEW AS TO THE GULF STREAM. 169 
 
 at all, on this score ; but, as it is a subject I have not studied so much 
 as you have, I should be glad of your opinion." 
 
 Pengelly to Sir Charles Lyell. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, October 9, 1865. 
 
 " In reply to your letter of 6th inst., I am happy to state, that the 
 whole grant of ^200 was voted for Kent's Cavern at Birmingham. 
 
 "I hold that the Breccias of which Mr. God win- Austen speaks are 
 of Triassic, not Permian age. 
 
 "The reasons for this opinion are given in two of my papers ist, 'The 
 Red Sandstones and Conglomerates of Devonshire,' Part I. Reprinted 
 from the Transactions of the Plymouth Institution, 1861-2. See 
 pages 15 to 18. (I hope and believe that I sent you a copy. On 
 page 18, line 3 from top, for ' unstratified ' read 'stratified'.) 2nd, 'On 
 the Age of the Dartmoor Granites.' Pages n to 20 of the Geologist 
 for 1893. I had no reprints of this paper. It was read before the 
 British Association at Manchester, and printed in abstract in the Report 
 for 1861, page 127, etc. 
 
 " 1 do not think Ice agency is required to, or would account for, the 
 character of the breccia referred to. I have treated of this in my 
 second paper on 'The Red Sandstones, Conglomerates and Marls of 
 Devonshire,' reprinted from the Transactions Plymouth Institution for 
 1862-3 (of this, too, I believe I sent you a copy). See pages 16 and 17, 
 where you will find that I notice the large masses of porphyritic trap to 
 which Mr. Godwin-Austen refers. Pardon my saying that he does not, 
 as you appear to believe, speak of them as being ' sub-angular.' So 
 far as my observations have gone, however, he is wrong in stating that 
 they are ' included in sands and marls ; ' they are found only in very 
 coarse beds. 
 
 " I may remark here that in his memoir on the ' Geology of the 
 South-east of Devonshire,' Trans. Geol. Soc., 2nd series, vol. vi., part 2, 
 page 454, he says, ' No masses occur in the New Red Conglomerate 
 which exceed in size such as, during every gale, are removed by the 
 waves on our own coasts. The largest porphyritic blocks which fall 
 from the cliffs east of Teignmouth are soon transported away.' 
 
 " In the foregoing papers I have supposed all the red rocks of Devon- 
 shire to be of the age of not only the Trias, but of the Bunter. In a 
 third paper on these rocks, now being printed at Plymouth, I state why 
 1 think this should be modified. I fear I shall not get any reprints of 
 it for several weeks, but I send you, by this post, a corrected ' rough 
 proof of some of the sheets, which I have just found in my wastepaper 
 basket, and which will show you what I say on the point. See pages 
 37 to 39. t 
 
 " With reference to the origin of the Gulf Stream, Lieut. Maury, in 
 his 'Physical Geography of the Sea' (1857), combats the opinion that 
 the trade winds are the cause of the Stream, but ascribes it to the 
 difference of density arising from difference of temperature between the 
 equatorial and polar waters. See chapter i. Sir J. Herschel says 
 ' The dynamics of the Gulf Stream have of late, in the work of Lieut. 
 Maury already mentioned, been made a subject of much (we cannot
 
 I/O WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XL 
 
 but think misplaced) wonder, as if there could be any possible ground 
 for doubting that it owes its origin entirely to the trade winds.' See 
 ' Ency. Britannica,' 8th edit. (1859), vol. xvii., page 578, paragraphs 57 to 
 60, or better still, the article, 'Physical Geography,' corrected and 
 reprinted as a separate work. There can be no doubt that the Gulf 
 Stream is at least mainly due to the Trade Winds. Though I do not 
 think the time has yet come when it would be possible to write the 
 Thermal History of the Earth, I am glad to find you are grappling with 
 the question." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "53, Hurley Street, December 20, 1865. 
 
 " I have just been reading over again my references to your papers 
 on Torbay and St. Michael's Mount for my new edition, and referring 
 to a newspaper account or abstract of your Birmingham paper on the 
 Mount. I suppose that no detailed and authorized version of what 
 you communicated to the British Association has yet been printed. If 
 so, please let me know. The drift of your argument, as I understood 
 you, was that the known rate of the waste of the coast was far too 
 slow to enable us to explain how the Mount could have been in the 
 midst of a wood within such a period as that in which the old Cornish 
 language was spoken. Therefore you concluded that a forest tract 
 which surrounded the Mount before the time of Diodorus Siculus must 
 have been submerged. In favour of the fact or probability of such a 
 sinking is the submarine stratum of vegetable matter with the stumps 
 of trees which borders the promontory of St. Michael's Mount This 
 subsidence may have occurred shortly before the time of Diodorus, 
 whereas the other hypothesis of the waste of land by the waves of the 
 sea would demand twenty thousand years. . . . 
 
 " There have been many changes of level in Post-pliocene times on 
 this coast since the human period began, and the last of them may 
 have been shortly before the time of Diodorus ; and the same land as 
 that on which the Torbay mammoth lived, may have continued above 
 water long after the extinction of the mammoth, for most probably 
 people speaking the old Cornish language had no more acquaintance 
 with the mammoth than the lake-dwellers of Switzerland in the age of 
 stone, whose fauna did not include any of the extinct mammalia. 
 
 " St. Michael's Mount appears to me most valuable, as showing that 
 in a region where the monuments of Post-pliocene change are so rife, 
 and the proofs of oscillations of level so various, including the Torbay 
 coast as part of the evidence, there has nevertheless been no important 
 geographical change for nearly nineteen centuries. This does not 
 surprise you or me, because we are prepared to allow tens of thousands 
 of years for post-elephantine times. If any one could tell us that five 
 thousand or ten thousand years hence St. Michael's Mount would answer 
 to the description of Diodorus, we should not think that it implied a 
 suspension of those causes of subterranean movement or of waste which 
 in the course of ages have so often modified our south-western littoral 
 region. 
 
 " My chief desire is to know what you have done in the way of
 
 1863-1865.] SIR C. LYELL ON ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT. 17 1 
 
 publication on this subject, and whether I understand correctly the 
 conclusions you announced at Birmingham. 
 
 " I am glad to see you are to have a Friday evening at the Royal 
 Institution. Dr. Bence Jones has, I think, obtained an unusally select 
 and good set of Friday evening lecturers." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "53, Harley Street, December 27, 1865. 
 
 " I return you your MS., which I have read with interest. I quite 
 agree with the reasoning as to the vast period to which we should 
 have to go back in order to restore a tract of low land in Mount's Bay, 
 surrounding St. Michael's Mount It seems to me also, that long before 
 the time of Diodorus, the island was only rendered useful to the old 
 navigators because of its isolation, and I am unwilling to give a late 
 date to the submergence of the Newlyn and other submarine forests. . . . 
 I was glad to have your Torbay forest paper and the other three papers, 
 which I shall read, and probably refer to on a future occasion."
 
 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XII. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 PROGRESS OF EXPLORATIONS. 
 
 1866 TO 1868. 
 
 IN the spring of 1866 Pengelly had the pleasure of a visit from 
 his friend Professor Harkness. In the following July he visited 
 the scene of the marks of glaciation mentioned by Professor 
 Jukes in a previous letter, and found that these " glacial traces " 
 were nothing of the kind. 
 
 Professor Robert Harkness to Pengelly. 
 
 " Queen's College, Cork, April 22, 1866. 
 
 " After I left you I had an excellent day for seeing the country 
 between Dartmouth and Torcross. Plenty of South dips in the slates 
 which continue nearly to Slapton. I found your fossiliferous grit near 
 Beasands, and have no doubt of its being in the Middle Devonian 
 shales. I was not more fortunate than yourself as regards fossils, for on 
 the whole, mine were more disturbed by cleavage than your specimens. 
 I have no faith in the Metamorphic rocks of Devonshire. Those of 
 Start Point and the neighbourhood, are, I believe, nothing more than 
 Middle Devonian schists which have been terribly contorted and fear- 
 fully smashed up, sometimes along cleavage and sometimes along 
 bedding planes \ and which have become perfectly saturated with quartz 
 veins. From this conclusion it follows that the oldest rocks in Devon- 
 shire are those of the Lynmouth axis. I should very much have liked 
 to have seen the Cornish rocks of Veryan Bay and the neighbourhood, 
 for something interesting must occur there showing the mode in which 
 the Devonians overlie the Carodoc sandstones. If it be that Middle 
 Devonians occur here, then the Devonian base has yet to be made out. 
 I must see Cornwall. Try to get the British Association either to 
 Plymouth or Exeter as soon as possible. 
 
 " Nothing new here in the way of geology. In about six weeks I 
 shall be again at work in the Lake Country." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Torquay, July 6, 1866. ... I was very glad to get your nice 
 letter this morning. You will be glad to hear, leastways you ought to
 
 1866-1868.] ABSENCE OF GLACIATION IN DEVONSHIRE. 173 
 
 be, that I have been enjoying myself very much. Judge by the follow- 
 ing narrative. 
 
 " Tuesday. Reached St. David's Station, Exeter, at 3.15. Found 
 Vicary there. We took North Devon train to Crediton. Walked 
 to Yeoton and Pasbury to see the Traps (i.e. Volcanic rocks). Very 
 fine sections, conclusively showing the Feldspathic traps of Devon to be 
 of strictly Triassic age. Plenty of rain and mud. Got back to Inn at 
 Crediton Station. Took tea there, returned to Exeter. 
 
 " Wednesday. Scott called. We rejoiced together over the resigna- 
 tion of Ministers. Cause why, we shall have a more thorough Reform 
 Bill, by waiting a year or two. Vicary and I started by the 9.45 train 
 for Tiverton. Drove thence to Bampton to see the lime-quarries there. 
 Drove thence to Rock Inn to see the marks of Glaciation mentioned 
 by Jukes in Geol. Mag. in October last. You will remember that it 
 was at the Rock Inn I was offered by the landlord board and lodging 
 for nothing, if I would talk to the men who would be attracted by my 
 blarney. This happened years ago. I inquired tenderly after the said 
 landlord, but he has gone away. Well, Jukes's ' Glacial traces ' are 
 nothing of the kind, that's perfectly clear. What are they, then ? Why, 
 nothing but slickensides. Really and truly nothing else in the world. 
 Well, but what are slickensides. To tell you the truth, I don't know. 
 Oh dear ! oh dear \ 'tis very sad to have one's faith in everything and 
 everybody oozing away. Well, no, not everybody. There's my wife 
 left. We drove back to Tiverton, eighteen miles, by the side of the 
 Exe, a glorious drive, you ought to have been there. 
 
 " Thursday. Took trap and drove to Slantycoombe, to see Trias 
 Outlier mentioned by De la Beche. Could find no trace of it Quite 
 clear that De la Beche made a great blunder. At any rate, we said so, 
 until an old man, whom we casually met, showed us the precise locality ! 
 Thence we drove to Westleigh, to examine the extensive limestone 
 quarries there. These quarries are distinctly seen, and are at no great 
 distance from the Bristol and Exeter Railway between Tiverton Road 
 and the long tunnel, and on the right of the road. This done we 
 drove back to Tiverton Road, where we took train for Exeter, which 
 we reached about seven. After tea came a rest and a chat, and at 
 ten I started for home, where I arrived about twelve. 
 
 "I have just had an invitation from Samuel Morley to be his guest 
 during the meeting of the British Association at Nottingham. . . ." 
 
 During this meeting, Pengelly received the following amusing 
 petition from Mr. Salter, imploring him to do justice to a Report 
 which he and Mr. Hicks were sending in on their latest labours. 
 
 /. W. Salter to Pengelly. 
 
 "St. David's, August 18, 1866. 
 
 " We have tried to get Harkness to read our condensed Report 
 (with map and section) of Hicks's latest labours. Don't let Harkness 
 murder it, or abbreviate it, or read it to half a room as the life
 
 174 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XII. 
 
 of the undersigned of Mr. Hicks, of Mr. Lightbody, of the section, 
 and the whole civilized world depends upon and is based upon the 
 Menevian and Arenig groups. 
 
 " Indeed, I think you may put all your own bones and caves aside, 
 in order to read this with effect It has been strained three times, and 
 ought to have no dregs left. So do it justice, or justice shall be done 
 upon you ! Look at the map ! Only think what it cost to make it ! It 
 is full of faults, but they are the faults of St. David's Head, and not of 
 Hicks orj, W. Salter. 
 
 " Do try to see Harkness and know if he will read it. He has a 
 special liking for Skiddaw rocks. If not, do you, please. And Mr. 
 Lightbody will, we know, unpack the fossils, and see they are packed 
 again for Jermyn Street." 
 
 The exploration of the cavern was going on satisfactorily, 
 and sufficient funds were now in hand to carry on the work for 
 another year. 
 
 Pengelfy to Sir Charles LyelL 
 
 " Torquay, Oct. i, 1866. 
 
 " Herewith I send you the Sixteenth Report of Progress, from 
 which you will find there is very little to communicate. I cannot 
 help thinking, however, that the paucity almost total absence of 
 Bones in that part of the Cavern adjacent to, and lying immediately 
 between, the two external entrances is a remarkable and interesting fact. 
 It would have been very discouraging, however, had it presented itself 
 at the commencement of our researches. The Report I read at 
 Nottingham was well received and excited a great amount of interest. 
 It has been printed in extenso in one of the Torquay newspapers, and a 
 few reprints have been struck off, of which I send you a copy by this 
 post. At Nottingham Mr. Busk was added to the Committee, and a 
 further grant of ]ioo was voted by the General Committee. Of the 
 former grant about ^75 remain, so that we shall have sufficient funds to 
 carry us through another year. 
 
 " The application made by Messrs. Boyd Dawkins and W. A. 
 Sanford was referred to Mr. Busk. 
 
 " I propose to send up to Mr. Busk, with as little delay as possible, 
 all the identifiable bones I have by me, so that we may hope that our 
 Report next year will contain a list of all the animals whose remains we 
 have met with." 
 
 The Chair of Geology' at Glasgow being at this time vacant, 
 Pengelly was urged by some of his friends to become a candidate. 
 Finding from his friend Professor Joseph Lister,* however, that 
 Zoology was also included, he renounced the idea, and wrote 
 as follows to Sir Charles Lyell in 1866 : " I at once decided, of 
 course, not to become a candidate, and, truth to tell, I should 
 
 * Now Lord Lister.
 
 1 866-1868.] THE NOVEMBER METEORS OF 1 866. 175 
 
 regret having to leave my studies in Devonshire Geology. I 
 wish the Government would endow a Chair (perhaps a camp- 
 stool would be more suitable) of Vagabondage in this county, 
 and appoint me to it." 
 
 Pengelly was often amused at the different hypotheses 
 suggested by visitors to the Cavern, as to how it had become 
 tenanted by its various occupants. The following extract from 
 a letter from the late Martin Farquhar Tupper, who was 
 desirous to visit the Cavern under the explorer's own guidance, 
 shows his ideas on the subject such as were perhaps at that 
 time not very uncommon : 
 
 "... I lunch with Mr. Wollaston on Saturday, and I'll see if I 
 can induce him to join us for a Monday visit to Kent's Hole. I want 
 to verify how far there can be room in the entrances for wild beasts, 
 other than thin hyenas, to have got in bodily. Probably the elephants 
 and rhinoceroses, etc., were pulled in piecemeal to be eaten relics of 
 the flood. . . ." 
 
 Between the years 1864 and 1869 there were fine displays 
 of the Leonid Meteors, the maximum showers occurring in 1866. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 "November 14, 1866. . . . We are all so excited about the 
 Meteors, we can talk of nothing else last night was brilliantly clear, 
 I saw several, but nothing very striking till eleven o'clock, when there 
 was a pretty constant succession, many of them with beautiful trains, 
 one really magnificent, of a deep blue colour, like a brilliant lamp, with 
 a glorious comet-like tail. 
 
 " I suppose, however, that I did not see the finest part of the shower, 
 for Mr. Vivian came up, and would have William go down with him 
 at twelve o'clock, to a capital spot on Walden Hill, where he had tea 
 provided, and they had a grand time watching the splendid spectacle. 
 William came back in ecstasies a little after four o'clock. He thinks 
 they must have seen about four a second, on an average, and not less 
 than fifteen thousand during the time they were observing ; many were 
 very beautiful meteors the train of one was visible for ten minutes. 
 The grand shower seems to have come later in the night than 
 was expected. Mr. Richards was their companion a good local 
 astronomer and they all agreed, should they be living at the next 
 occurrence of the shower in thirty-three years, to meet at the same spot.* 
 Wiliiam gave a lecture on the subject last Monday, and great has been 
 the surprise and wonder with many that his predictions have been so 
 wonderfully verified. I suppose if it had been a wet or cloudy night, 
 he would not have gained so much credit. Our friend and neighbour, 
 Miss Otte", was much amused by her gardener saying to her this 
 
 * All three have passed away before the return of the shower looked for in 1899.
 
 176" WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XII. 
 
 morning, 'Oh, ma'am, did Mr. Pengelly make all those stars come 
 last night?' He had heard William had foretold the shower, and 
 thought that was the way of accounting for the phenomenon. . . ." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 " Harley Street, London, W., December 7, 1866. 
 
 ". . . If you really think that any case has been made out to 
 invalidate the conclusion that St. Michael's Mount is the true Ictis 
 of Diodorus, please tell me when you next write. Not that it will be 
 of any use to me now, as my volume is published. But it will be a 
 satisfaction to know something about the pretensions of any other spot 
 on the coast to such a claim. I suppose you will allude to it in your 
 lectures, for the subject belongs to the theme which you have chosen. 
 
 " We are very much interested in your letter to Miss Coutts on the 
 meteoric shower, by far the best account we have seen." 
 
 The following letter will show how gladly Pengelly welcomed 
 discriminating criticism : 
 
 Pengelly to J. Enys. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, December 5, 1866. 
 
 " Thank you very much for the copy of your paper which you were 
 so good as to send me. 
 
 " Those of us who hold (what may be called) the prevalent opinion 
 respecting 'implements' and 'flakes' of flint, are much indebted to 
 those who will print such objections as they may entertain. We shall 
 observe and reason all the more accurately from a knowledge that the 
 able and critical eyes of an opponent are upon us. 
 
 " I have sometimes thought that the vast difference between an 
 * implement' and a 'flake' is not sufficiently borne in mind. The 
 existence of the former, whether polished or not, is a clear indication 
 of the existence of the latter ; since a polished implement must have 
 first been chipped into shape, and in this process flakes, larger or 
 smaller, must have been struck off. The converse proposition is not 
 necessarily true, since Nature can and does form flakes. I do not 
 enter into the question, whether or not it is possible to distinguish 
 between natural and artificial flakes. 
 
 "Artificial flakes, in themselves, do not appear to me to possess 
 any chronological value. They do not define any period. It is well 
 known that man, in various stages of civilization, makes flint implements, 
 and in so doing necessarily produces flakes. The former, so to speak, 
 bear the impress of his individual mental culture ; the flakes do not. 
 Hence I see no reason why in Britain, flakes may not be of any age, 
 from the advent of man on her soil, up to or even far beyond the 
 Roman invasion. ..." 
 
 The question of the Antiquity of Man was now exercising 
 the minds of theologians as well as men of science, and to this
 
 i866-i868.] IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES IN KENT'S CAVERN. I// 
 
 Sir John Bowring alludes in the postscript of the following 
 letter : 
 
 Sir John Bowring to Pengelly. 
 
 "Claremont, Exeter, December 25, 1866. 
 
 "... I have written to Mr. Harpley . . . about my copies of the 
 Paper on Devonshire Dialects. As soon as I get them, I shall have 
 very great pleasure in sending one to Mr. Earle, gratified that he deems 
 it worthy of his notice. 
 
 "I am sorry that I cannot be at Torquay on the ist, when your 
 working people have asked me to preside; but it is our Quarter 
 Sessions, and I had another engagement (this may have a new rendering 
 of the old teaching. ' To wish more virtue is to gain ; ' I say, to wish 
 more freedom is to gain). The wish is father to the thought, and to 
 the certainty of success. 
 
 " P.S. Is it not amusing to see the bishops so complaisantly and 
 so effectually knocking one another down? Oh you geologists! 
 Great are your responsibilities, you turbulent troublers of ecclesiastical 
 serenities ! " 
 
 The Cavern was now yielding a large quantity of teeth, 
 bones, and other interesting remains. Thus the Report of 
 February, 1867, after mentioning that 165 Flint Flakes and 
 Chips had been found during the preceding month ; and that 
 amongst the bones there was one that had been fashioned into 
 a " Harpoon," thus continues 
 
 " In the stalagmitic floor there was found, on January 3rd, part of 
 a human upper jaw with four teeth (right side), and one loose tooth 
 ('Find 1930'). Identifiable bones and teeth of the ordinary cave 
 mammals, though by no means very numerous, have been met with in 
 the red cave-earth. The most remarkable object, however, which the 
 red deposit (cave-earth) has yielded is a well-finished bone pin. . . . 
 This interesting object was found in the fourth foot-level below the 
 granular stalagmitic floor, which was twenty inches thick, and extended 
 continuously in every direction, to considerable distances. It was 
 found on January the 3rd, and was lying with an unworn molar of 
 Rhinoceros tichorhinus. It is not uninteresting to observe again that 
 in the Black Band, four feet immediately above this specimen, there 
 were remains of the hyaena and other common cave mammals. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Torquay, April 25, 1867. . . . We had a delightful visit a few 
 days since from Dr. Tait, Bishop of London.* He was accompanied 
 by Mrs. Tait and their son and we had a deeply interesting discussion 
 on the Antiquity of Man question. The bishop listened to all the 
 information William gave him with marked attention. He has visited 
 
 * Afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
 N
 
 178 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XII. 
 
 the cavern with William, besides taking some other geological rambles 
 with him, all of which appear to have much pleased him, as well as 
 viewing the fossils at our house. Both he and Mrs. Tait pressed us 
 warmly to visit them in London. 
 
 "Last evening Miss Coutts gave a dinner-party for him at the 
 Imperial Hotel, to which many were invited, and we saw a good deal 
 of Dr. and Mrs. Tait. We had a short but very pleasant visit yester- 
 day from Captain Douglas Gallon,* Mr. Godwin-Austen, Mr. Gwyn 
 Jeffreys, and Mr. Prestwich f to view the cavern. They were extremely 
 interested with all they saw. Several remarkable things have been 
 found lately." 
 
 During the spring of 1867 Pengelly delivered a course of 
 lectures at the Royal Institution. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "London, 20, Northiimberland Street, April 5, 1867. . . . I have 
 just finished my third lecture. I satisfied myself. The audience was 
 large and well pleased, I think. This morning Tennant took Vicary 
 and me to the Zoological Gardens. Tell dear Trottie that we gave a 
 leg bone to the striped hyaena to see how he would break it. The 
 keeper pretended to take it from him, and he laughed fearfully. We 
 saw lots of monkeys, swinging about on ropes, amongst them a 
 Chimpanzee and an Orang Outang, and in the nursery we saw a little 
 baby Orang. We saw several pretty kangaroos carrying their little 
 ones about, and a huge hippopotamus swimming about in its pond, 
 and a seal in another." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 " 73, Harley Street, May 29, 1867. 
 
 " I am much obliged to you for the copies of your lectures, which 
 are to me particularly interesting, and I rejoice you are to reprint them 
 under another title. 
 
 " From some of the verbal reports made to me of what you said in 
 your lectures, I gathered that you objected to something in my 
 nomenclature of the Tertiaries in regard to Pleistocene, Post-pliocene, 
 and Recent As I am by no means satisfied myself on these matters, 
 I should be truly glad of any criticism from a friendly quarter. You 
 have, of course, read what I have said in explanation, at pages 5 and 6, 
 'Antiquity of Man,' and page 108, 'Elements,' 6th edition, and note to 
 that last page how that I adopt Lubbock's Palaeolithic and Neolithic 
 ('Principles of Geology,' loth ed., p. 176 and note), and that the 
 Reindeer period intervenes (see p. 176, ibid.}, and that I speak of 
 Glacial and Post-glacial periods. I am aware that, if asked what I 
 mean by ' Recent,' I may not be able to give a very clear answer. 
 
 " I have, however, carefully avoided the use of Pleistocene in all 
 my writings almost from the day I first started it, in order not to render 
 the confusion greater. 
 
 * Now Sir Douglas Gallon. f Sir Joseph.
 
 rS66-iS68J PRESIDENT OF THE DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION. 179 
 
 " I shall be glad to know what terminology you find to be most 
 practically useful, as you have been working so well in these modern 
 divisions of time." 
 
 Pengelly to Sir Charles Lyell. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, June 3, 1867. 
 
 "Thank you very much for your kind letter of 2Qth ult. I re- 
 member that, on two occasions in my lectures, I said a word or two 
 respecting the Nomenclature of the Tertiary and Quaternary deposits. 
 On one occasion I stated that I used ' Caiozoic ' in the sense in 
 which Professor Phillips used it, as embracing both the Tertiaries and 
 Quaternaries, and that I preferred this to the more restricted sense in 
 which you used it, being as I thought more consonant with its 
 etymology. The other occasion had reference to the word ' Pleistocene,' 
 when I expressed the wish that Messrs. Dawkins and Sanford had in 
 their ' Pleistocene Mammalia ' abstained from the use of the word 
 altogether, in accordance with your suggestion. I believe the foregoing 
 is the substance of what I stated. I am somewhat inclined to hesitate 
 before adopting Lartet's ' Reindeer Period.' From the evidence found 
 in this district, the mammoth was living during the growth of the forests 
 now submerged, and the reindeer during the much earlier time of Brix- 
 ham Cavern. Lubbock's ' Palaeolithic ' and ' Neolithic ' appear to me to 
 be singularly happy. If our terms were to apply to our own and higher 
 North latitudes only, or if the whole world had been glaciated, I at 
 present incline to the thought that all present and probable requirements 
 would be met by the terms Iron Age, Bronze Age, Neolithic Age, 
 Palaeolithic Age, Glacial Age, Newer Pliocene, etc." 
 
 In 1867 Pengelly was invited to become President of the 
 Devonshire Association, in succession to Lord John Russell, and 
 was followed by the well-known Devonian, Lord Coleridge, 
 in 1868. The meeting over which he presided was held at 
 Barnstaple, and proved a very successful gathering. His 
 address was chiefly devoted to the Geology of Devonshire, and 
 opened with the following paragraphs : 
 
 " .... It is somewhat usual perhaps desirable on occasions like the 
 present, for the opening address to contain a summary of the prominent 
 facts in the history of Science, Literature, and Art during the preceding 
 twelve months. It would be easy for me to follow this practice, for the 
 period since we met last has been by no means unproductive of 
 important scientific events. Not only has the problem of laying an 
 electric cable across the Atlantic been brilliantly solved, but it has been 
 shown that a cable which has been lost -a year, in an ocean upwards of 
 two miles deep, can be recovered, carried to its destination, and 
 rendered perfectly available for the purpose for which it was originally 
 intended. 
 
 " Less than four centuries ago America was discovered, after a 
 voyage of seventy days from Europe a voyage, be it remembered,
 
 \ 
 
 1 80 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XII. 
 
 undertaken by a scientific man, and an enthusiast, who, by almost all 
 the respectabilities, was denounced as a madman or a knave. Thanks 
 to Science the voyage can now be performed in ten days, and we can 
 send a thought across the Atlantic in a few seconds. 
 
 " And by what step-by-step process have the sciences which com- 
 mercial enterprise has thus enlisted in her service reached their lofty 
 positions ! The Utilitarian may with advantage remember that truths 
 which he has applied to eminently useful purposes, have frequently had 
 a very protracted infancy. The Chaldean shepherd detected a few 
 wandering bodies amongst the stellar hosts thousands of years before 
 Astronomy was capable of presenting to the navigator the priceless gift 
 of a method of determining his longitude by lunar distances. It was 
 discovered in early times that a force existed which was capable of 
 making amber attract light substances ; but a hundred generations of men 
 had to pass away before it was ascertained that this same force could 
 carry a message round the world with a speed outstripping that of light. 
 That steam could move a toy, was known when our British ancestors ' 
 were savages ; but it was not until the time of our own generation that 
 it was found to be equal to the propulsion of sea-going ships. Within 
 the quadrangle of the British Museum, there formerly lay a fine example 
 of the ship of the aborigines of this island the trunk of a tree, hollowed 
 out probably with the aid of fire and flint implements ; the application 
 of scientific principles has transformed her into the Great Eastern, 
 During their growth and development, these principles and truths were 
 but lightly esteemed, and their votaries were sometimes allowed to 
 starve; but without them the Atlantic cable would never have been 
 heard of. 
 
 "Though we ardently admire, and are eminently proud of the 
 application of scientific principles to purposes of general utility, 
 especially in a world where, in the vast majority of cases, the business 
 of life is to secure the means of life, it is probable that, notwithstanding 
 its fascinating and important achievements in telegraphy, 1866 will be 
 chiefly remembered as the year of the great meteoric shower. Those 
 who were so fortunate as to witness the gorgeous spectacle displayed on 
 the night of the I3th-i4th of November must have been deeply 
 impressed, not only with the splendour of the scene, but with the 
 universality of law, the dignity of science, and the existence of faculties, 
 aspirations, and cravings which lie beyond the reach of mere 
 utilitarianism. 
 
 " Attractive as are the topics I have named, as well as many others 
 contained in the budget of the last twelve months, I have decided to 
 give my address a completely local character, and to aim at nothing 
 more than a statement of the present position of opinion respecting the 
 Geology of Devonshire. In making this decision I may have been 
 unwise, but a people's history depends so largely t on their mental 
 development, and this is so closely connected with their avocations, 
 which in their turn so distinctly hinge on the nature of the soil, that I 
 have been unable to persuade myself that to any one likely to attend 
 such a meeting as the present, the theme I have selected would prove 
 utterly uninteresting. Whether the dwellers in a district were to be 
 farmers, miners, manufacturers, or caterers for the comforts and
 
 i866-i868.J FUTURE GEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. l8l 
 
 pleasures of visitors, was predetermined by the agents which, at various 
 periods of the remote past, produced the geological characteristics by 
 which they are surrounded. To a large extent their history was pre- i 
 written on their rocks. . . ." 
 
 After a lengthened review of the various geological 
 phenomena of the county, the address concludes thus 
 
 "It must be unnecessary to remark that the time has by no means 
 arrived when the Devonshire geologists can suspend their labours. 
 There remain many unsolved problems within our borders. We still 
 ask, ' What is the age of the Crystalline Schists at the southern angle of 
 our county ? What is the precise chronology of our Limestones and 
 associated rocks ? Is there, east of Exmouth, a break in the Red rocks ? 
 Whence come the Budleigh Salterton pebbles ? Whence also the 
 Porphyritic Trap nodules so abundant in the Trias ? Are our Green- 
 sands really of the age of the Gault ? Whence the flints so numerous 
 on our existing beaches ? What is the history of our Superficial 
 Gravels ? Are there any indications of Glaciation in Devonshire ? To 
 what race did our Cave Men belong ? ' The solution of^ at least, 
 many of these questions must be reserved for another generation of 
 inquirers, and to the young men of the present day I earnestly 
 commend them." 
 
 In 1867 the British Association met at Dundee, where 
 Pengelly was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Walker, to whose 
 kindness he often referred as making the visit a most agreeable 
 one. 
 
 In the Report on the explorations of Kent's Cavern for this 
 year, which he read before the meeting, he says 
 
 "The committee venture to entertain the opinion that the evidence 
 which the last twelve months have put into their possession renders it 
 impossible for any one to doubt that man occupied Devonshire when 
 it was also the home of the extinct lion, hyaena, bear, rhinoceros, 
 mammoth, and their contemporaries. 
 
 " Of the tools alluded to, two have already been mentioned the 
 bone awl and the 'harpoon' found in the Black Band, beneath the 
 stalagmitic floor, in the Vestibule. As has been stated, in this same 
 thin band there occurred, with the implements just mentioned, teeth 
 of rhinoceros, hyaena, and other of the common cave mammals ; and 
 the story they tell is at once clear and resistless. These, however, are 
 neither the only, nor the best, bone implements which have been ex- 
 humed. Two others have been met with, and both of them in the 
 Red Cave-earth, below the Black Band. One is a portion of a highly 
 finished ' harpoon,' two and a quarter inches in length, and differing 
 from that previously mentioned, in the form of its point, and in being 
 barbed on two sides. To use a botanical term the barbs are 'oppo- 
 site,' not 'alternate,' as is the case with many of the doubly-barbed 
 implements of the kind found in certain French caverns. It is worthy of
 
 1 82 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XII. 
 
 remark that whilst in France the same cavern has rarely, if ever, yielded 
 both singly and doubly barbed ' harpoons,' an example of each kind 
 has been found in Kent's Hole. This implement was met with on 
 March 18, 1867, in the Vestibule, in the second foot-level of Red 
 Cave-earth. Vertically above these two feet of loam, there lay the 
 Black Band about three inches thick, and containing flint flakes and 
 remains of extinct mammals ; over this again came the stalagmitic 
 floor, eighteen inches thick, granular towards its base, crystalline and 
 laminated towards the upper surface, continuous in all directions, un- 
 questionably intact, and without fracture or crevice of any kind ; and 
 superposed on this was the ordinary Black Mould, with Romano- 
 British potsherds. Like all bones found in the Cave-earth, the 
 ' harpoon,' when applied to the tongue, firmly adheres to it. It has the 
 condition which, from the spot it occupies, might have been looked for." 
 
 A bone needle, partially covered with stalagmite, was also 
 found during the year's exploration, 1866-7. [See Rep. Brit. 
 Assoc., 1867.] 
 
 A fracture may be observed in the eye of the bone needle, 
 the history of which is somewhat remarkable. When discovered 
 it was perfect. The news of the finding of so extraordinary an 
 object created very considerable interest, and Pengelly was asked, 
 by a lady, to exhibit this great curiosity to her guests at an 
 "At Home." With his usual urbanity, he consented, and was at 
 much pains during the evening in showing and explaining his 
 treasure. When curiosity had been exhausted, and the needle 
 was again safely in his pocket, his hostess came up suddenly, 
 with, " Oh, Mr. Pengelly, would you let me have the bone 
 needle for a few minutes to show to Lord Lytton, who has just 
 arrived ? " With characteristic confidence and good nature, 
 Pengelly gave his jewel into the lady's hands. In the course 
 of ten minutes it was restored to him, torn from the card on 
 which it had been gummed down, threaded through the card, 
 pin-wise, and the eye broken off and missing. Remonstrance 
 or scolding he felt would be futile, and for the short time he 
 remained in the room, Pengelly had to conceal his mortification 
 and distress as well as he might. As he would relate the story, 
 " I went home, lay awake all night, and took counsel with one 
 whose wit rarely failed to be of use to me in any difficulty my 
 wife." Her advice was that he should make his way to the 
 house ere the family were astir, seek out the head-chambermaid, 
 and, explaining to her what was missing, should offer a hand- 
 some gratuity for its recovery. This was done, and, his mission 
 of explanation accomplished, he took an anxious half-hour's
 
 i866-i868.] THE FRACTURED EYE OF THE BONE NEEDLE. 183 
 
 stroll by the sea. On his return to the house, his eager enquiry 
 was met by the production of the fragment, which he joyfully 
 changed for a half-sovereign. But for this happy recovery more 
 than half the interest of -one of the most important discoveries 
 in Kent's Cavern would have been lost, for it would have been 
 useless to explain that it had once been a needle with an eyelet. 
 The following letter from his old and valued friend Robert 
 Chambers, reached Pengelly during his visit to Dundee, and 
 shows that Dr. Chambers' last illness was then beginning. 
 
 Dr. Robert Chambers to Pengelly. 
 
 "6, Gillespie Terrace, St. Andrews, September 3, 1867. 
 
 "If, as is likely, you join the excursion party to this city on 
 Saturday, please to become my guest here till the Monday morning, 
 and join me in a drive to Dura Den on the Sunday afternoon. 
 
 " I am not strong enough in health to go into the turmoil of the 
 B.A. at Dundee, but am alive enough for the proposed hospitality. 
 A little paper about an Esker at St. Fort, near Newport, is herewith 
 enclosed, with a request that you will read it." 
 
 In acknowledging the receipt of some papers sent to him by 
 Pengelly, Professor Beete Jukes states his views as to the 
 distribution of fossils. 
 
 Prof.J. Beete Jukes to Pengelly. 
 
 " Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, October 29, 1867. 
 " Many thanks for your packet of papers. The one on the dis- 
 tribution of fossils will be useful to me now. You have, however, one 
 little imperfection in your table, viz. putting the word Coomhola, to 
 represent all our carbonif. slate ; this would be tantamount to putting 
 the word ' Marwood ' to represent all the Devonian. Cyrtina heteroclita, 
 for instance, on which Davidson had no doubt, till he heard it occurred 
 in the same bed with Phillipsia pustulata, does not occur in the Coom- 
 hola grits, but at least three thousand feet above them, in the black slates 
 and calc. bands which doubtless represent your Torbay beds, and the 
 Pilton, and the Ilfracombe. Coomhola grits are merely scattered beds 
 of sandstone, up and down in the carboniferous slate, but more at 
 bottom than elsewhere, sometimes twenty feet thick only ; that is, the 
 carb. slate, where it is three thousand or four thousand feet thick, will 
 only have one bed of brown sandstone full of the Marwood cuculloeas 
 and five or six other beds of similar rock, but with no fossils, above and 
 below it But in following the strike of those beds, other beds of grit, grey 
 and brown, will come in above and below, and gradually they will get so 
 numerous as to form a great feature, chiefly grits, two thousand or three 
 thousand feet thick, with cucullteas, etc., scattered up and down them, 
 but interstratified with black slates, and having two hundred feet of
 
 184 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XII. 
 
 black slates below them, full of encrinites and a lot of other fossils of 
 the same species as those in the slates five thousand feet higher. 
 
 " Touching fossils, will you favour me with putting side by side 
 Davidson's descriptions of Spirifera striata land Spirifera disjnncta ? 
 Read them out aloud sentence by sentence, first one and then the other, 
 picking the sentences in the Devonian part, so as to bring the descriptions 
 of similar parts in the same order. 
 
 " Will you then tell me the amount of specific difference you can 
 extract from these descriptions, of those parts which are described in 
 both? 
 
 " After that will you take the figures, and, comparing the differences 
 among the five figures of Sj>. striata and those among the twenty figures 
 of Sp. disjimcta, will you tell me whether any greater difference is dis- 
 cernible in comparing the figures of the two species, than is discernible 
 in the figures of either one ? 
 
 " The only constant character I can discern in Sp. disjuncta to dis- 
 tinguish it from Sp. striata is that the former seems more finely striated 
 than the latter. Is that worth making a specific difference ? Is not 
 Sp. verneuilii or disjuncta just a variety Sp. striata ? 
 
 " Can you appreciate any difference between Strophalosia caperata 
 or productoides and Producta scrabicula ? I can't, neither can a good 
 many people. 
 
 "These are but hints of the modifications of the palseontological 
 facts, which will, I believe, be the result of the application of the true 
 stratigraphical interpretation. 
 
 " Upper, Middle, and Lower Devonian are all bosh ! 
 
 " There is but one fossiliferous group, the species being scattered 
 irregularly and capriciously as they are in carboniferous limestone, Upper 
 Silurian, etc., etc. ; certain species, however, being only found in par- 
 ticular kinds of rock or in particular localities, just as certain living 
 shells are now. 
 
 " My recent examination of South Devon has swept away all my 
 doubts and hesitation. 
 
 " The Old Red Sandstone lies under all your fossiliferous Devonian, 
 coming up here and there, through faults or inverted folds, and over- 
 lapped occasionally by the carboniferous slate, which stretched across 
 it with a ridge of Silurian slate round Veryan Bay, which has been tilted 
 up and inverted on to the Devonians by the very same line of inversion 
 which runs from Dartmouth, through Plymouth Harbour, to the Dodman 
 and thereabouts. The southern borders of the Plymouth limestones 
 are inverted, and dip at the beds which lie under them our Coomhola 
 grits, etc." 
 
 In January of 1868 Pengelly delivered two lectures at 
 Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Newcastle, January 23, 1868. . . . My second lecture is over. 
 On Tuesday I studied this good town somewhat, and among other 
 things I saw the old castle, which when new gave a name to the town.
 
 I866-I868.] LECTURES AT NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. 185 
 
 It contains a very large collection of antiquities, mainly derived from 
 the old Roman wall. In the evening my host's sister, Miss Richardson, 
 had a rather large party, of which I was a fraction. The evening was 
 very pleasant. Yesterday I accompanied my kind host, D. Richardson, 
 to see a large collection of local fossils, made by, and the property of, 
 a Mr. Astley, a small country shopkeeper. It proved to be a really 
 splendid, probably unique, series of carboniferous fish, many of which 
 induced me to believe that some of the so-called Polperro ' sponges ' 
 may be fish remains. Next we went to a coal-pit, but did not go down. 
 Then we travelled on an engine for several miles, in order to keep an 
 appointment to dine with Mr. R. C. Clapham, one of the secretaries of 
 the Newcastle Society. Yesterday I got a letter from Sir W. Armstrong, 
 asking me to spend a day and night at his house. My time, however, 
 is too much engaged and too limited to permit this, and so, when I met 
 him at the lecture last night, we arranged that I should take luncheon 
 with him on Friday. 
 
 "This evening Dr. Brady gave a party in my honour. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Stratton Street, Jamiary 25, 1868. ... I am this moment 
 come in, having left Newcastle two hours and a half late. I am all 
 right, and am going out for the rest of the day. Yesterday I took 
 luncheon at Sir W. Armstrong's, and spent a very pleasant afternoon ; 
 indeed, my visit from first to last has been most enjoyable. Everybody 
 as kind as they could be ; nothing could surpass the kindness of my 
 host D. Richardson and his wife. Lady Armstrong showed me over 
 her splendid fernery. Sir William is so much interested in Kent's 
 Cavern that he declares he and Lady Armstrong will come down to 
 see it. I purpose leaving this about noon on Monday, and expect to 
 reach Southampton about 4.30.* I shall be very glad to see you all 
 once more. I wish you could go with me everywhere. . . ." 
 
 Professor Huxley and Sir Charles Lyell were greatly inte- 
 rested in the discovery to which the following letters refer. 
 
 Rev. W. S. Symonds to Pengelly. 
 
 " Pendock Rectory, Tewkesbury, March 23, 1868. 
 
 "I enclose a note from Leonard Lyell, \ from which you will 
 see, if he has not already written to you, that you have discovered 
 Pteraspis in the Devonian proper ; and a capital find it is, as being an 
 undoubted Old Red fish of both Siluria and Scotland. 
 
 " Of course, it is a question whether the large species (which, as I 
 detected its existence in your cabinet, I may venture to claim a right 
 to call P. Pengcllii) may not range into far higher beds than our lower 
 zones of the Old Red of Herefordshire, than the P. rostratus or Lewisii. 
 I do not know where your Plymouth beds lie in the Devonians, but I 
 think you said near the base of the system. 
 
 * Where he was to deliver a lecture, 
 t Now Sir Leonard Lyell, M.P.
 
 1 86 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XII. 
 
 " I have a letter from Sir C. Lyell, saying that he thinks the argu- 
 ment of the nearly total change of species and genera of mollusca 
 between the Upper Silurians of Siluria and the Lowest Devonians a very 
 important point, and it is one to be carefully considered on attempting 
 to correlate the Old Red with the Devonian. 
 
 " I shall not easily forget the pleasant days and instructive time I 
 passed in Devonshire with you, or the kind hospitality with which you 
 and Mrs. Pengelly welcomed me and my many friends. I look forward 
 to seeing you both here, and to showing you some of our Pteraspis- 
 bearing rocks before the summer is over. I promised you a photograph 
 of my Old Red figure, so enclose it with kind regards to yourself and 
 Mrs. Pengelly." 
 
 Leonard Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "42, Regent's Park Road, N.W., March 24th. 
 
 " When I took your cigar-box the other day to Jermyn Street and 
 showed Mr. Huxley the specimens, he declared the larger slab to be 
 unmistakably Pteraspis, and remarked on its large size, and the number 
 of individuals jammed one on the top of another. Professor Huxley 
 also suggested the propriety of your giving these beds at-Looe a thorough 
 working, to obtain perfect specimens oFthe Pteraspis, and of your 
 sending to town a set of these fossil remains. As for the remaining 
 specimens, he considered them to be portions of fish, but too small to 
 determine. 
 
 " When I was leaving his room, and was looking about in case of 
 any specimen being overlooked, Mr. Huxley assured me, with almost 
 amusing gravity, that all the specimens were in the box, and that he 
 had not withheld one. Then I began to understand your scruples con- 
 cerning the morality of London palaeontologists ! I have since delayed 
 returning to you the box only that my uncle might have an opportunity 
 of seeing the Pteraspis. 
 
 " With many thanks to you for the pleasant recollections I have of 
 the expeditions to Brixham and Kent's Hole." 
 
 Professor J. Beete Jukes to Pengelly. 
 
 "Dublin, April 4, 1868. 
 
 " I've just heard from Huxley about your Pteraspis, found at 
 Meadfoot, 'between Torquay and Plymouth' he says that is your 
 description of the place ; but surely Meadfoot is that place in Torquay, 
 is it not ? or is there another Meadfoot ? 
 
 " It is a grand find, and goes against my views, I admit ; still, it is 
 not conclusive, any more than species of Silurian genera of trilobites 
 make the Devonian rocks Silurian ; so I shall stand by my carboniferous 
 colours till they are battered down by stratigraphical as well as palseon- 
 tological evidence. 
 
 " I've a paper on South Devon in the press ; but have been quite 
 knocked up this winter, with all sorts of botheration had to go to 
 Gully of Malvern, etc., etc."
 
 II 
 
 1866-1868.] DISCOVERY OF A WHALE. l8/ 
 
 Jonathan Conch to Pengelly. 
 
 " Polperro, June 15, 1868. 
 
 " I can confidently assure you that the fossils to which you refer 
 were discovered by myself, and I have a lively remembrance of the cir- 
 cumstances attending the discovery, which was made as I was climbing 
 upon some steep rocks at a place near what is called Chapel. 
 
 " But after this I engaged an individual of the Coast Guard to 
 extend the inquiry, which he did with much intelligence and persever- 
 ance. His name is William Loughrun, now superannuated from the 
 Coast Guard, and at present engaged with Mr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys in a 
 dredging excursion among the Shetland Islands. He preserves fish 
 exceedingly well, and supplies the British Museum with them. Our 
 friend Peach was always persuaded that the fossils referred to were fish 
 which I never believed ; but I once saw a small stone which bore 
 the marks of skeletons of real fishes Pleuranectidce. I was not able 
 to obtain it, and I believe it was finally lost." 
 
 Another interesting discovery was that of the remains of a 
 whale. 
 
 Dr. J. E. Gray to Pengelly. 
 
 " British Museum, May 17, 1868. 
 
 " Thanks for the notice of the second vertebra of the whale from 
 Babbacombe. Could I see the specimen, or a photograph of it? 
 I am sorry to say that I have no separate copy yet of the account of it. 
 The Proceedings of the Geological Society do not send the separate 
 copies until the part containing the paper is out ; as soon as I get one 
 you shall have one. The discovery of this whale is most interesting, 
 as there was only a single imperfect specimen of it known before, found 
 on the coast of Sweden. I have had a facsimile of the vertebra of the 
 original specimen sent to me, it and yours are nearly identical." 
 
 In the spring of 1868 Pengelly had the pleasure of a visit 
 from Mr. C. W. Peach, who had been spending a short time in 
 Cornwall with the object of reviewing and making notes on his 
 geological collections, brought together many years before and 
 presented on leaving for Scotland to the Penzance and Truro 
 Museums. After leaving Torquay, Mr. Peach visited London 
 on his way home, and the following extract from a letter to 
 Pengelly relates the opinions formed of some of his specimens, 
 by Geologists in Town. 
 
 " I brought with me from the Penzance Museum," he writes, " a 
 few specimens from my collection. I thought them Ltngufa It was 
 pleasant to find Salter in the museum ; * he was there for examination 
 of Trilobites for Cambridge folk, for comparison. I showed him bits, 
 and at once he said Lingnlce ; and on Etheridge seeing them he said 
 
 * Jermyn Street.
 
 1 88 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XII. 
 
 the same ; and as they are the first noticed from Cornish rocks, I am glad 
 to go ahead. I shall, I hope, one day say more about these ; at present, 
 beyond going to Davidson, the thing must rest. I found Sir Roderick 
 at the museum, and spoke to him, and told him about them. The old 
 chief laughed, and told me about the Land plants of the Cambrian 
 lately found, and that, since they were got, true Lingulce have been 
 found in the same rocks, and these said plants prove on examination 
 to be Sponges. I hope these sponges will be more genuine than Mr. 
 McCoy's. The veteran was in fine feather about this decision, and 
 was on the top ropes about the meeting and dinner of the Geographical 
 Society. He was looking well after the fatigue. They say he 
 acquitted himself well, indeed surprised everybody. ..." 
 
 At the British Association meeting, which was t this year, 1868, 
 held at Norwich, Pengelly read his Fourth Annual Report on 
 the Kent's Cavern Exploration, in which are mentioned among 
 other interesting " Finds " in the overlying Black Mould, pieces 
 of Pottery, a spindle-whorl, a roughly shapen piece of New Red 
 Sandstone, a portion of a bone comb, marine shells, and " part 
 of a human upper jaw with eight teeth, of which four were still 
 in their sockets." He also read a Paper " On the condition of 
 some of the bones found in the Cavern " in which he remarks 
 . . . "The third class consisted of bones broken with an oblique 
 fracture, and precisely resembled the larger remnants left 
 by Hyaenas, as the author had found by a series of experiments, 
 which he had made at the Zoological Gardens, London." 
 
 Rev. Canon H. B. Tristram to Pengelly. 
 
 "Greatham Vicarage, Stockton-on-Tees, September 2, 1868. 
 " I have never stated in any of my works that any caverns I had 
 visited are tenanted alternately by man and wild beasts. But I 
 mentioned in some fugitive paper or other on Tunis and its interior, 
 that several of the old Roman cisterns and crypts in the south of that 
 region are used by the Arabs for shelter and for cattle-folds during 
 their sojourn in the locality, and that when they have cleared off the 
 pasturage and gone, the hyaenas return and take up their quarters in 
 these dens. I may add that at Rabbath Ammon (now Ammon) in 
 Gilead, east of Jordan, I found plenty of the well-known droppings of 
 hyaenas in the vomitaria of the theatres, in places which are covered 
 with the manure of the beasts, which the Arabs stable there during 
 their sojourn every spring in the place. When we were there the 
 Arab cattle had gone, but only a few days before, and we found no 
 wild beasts." 
 
 In the autumn of 1868 Professor Boyd Dawkins arranged to 
 visit Torquay for the purpose of identifying the bones found in 
 the Cavern.
 
 I866-I868.] DISCOVERIES IN KENT'S CAVERN. 189 
 
 Professor Boyd Dawkins to Pengelly. 
 
 "Romford, September 8, 1868. 
 
 "Can you help me to the knowledge of the man who owns the 
 lithograph stones of the plate of Machairodus tooth found by Mac- 
 Enery, and published by E. Vivian in 1859? I write if possible to 
 borrow it for Palaeont. Society Monograph on Felis. Frank Buckland 
 writes me that he knows nothing about it. Of course you know. 
 Item concerning bones ; when will it be convenient for me to begin 
 the task? I wish to finish them as soon as I can; for delay with me 
 is a synonym for laziness. If possible I should like to get the task 
 done before the year's end. . . . Hoping that you are digging away, etc." 
 
 Pengelly to Professor Boyd Dawkins. 
 
 " Torquay, September 21, 1868. 
 
 " I have delayed answering your note until I could meet with Mr. 
 Vivian, as he alone can give information about the stones of the plate 
 of Machairodus. I have just seen him (that is Vivian, not Machairodus), 
 and he says ' the plates were lithographed by Scharf, on stones found in 
 the stores of Hullmandel & Co., London, and printed by them for Mr. 
 F. Buckland, and given to him, E. Vivian.' I can tell you no more on 
 this point. 
 
 " I am busily engaged writing numbers on the Kent's Cavern bones, 
 so as to facilitate your work when you arrive. I ought to have a good 
 start before you begin, in order that I may be able to keep ahead of 
 you. Will it suit you to fix your visit for the beginning of November ? 
 I shall have a large number ready by that time." 
 
 In the Monthly Report on Kent's Cavern for October, 1868, 
 is thus noted the discovery of a fine bone needle 
 
 " Before closing this Report it may be interesting to state that Mr. 
 Boyd Dawkins, having arranged to visit Torquay shortly for the purpose 
 of identifying the Bones and Teeth found in the Cavern, the Secretary 
 has commenced a preliminary inspection in order to facilitate the heavy 
 task. While thus engaged, on the 24th ult., he found among the contents 
 of the box labelled ' 1847 ' what appeared at first to be a very small 
 Bone having one end covered with stalagmite. On being touched the 
 stalagmite fell off a thing very common in the case of specimens which, 
 like this, have been washed and dried and the Bone proved to be a 
 portion of a needle, having a well-drilled eye, which the stalagmite had 
 previously concealed. It is slightly taper ; its section is sub-elliptical,, 
 resembling that of a bodkin, rather than of a needle, and it has lost its 
 point It is about 0*85 inch long, its greatest diameter at the larger end 
 is about o'o75 inch, and at the smaller end 0*05 inch. There are 
 numerous fine longitudinal striae on its surface, as if it had been 
 scraped into shape. The Secretary's Journal shows that it was found, 
 December 4, 1866, in the Black Band below the (Granular) Stalagmite
 
 IpO WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XII. 
 
 Floor, which was described in detail in the Third Report of the 
 Committee, read at Dundee in 1867. (See Report British Association 
 for 1867, p. 29)." 
 
 Professor Boyd Dawkins to Pengelly. 
 
 " Romford, November 2, 1868. "I am preparing myself to wrestle 
 with the Kent's Hole collection. The best plan of attack is, I fancy, to 
 open the boxes according to their numbers. ... In this way the work 
 will progress swiftly, and we can do some thousand per diem. I know 
 all the species at sight, except Grizzly and Brown Bear, and these I am 
 getting up. Thank heaven, F. Spelcea is done for aye and aye ! . . . 
 Don't trouble about lists or a catalogue ; I have it all sketched out, and 
 all the names of the beasts are down all that we shall find. . . ." 
 
 Another extract from Pengelly's Journal during the same 
 month (November) records an interesting find. 
 
 " Thursday, November 26. While engaged to-day in the pre- 
 liminary investigation of the Cavern specimens at my house, I found 
 in the 'find 2206' a well-formed 'Harpoon,' barbed on one side 
 only. When I took it out of the box it was completely invested with 
 stalagmite, a part of which fell off in my hand, and disclosed some of 
 the barbs. The tool is not perfect, but another piece of bone, apparently 
 an implement also, is not improbably a portion of the harpoon. (See 
 Evans' ' Ancient Stone Implements,' p. 460, Fig. 404.) In the same 
 * find ' there is a piece of bone with an artificial cut on it." 
 
 Pengelly to Sir Charles Lyell. 
 
 "Torquay, November II, 1868. 
 
 " I beg to call your attention to the following minutes. . . . 
 " P.S. Mr. Boyd Dawkins, assisted by Mr. A. Sanford, commenced 
 the examination of the Cavern fossils at my house yesterday. You will 
 be interested in hearing that they have detected remains of Beaver 
 amongst them." 
 
 The Queen of Holland soon after this visited Torquay, and 
 was much interested in Pengelly's Geological discoveries. 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "73, Harley Street, London, November 26, 1868. 
 
 " I am glad to have copies of the five Memoirs on the Caverns and 
 Ichthyology of Devonshire, as well as the Meteorology of your county, 
 which attest your scientific activity in the present year. 
 
 " Miss Coutts invited us last week to meet the Queen of Holland at 
 a luncheon party at her house ; and, having the honour to sit next her 
 Majesty, she told me a good deal of her visit to Torquay, of which she 
 had a lively recollection, especially on those points of the geology to 
 which you had served as a guide. She said she had promised you the
 
 i866-i868.] DISCOVERY OF REMAINS OF A BEAVER. 191 
 
 skull of an orang outang, which had been sent to her, and which she 
 was told was a valuable specimen. I happened to say, ' He will perhaps 
 give it to the Torquay Museum.' She said, 'Why should he do that ? 
 I meant him to consider it entirely for himself.' 
 
 " I was glad to hear of the Beaver, but shall not be satisfied if Mr. 
 Boyd Dawkins finds nothing new except that animal ; although if such 
 should be the case, it would prove how well you have been observing 
 all the osteological details so that scarcely anything had escaped you. 
 
 " Leonard will be pleased to read your notice of the Pteraspis. The 
 recognition of it was a good hit ofSymonds." 
 
 Pengelly had this year the pleasure of showing Kent's 
 Cavern, and explaining the work in hand, to Professor Tyndall, 
 John Bright, the great orator, and other friends.
 
 192 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIII. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 RICH DISCOVERIES IN KENT'S HOLE. 
 
 1869 TO 1871. 
 
 AMONGST Pengelly's scientific friends at this period may be 
 especially mentioned Charles Kingsley and the late Mr. W. 
 Froude, naval engineer * (brother of Richard Hurrell Froude, 
 so well known in connexion with the Tractarian Movement, and 
 of James Anthony Froude the historian), who was now residing 
 at Cockington near Torquay, and was conducting, at the wish of 
 the Government, many interesting and important experiments 
 on the displacement of ships, on a small piece of water artifici- 
 ally formed in his grounds. He and Pengelly had many 
 interests in common, as will be seen from a few extracts from 
 Froude's letters. Whether written in a playful vein, or on 
 abstruse mathematical subjects, his letters were ever welcome, as 
 his conversation, in like manner, always afforded pleasure. 
 
 W. Froude to Pengelly. 
 
 "Chelston Cross, 11.59 p.m. (that is to say after the nth hour). 
 " Sir Thomas and Lady E. are coming to dine with us to-morrow, 
 rather on a 'grand hop.' I think it is likely that you know him; 
 and if so, you will be the better able to judge whether it would be 
 pleasant or a bore to you to meet them. He seems to me a very 
 pleasing, intelligent, open-minded man (perhaps my reason for thinking 
 him such is that he seems to like me !), ' and one who likes to know 
 about things,' and who does know about many things in a sort of 
 general way, without, however, having any definite pursuit. Now, if 
 your cold is well enough, and if you can spare the time, and it isn't a 
 bore to you so to spare it, it would give us and him pleasure if you 
 would join us at dinner to-morrow (you see by this time it is to-day !) 
 at 7.30 p.m. 'Don't hesitate to say no if you'd rather not,' but make 
 up (in that case) some agreeable excuse, such as that the bottom had 
 
 * He died in Simons Town, South Africa, whither he had gone partly for his 
 health and partly to carry on some scientific experiments, on May 6th, 1879.
 
 1869-1871.] CORRESPONDENCE WITH W. FROUDE. IQ3 
 
 fallen out of Kent's Cavern, or that the earth contained in it is in 
 apogee, or that you are in opposition, or something more pleasant even 
 if less true." 
 
 This spring Pengelly had the agreeable satisfaction of 
 initiating and carrying to a successful issue Mr. Froude's 
 candidature for the Fellowship of the Royal Society, and 
 amongst other letters received on the subject was one from 
 the late Professor Tyndall. 
 
 " I should gladly comply with any request of yours . . . the signing 
 goes for nothing with the Council what you want is a member of the 
 Council to speak for your friend. If Mr. Froude has published in the 
 Phil. Trans , I will sign his Certificate. . . ." 
 
 W. Froude to Pengelly. 
 
 " Chelston Cross, March 4, 1869. 
 
 "This is the third time I have been baulked of my purpose of 
 calling on you, to thank you for the very great and effectual trouble 
 you have taken on my behalf in reference to my F.R.S.-ship ambition. 
 An interruption which I could not shirk having each time come most 
 inopportunely. So let me now thank you on paper at least. You are 
 kind enough to make light of it ; but I know what a tax it is on the time 
 of a man who occupies his time fully, to write a lot of letters, and this 
 tax you have paid for me without stint. I have received from the 
 President an invitation to an evening at Burlington House on the 6th 
 inst. and on the 24th April. I suppose they have Candidates up to look 
 at them. I hope to go in April, but on the 6th I cannot go." 
 
 W. Froude to Pengelly. 
 
 " Chelston Cross, Torquay, June 22, 1869. 
 
 " You perhaps have seen the request I wrote to you the other day 
 on behalf of Capt. Noble. Like the Sibyl in Roman fable, I become 
 more exacting in proportion to my disappointments. 
 
 " Captain Noble has been talking of the Cave to the ' Distinguished 
 Officers ' who are conducting the artillery trials on Dartmoor near the 
 Prison. (It is a pity they can't have the Convicts to try the merits of 
 4 Shrapnel v. Segment Shell ' upon. It would be more life-like.) 
 
 " Well, the said officers are very anxious to see the interior of the 
 Cave, and to talk with you on your results (General Dickson is the name 
 of the Boss) ; and as Saturday is the holiday, they would come over here 
 next Saturday, so as to avail themselves of any part of the day you might 
 have at your disposal to show them what is to be seen there. 
 
 " Seriously I feel that this sort of thing must be a really great exaction 
 on any man whose time is so really filled up as yours. 
 
 " I explained this ; and you must not on any account hesitate to say 
 ' no,' unless you can bring it within the ordinary limits of self-sacrifice, 
 which I know you make full wide. 
 
 O
 
 194 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIII. 
 
 " I should have come to see you, but I have been laid up this 
 week with the gout I am now afloat again, but not in trim. 
 
 " I will send over to-morrow noon to see if there is an answer." 
 
 IV. Froude to Pengelly. 
 
 " Chelston Cross, Torquay, August 22, 1869. 
 
 " I return your book, with many thanks ; I have read with much 
 interest the papers to which you called my attention. The more so, 
 as I had on various occasions heard the views which the paper 
 states comprehensively and compactly, crudely and loosely stated in 
 conversation, and had been attracted by this. The authority on which 
 they come indeed is sufficiently good to oblige an outsider to adopt 
 them so far as he need decidedly adopt any on the points in question, 
 and besides that, so far as my weak geological knowledge enables me 
 to follow them, they seem to be conclusively worked out if indeed I 
 except one point my doubts about which I state with much hesitation. 
 The difficulty is this : From principles involved in the circumstance of 
 the Earth's rotation, I feel it difficult to understand how an oceanic 
 current can combine a westerly element as it flows northward above the 
 Equator. The Gulf Stream in its westerly course before it reaches the 
 Equator, is acting in due accord with the principles in question, and no 
 less so as it again trends eastward across the North Atlantic. That it 
 might be driven westward to some degree, by the combination of its 
 northerly impulse and the pressure of an intercepting continent, is of 
 course possible; but that impulse must become spent by degrees, 
 namely, as soon as the excess of easterly velocity due to its Equatorial 
 rotation, when transferred to the lesser velocity of rotation belonging to 
 the higher latitudes, had become equal to its original velocity as a 
 current This at least is a difficulty, the solution of which I do not see, 
 though the difficulty seems real and obvious but then it is one which the 
 writer of the paper is certainly not likely to have overlooked so I 
 shall bottle up the doubt to serve as the subject of a conversation when 
 next I meet you, and when the chances are you will be able at once to 
 set me right." 
 
 Rev. Canon Kingsley to Pengelly. 
 
 "Eversley, Dr^hfield, March 15, 1869. 
 
 "I have been reading I need not say with what pleasure certain 
 tracts of yours which I had not ere now time to study. I shall not 
 intrude compliments on you, but come to a question. Among the 
 ' Raised Beaches in Barnstaple Bay,' you take no notice of Northam 
 Pebble Ridge. I have long considered this as a raised beach, because 
 
 " i. It is high above high-water mark. 
 
 '' 2. I could never find any sign of accretion to it, the sea-bottom 
 outside being all smooth fine sand. 
 
 " 3. Because a similar pebble ridge, as it seems to me, is forming, 
 or has been formed, at Buckish Gore, running out far to sea northward, 
 to the westward of the ridge (four miles to the west of and intercepting 
 any stones which may fall from the cliffs at least between Bucks and 
 Hartland Point).
 
 1869-1871.] KINGSLEY ON BARNSTAPLE PEBBLE RIDGE. 195 
 
 " 4. Because beneath the pebble ridge at low tides there are 
 exposed, beneath the sand, beds of blue clay and peat, seemingly 
 homologous with the other sunken forests of W. England and VV. 
 Wales. Now this bears on your Presidential Address, page 26, where 
 you say that ' In no instance are the subaerial portions of the forests 
 overlain by marine deposits beyond the reach of the waves at the 
 existing level.' Of course all depends on what you think the pebble 
 ridge to be. I have looked at it long, and have come to the same 
 conclusion as (I think) Phillips came to. But that it is of the same 
 era as the raised bedded beach of the North side Braunton and 
 Lamerton (which I used to puzzle over as a boy, and which you so 
 well vindicated against Spence Bate) I do not say. It seems to me 
 rather of the same era as certain raised shell beaches which I could 
 show you about Hunstanton, in the North Coast of Norfolk, which 
 certainly seem to me later than the submerged Post-pleiocene forests 
 of Brauncaster, etc. 
 
 " Pardon my daring to differ from you in opinion." 
 
 Pengelly to the Rev. Canon Kingsky. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, March 20, 1869. 
 
 " I am very sorry that I have not been able to answer your kind 
 and interesting letter before. Herewith I send you a small parcel 
 of my papers, one of which is on 'The Submerged Forest and the 
 Pebble Ridge of Barnstaple Bay.' There appears to be good evidence 
 that the Ridge marches slowly landward (the pebbles having an 
 occasional game at leap-frog), and it is certain that, during heavy gales, 
 vast bodies of water are thrown over it at spring-tide high-water. With 
 these facts in view, it does not appear to me requisite to suppose that 
 when the ridge was formed, the level of the land was lower than it is 
 at present. Indeed, with such an unresisting plain landwards of it, I 
 doubt very much whether, if the land were lower, the Ridge would long 
 retain its present position, or stop short of the cliff which bounds 
 the plain. You will find that whilst I believe the Raised Beaches of 
 Braunton, Hope's Nose, etc., are contemporary with one another, and 
 older than the Submerged Forests of Northam, Torbay, etc., I incline 
 to the opinion that there have been changes of level since that which 
 carried down the forests. 
 
 " If you will kindly let me know what papers of mine you have by 
 you, I will, with your permission, send you copies of all you have not, 
 as far as I can do so." 
 
 Rev. Canon Kingsky to Pengelly. 
 
 " Eversley Rectory, Winchfield. 
 
 " I have been reading your interesting paper on Beekites of 1858. 
 
 " One thing always struck me about them, and the beds in which they 
 are found, viz. the trace of active volcanic agency. I always suspect 
 volcanic springs where I find trace of water containing silex in solution. 
 I suspect flows of hot water, holding silex in solution, may have caused 
 our chalk flints.
 
 196 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH.XIIL 
 
 " But there are (to me) distinct proofs of the conglomerates of 
 Torquay having been formed, some of them under active volcanic 
 agency. Froude the historian (who is no geologist) first pointed it out 
 to me, when bathing off the Beekite beds at the Thunderhole. " See," 
 he said, " that every fragment of these older rocks is angular. They 
 have not been rolled on a sea beach. Have they not been blasted out 
 of a volcano ? " At once there occurred to me the great similarity 
 between them and the dust and gravel beds of the Eifel, which I know 
 well ; and where, round each crater of explosion, you have vast (recent) 
 layers of dust and little angular bits of the Devonian strata rasped by 
 steam off the lips of the crater. 
 
 " Do think over this action unless you know all about it, and more, 
 already. And tell me where I can find information about the ' traps ' 
 of S. Devon and their age." 
 
 The British Association met at Exeter in the autumn of 1869. 
 Though not a large meeting, it was an interesting one. Being 
 little more than an hour's journey from Exeter, many of the 
 men of science gathered there took the opportunity of visiting 
 Torquay and its neighbourhood. 
 
 Pengelly to Sir Walter Trevelyan. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, July 19, 1866. 
 
 "When, upwards of two years ago, I had the pleasure of being 
 introduced to you in Kent's Hole, by my colleague Mr. Vivian of this 
 town, we had some conversation on the alleged occurrence, in the 
 cavern, of Machairodus latidens, formerly known as Ursus cultridens. 
 I am preparing a paper on the subject for the British Association, and 
 shall be greatly obliged if you will be so good as to favour me with 
 replies to the following queries with permission to use them publicly on 
 your authority. 
 
 " i. Were you present when Mr. MacEnery found the canines of 
 Machairodus ? 
 
 " 2. Did you obtain from him one or more of the canines? 
 
 " 3. If so, have you it, or them, in your collection at present ? 
 
 "4. If not in your collection, do you know where they are ? " 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 "Exeter, August 20. . . . The soire'e last night was delightful, 
 but so crowded. I saw many I knew. William introduced me to 
 Babbage, Professor J. Couch Adams, and several others. I had a very 
 nice talk with Sir Charles Wheatstone, also Professor Huxley, which is 
 always a treat, Busk, Balfour, etc., and a chat with Miss Becker, who 
 was walking about with our friend Mr. Edgeworth. William read his 
 Report on Kent's Cavern to a full house, Boyd Dawkins following. 
 Professor Phillips's lecture was very good." 
 
 It was for the Red Lion Dinner at Exeter that a parody of
 
 1859-1871.] THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT EXETER. 197 
 
 Gray's Elegy was written. The last two verses of which are thus 
 mentioned by Dr. Woodward in his Presidential Address, at the 
 Anniversary Meeting of the Geological Society, 1895. At the 
 conclusion of his obituary notice of Pengelly, he says: "But 
 few men write their own epitaphs ; here, however, is the epitaph 
 written by William Pengelly for himself, at the British Associa- 
 tion, Exeter, 1869. 
 
 EPITAPH. 
 
 Here rests his head on balls of album gracum, 
 
 A youth who loved Cave-earth and stalagmite ; 
 
 If fossil bones they held, he'd keenly seek 'em ; 
 Exhume and name them with supreme delight. 
 
 His hammer, chisels, compass lie beside him ; 
 
 His friends have o'er him piled this heap of stones. 
 Alas ! alas ! poor fellow ! woe betide him 
 
 If, in the other world, there are no bones. 
 
 That his parody amused some of his friends is shown by 
 the following letter from Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson, " Pray 
 send me another copy or two of your wonderful elegy. I have 
 learnt it already, and shall recite it at dinner to-night." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Torquay, September 5. . . . To-day we had a very pleasant call 
 from the Macmillans, who are staying here now. William knew rather 
 intimately the brother who died many years since, and whom we liked 
 exceedingly. He spent one or two winters here, and was the founder 
 of their large business. Alfred R. Wallace, the traveller, is staying 
 with them, and I was very pleased to be introduced to him and have a 
 nice talk when I went to visit them. William has taken them all to the 
 Cavern. Yesterday, we had a charming visit from the President of the 
 British Association, Mr. Stokes ; * he was accompanied by Dr. Robinson 
 of Belfast and his wife. The latter is a sister of Maria Edgeworth. 
 We much enjoyed showing them the fossils, etc., and they were so pleased 
 and interested with all they saw. Dr. Robinson, who is Astronomer 
 Royal for Ireland, is a delightful old man. William is reading Dean 
 Milman's work on St. Paul's Cathedral now with much pleasure; 
 knowing him well makes it more interesting. 
 
 "September 26. The old Bishop of Exeter, Dr. Phillpotts, was 
 buried yesterday in the beautiful little churchyard at St. Mary Church. 
 Mr. Barnes the vicar (and Examining Chaplain to the Bishop) sent a 
 note to William saying the family would be gratified by his attendance, 
 so of course he went. There were a great many people there, but the 
 funeral was very simply conducted. On Tuesday we spent a very 
 * Now Sir G. G. Stokes.
 
 198 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn.XlIL 
 
 pleasant evening at Miss Coutts', to meet Sir Harry Verney and his 
 charming daughter. Sir Harry is a very old friend of William's, and we 
 saw much of Miss Verney when she was here a few years since, so it 
 was very pleasant to meet them again. She tells me Miss Zitter, her 
 companion when here before, and who left her to become Secretary to 
 the Crown Princess of Prussia, is now teaching the little Princess of 
 Nassau. If you remember, she was a friend of Mrs. Tennyson.* The 
 next day Sir Harry and Miss Verney came for us, and we drove with 
 them to the Cavern, where I left them for the Macmillans. They 
 wanted William to dine with them on Thursday, to have more of Mr. 
 Wallace's company ; but he was unable to do so. He is going to Sir 
 Wm. Tite's to dinner this evening, the architect, who is wintering here, 
 and of whom we see a great deal." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Torquay, November 16, 1869. . . . Dined at Lady Brownlow's last 
 night, to meet the Countess of Mount-Edgcumbe and Lady Ernestine, 
 and had a very pleasant evening. Sir Edward and Lady Malet were 
 there ; he was formerly our representative at Frankfort, and they are 
 great friends of the Queen of Holland." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "Drumkilbo, Meigle, September 18, 1869. 
 
 " I have just returned from a tour in Sutherlandshire, where I 
 have been studying with my nephew the relations of the Laurentian, 
 Cambrian, and Lower Silurian rocks, the geology of which Murchison 
 has so well made out. The scenery of that region is very peculiar, 
 and more grand and picturesque than any part of the British islands 
 I have before seen. We have had six weeks of uninterrupted fine 
 weather, and got home just before the rain. 
 
 " I am afraid I cannot be of any use to you. Mr. Busk has my 
 copy of Schmerling ; but it is, I believe, just what you describe. There 
 is a paper a few years old by Mr. Malaise, on some discoveries of the 
 Liege Caverns, which I could look out if I were in town; and M. 
 Dupont, to whom the Belgian Government entrusted the exploration 
 of their Caverns and the placing the produce of them in a public 
 museum, has sent me several reports, which, no doubt, I could hunt 
 up if I were in London, if you thought they would be useful to you. 
 I expect to be in town early next month. 
 
 "The British Association Meeting seems to have been very 
 successful. I am glad you got a fresh grant, the vouchers for which 
 have been sent me." 
 
 Professor Phillips to Pengelly. 
 
 " November 19, 1869. 
 
 " . . . I thank you heartily for the gift of the second part of Kent's 
 Cavern Literature very conscientiously and judiciously done. The 
 * Now Lady.
 
 1869-1871.] PROF. PHILLIPS ON CAVE DISCOVERIES. 199 
 
 good old Prtre * was really more worthy of a place among geological 
 inquirers, than that which has usually been accorded to him. I have 
 hope to find the first part among the many valued gifts of like nature 
 for which I am indebted to you ; and in that case I shall bind the 
 researches concerning Kent's Hole ; for a high place (within reach) 
 in my Geological Library. You have written much and well, and I 
 trust many years of health and good work are before you in the county 
 which you have made famous." 
 
 Shortly after leaving Torquay, Mr. Alexander Macmillan 
 wrote to Pengelly, requesting him to furnish an article on 
 Kent's Cavern, for the Magazine published by his firm. He 
 says in his letter 
 
 " I cannot forget your kindness to us at Torquay, and the interest 
 you added to our pleasant visit to your pleasant town, of many hills and 
 one cave. I hope when you come to London you will come and see 
 me here, and also at my house at Tooting, where, though there are 
 neither hills nor caves, there is pretty enough country, and there will 
 certainly be to you a kindly welcome." 
 
 Among the people of celebrity who visited the Cavern under 
 Pengelly's guidance this year may be mentioned the Rev. 
 Frederick Denison Maurice, Lord Talbot de Malahide, Sir 
 J. K. Shuttleworth, Sir Harry Verney, and General Lefroy. 
 
 Sir James Kay Shuttleworth had become Chairman of a 
 Committee for exploring the Settle Caves in Yorkshire, and 
 was thus especially interested in the work. 
 
 W. Froude to Pengelly. 
 
 " Chelston Cross, Torquay, September 23, 1869. 
 
 " Many thanks for conveying to me Miss Burdett Coutts' message, 
 which I shall act on. 
 
 " I was very glad to observe you dispense your ' Colourless Exegesis ' 
 
 to the Torquay (and other) public on the subject of Mr. 's 
 
 threatened deluge. (As to , whoever he may be ... his name 
 
 has figured in so many foolish sham science prognostications, that he 
 ought to have his exegesis, by no means colourless.) I was amused 
 to observe how, while you allow or rather oblige, your readers to feel 
 that they are swallowing plain common sense, which will approve itself 
 as such to any reader of ordinary intelligence, you oblige them at the 
 same time to swallow a lot of hard words which will rather puzzle them, 
 such as Anomalistic year, etc., etc., as a penalty for having gobbled 
 
 clown 's nonsense, just because it was so flavoured as to give them 
 
 the notion they were ' being scientific ' in accepting it. As a regular 
 
 * MacEnery.
 
 2OO WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIII. 
 
 doctor will often flavour his wholesome physic with a little extra 
 nastiness, when he finds his patient has been taking the advice of a 
 quack. 
 
 "It is a curious psychological fact that people will listen in the 
 name of science to any quack who talks sham science, but are disposed 
 to think that such men as the Astronomer Royal and his establishment, 
 are ignorant or inattentive to their business. 
 
 "I remember an old stage-coachman of my acquaintance, who 
 once listened with an uneasy patience to a narrative of some great 
 cruelty which some one had been practising on a dog. My friend 
 was fond of dogs, and when the story came to an end his indignation 
 overflowed. Referring to the perpetrator of the act, he said, ' Well ! 
 if the Devil don't get that fellow, there ain't much use in keeping of a 
 Devil (or having of a Devil I forget which was the word used) not 
 as I sees.' 
 
 " So if we can't trust to the Greenwich establishment to keep us 
 informed as to all the known or knowable results of usual astronomical 
 combination, we had better leave off maintaining it. 
 
 " This sort of folly would hardly thrive so, if Education were what 
 it ought to be. 
 
 "But I suppose things will mend by degrees and indeed are 
 
 mending. Only s ought to be abolished : they help to discredit 
 
 real science in public opinion, whether the chance shots come right 
 or fail. If they hit the mark by a fluke, the Public say, Why didn't 
 any one tell us this? if they miss it, half the world won't see the 
 failure the other half set the humbug down as a scientific failure." 
 
 The mammalian remains found in Kent's Cavern brought 
 Pengelly, from this time forward, into correspondence with Pro- 
 fessor Owen,* who was always most willing to assist him with 
 regard to Books, Plates, etc. 
 
 Professor Owen to Pengelly. 
 
 " British Museum, November 23, 1869. 
 
 " I applied the first leisure at my command on my return to 
 London to the reply to your inquiry relating to Schmerling, which 
 reached me in Wales. Our library possesses the 4to text (Liege, 
 1833), etc., and 4to text, 1846. Our Librarian knows not of any 
 other publication, since 1846, by Schmerling, and I conclude that 
 the volumes of that date were the last under his name. But I 
 have further to remark, that the vols. of 1846 are not merely reprints, 
 but the unsold parts of the impression of both text and plates of the 
 edition of 1833 a "d 1834. With new title pages ! ' Premier Volume' 
 of 1833 is 'Tome Premier' of 1846. 'Second Volume' of 1834 is 
 'Tome Second' of 1846. Gollardin vends the 1833-4 impression, 
 Oudart vends the vampt-up edition of 1846. Voila toute la difference ! 
 As far as collation has gone, there is not an error corrected, or any 
 alteration ; it appears to be the same impression with a new title. 
 
 * Afterwards Sir Richard Owen.
 
 1869-1871.] \V. FROUDE ON THE MOON'S INFLUENCE. 2OI 
 
 " Now let me thank you for the * brochures ' you were kind enough 
 to send me. MacEnery's is very suggestive. What a pest the fixed 
 idea of the Mosaic Deluge becomes, when a good observer puts that 
 blinker over his eyes ! " 
 
 How close the friendship between Pengelly and Mr. W. 
 Froude had become is clearly shown by the following letter : 
 
 W. Froude to Pengelly. 
 
 "Chelston Cross, Torquay, January 10, 1870. 
 
 " MY DEAR PENGELLY, 
 
 " Or does that sound, as a boatman of mine used to phrase it, 
 
 ' too familiar '? But the fact is, I don't go in much for Mistering. 
 
 ... It should by rights be the elder of the two who initiates that 
 familiarity, and I waited for you as the senior to begin ; but when I 
 found how much stronger your hand is than mine, I began with grief 
 to feel that it was I who was really the older, and I take the first free 
 shot. 
 
 " I wanted to say a few words about the moon, and the evaporation 
 and the warmth or cold which she causes on the earth, in reference to 
 the few words we had on that subject the other night. 
 
 " Is not TyndalPs proposition, that a given thickness of water in- 
 tercepts the same amount of obscure rays, whether coherent as water, 
 or as in the shape of vapour? So far, therefore, as that principle goes 
 (if I state it correctly), the cloud would intercept as much obscure heat 
 after it was turned into transparent vapour as before, while it was cloud. 
 
 " It may be, however, that the globular particles of water of which a 
 cloud consists reflect obscure rays as they reflect luminous rays, and the 
 effect of cloud in preventing the formation of dew would be not by 
 radiating back the obscure heat which the earth has radiated to it, but 
 by reflecting it back. 
 
 " This couldn't interfere with your proposition or paradox, that the 
 moon's warmth may make us colder sometimes; it would only shift the 
 basis of it." 
 
 In March, 1870, the Queen of Holland, Sophia of Wurtem- 
 burg, called by some writers " La Reine Rouge," from her 
 liberal tendencies, again visited Torquay, and was present at 
 one of Pengelly's lectures. 
 
 Mrs, Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Torquay, March 8, 1870. As you express a wish to hear what we 
 have seen of the Queen of Holland, I intend, if I have time, to give 
 you a full, true, and particular account. I think I told you William 
 was asked to meet her at afternoon tea at Miss Coutts' the day after 
 her arrival. She talked a good deal to him, and expressed a wish to 
 call on Thursday, which she did, with her suite. When I was introduced 
 to her she shook hands cordially, desired me to be seated, and said how
 
 202 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [-Cn. XIII. 
 
 pleased she was to make my acquaintance ; she took much notice of 
 little Hettie (Lydia, being at school, missed seeing her), asking her 
 questions and petting her. We were greatly pleased with her visit, and 
 also with the ladies and gentlemen of the suite, particularly with the 
 Baroness de Dedan* and the Baron de Simonshaven. The Queen 
 had visited the cavern when here for a few days last November, and 
 had invited William to spend the evening with her at the hotel. She 
 speaks English very well, and William says seemed thoroughly up in 
 English matters, discussing who would be appointed Archbishop. Also 
 she talked well on the origin of man, of Huxley's and Darwin's views, 
 etc., and has given William the skull of an orang outang which she had, 
 and thought he would value. 
 
 " On Monday she expressed a wish to attend William's lecture at 
 the Museum one of a geological course he is delivering there. Miss 
 Coutts, who always attends them, came and met her at the door, sitting 
 next her ; the Vice-President also met her, and presented a bouquet. 
 The first row of chairs was reserved for the party, the Queen sitting in 
 the middle ; she looked very much interested in it all, and when the 
 lecture was over crossed over to tell William how pleased she had been, 
 but said it was too short. Miss Coutts told me afterwards how much 
 interested the Queen had been. (It is very amusing what a number of 
 people have called to ask if the Queen would be at William's next 
 lecture.) The Baroness de Dedan and all the suite, too, were most 
 friendly, both then and in the evening, when we met at Miss Coutts', 
 where a brilliant party was assembled. The dresses and jewels were 
 magnificent, but the crowd was so great we could scarcely move. She 
 talked a good deal to William about a hasty journey he had arranged 
 for her into Cornwall, and which she found very satisfactory. She also 
 conversed with me, and I had much interesting talk with the Baron and 
 others of the suite on their journey into Cornwall, etc. The Queen is 
 delighted with Torquay and her reception here, and says she shall come 
 again ; and every one is charmed with her. William went with some 
 other of her friends to the station to see her off. She seemed much 
 pleased to see him, and when stepping into the carriage, said, ' Don't 
 forget me, Mr. Pengelly.' . . ." 
 
 The following two letters from the Rev. Charles Kingsley 
 refer to the Presidency of the Devonshire Association, which he 
 had been asked to accept, and which, after some difficulties were 
 settled as to the time when it was to be held, he filled most ably. 
 
 Rev. Canon Kingsley to Pengelly. 
 
 " Eversley Rectory, Winchfield, March 13, 1870. 
 
 "Between business, and the enormous cold I, my daughter, 
 and my son caught instantly on landing on these dark and dreary 
 shores, I have overlooked your letter till now. Pray forgive me. I 
 have written to Mr. Harpley to say that I should like the post above 
 
 * Now wife of Mr. Lecky, M.P. for Dublin University. 

 
 1869-1871.] SIR JOHN EVANS ON CAVE DEPOSITS. 203 
 
 all temporary honours I could wish for. But that my canonry keeps 
 me at Chester till the end of July ; and it will then be impossible for 
 me to accept, if the meeting is as early as it is this year. I shall be 
 at liberty the first of August, but not before ; and of course I can't 
 expect the Association to wait my time. 
 
 "Alas ! if I accept it will be with a heavy heart on one score. The 
 Fanes of Clovelly were to have taken me in, if the presidency were 
 offered me ; and now they are both dead, man and wife, in the prime 
 of their years. 
 
 "I should like much to see you. I have many things to say about 
 the geology of the West Indies. If you come to town, let me know." 
 
 Rev. Canon Kingsley to Pcngelly. 
 
 "Eversley Rectory, Winchneld, April 15, 1870. 
 
 " Many thanks. I accept joyfully the honour which is offered 
 me, and the date thereof. I only feel a dread at so great a pleasure, 
 so far off, and at what may happen meanwhile. For ' Life is uncertain,' 
 say fools. ' Life is certain,' say I, because God is educating us thereby. 
 But this process of education is so far above our sight that it looks 
 often uncertain, and utterly lawless. Wherefore fools (with M. Comte) 
 conceive that there is no living God, because they cannot condense 
 His formulas into their small smelling-bottles. 
 
 " I am just sending off my eldest son, who has learnt his trade well 
 at Cirencester, and in the River Plate, to try his own manhood in 
 Colorado, U.S. You will understand, therefore, that it is somewhat 
 important to me just now, whether the world be ruled by a just and 
 wise God, or by o. 
 
 "P.S. It is also an important question to me, with regard to my 
 own boy's future, whether what is said to have happened to-morrow 
 (Good Friday) be true or false. But I am old-fashioned, and super- 
 stitious, and unworthy of the year 1870." 
 
 Pengelly's time was now almost wholly devoted to the ex- 
 ploration of Kent's Hole, but he visited London in July. 
 
 John Evans * to Pengelly. 
 
 " Nash Mills, Hemel Hempstead, May 6, 1870. 
 
 " Prepare for a series of questions ! How are you, what are you 
 doing, and when are you coming to London, and (what is of much 
 more vital importance) when are you coming here? You have been 
 due any time the last four years, but now your visit has become 
 imperative, for I have a heap of things here that I ought to return to 
 your safe keeping, and I have a heap of questions to ask you about 
 them. So please tell me that you are coming here some time this 
 month, as when once June sets in I don't know where I shall be. I 
 am just at work upon the Cave part of my book, and have been study- 
 ing your reports ; one of the results is that I find I ought to engrave 
 
 * Now Sir John Evans, F.R;S., etc.
 
 204 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH.XIII. 
 
 several more of the stone things, and notably No. 4155, and possibly 
 No. 3918, and not improbably you may know of some others. I also 
 find that I ought to figure the bone harpoons, needle, pin, etc. What 
 do you say to this ? In any case will you try if you can pay me a visit 
 some time this month, and bring anything out of the common from 
 the cave with you ? If Mrs. Pengelly can accompany you so much the 
 better. Have you a spare copy of your third and fifth reports? I 
 have all the rest. And where were Nos. 117, 286, and 2183 found? 
 So much for questions. I have been away this Easter in France, partly 
 in search of Tertiary Man, whom I have not found, and partly of 
 Quaternary, whom I have. You will be pleased with some of the 
 implements from Poitou, which approximate in character with those 
 from Kent's Cavern." 
 
 Pengelly to John Evans. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, May 7 1870. 
 
 " Prepare for a series of answers to your questions of 4th inst. 
 I have a bad cold, and am daily oscillating between this and the 
 cavern. I have no prospect (worse luck) of visiting London or 
 Hemel Hempstead. Nos. 4155 and 3918, and indeed all the imple- 
 ments mentioned in the fifth report, as well as a fine one found since, 
 shall be sent you. Since the minute of the committee of the meeting held 
 at Norwich, August 20, 1868, gives you permission to figure any of the 
 flint implements, or other archaological specimens, in your forthcoming 
 work, all the bone tools shall be sent you, also copies of the third and 
 fifth reports on Kent's Hole are sent you by this post. No. 117 was found 
 May 20, 1865, in the Great Chamber, fourteen feet within the south or 
 arched entrance, in the second foot-level of cave-earth. No. 286 was 
 found June 16, 1865, in the Great Chamber, twenty-two feet within 
 the south entrance in the fourth foot-level of cave-earth; but the 
 ground had been previously broken there, so that the position cannot 
 be relied on. I am going to Truro on the i7th inst. 1 cannot, there- 
 fore, send the flints, etc., until I return. It is essential to my peace of 
 mind that I floor the heretic surrounded by his own kith and kin. If 
 you would send me the best ovoid flint tool from the cavern, I could 
 cut him down at a stroke." 
 
 John Evans to Pengelly. 
 
 "Nash Mills, Hemel Hempstead, May 12, 1870. 
 
 " Many thanks for your answers, though I wish one of them had 
 been to the effect that you were coming here. You must arrange 
 for doing so next time you come to London. Would you kindly send 
 the specimens, after you return from Truro, to Messrs. Dickinson and 
 Co., 65, Old Bailey. I am going into Scotland at the end of the month, 
 and should like to get the engraver at work during my absence. I 
 
 hope you may succeed in converting Mr. , but it is rather like 
 
 trying to wash a blackamoor white. He would not accept a flint as 
 artificial if he saw you make it. Try."
 
 1869-1871.] DEVONSHIRE FOSSILS IN THE YORK MUSEUM. 2O$ 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " i, Stratton Street, London, July 16. . . . On Thursday I left 
 cards on Mr. Prestwich and Sir Wm. The, but did not see either of them, 
 the former being from home and the latter ill. In the afternoon I 
 walked along a large part of the Thames Embankment, and after dining 
 went to the House of Commons, where I saw a good many of the 
 Members I knew to wit, Sir K. Shuttleworth, Sir John Lubbock, 
 J. W. Pease, etc. The debate was very interesting, as it turned on the 
 question, should the School Boards in London be elected by ballot 
 or not. I heard Lord J. Manners, Mr. B. Hope, Sir J. Packington, 
 Mr. Gathorne Hardy, W. E. Forster, Gladstone, and others. Yesterday I 
 met Scott and his son by appointment. We proceeded to see the South 
 Kensington Museum, and afterwards went to Jermyn St. Museum. Then 
 to a ladies' meeting (where a few gentlemen were admitted), with Miss 
 Coutts, for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Then Miss Coutts 
 wished me to go with her, or rather to meet her at the House of 
 Commons, as she wished to see Mr. W. E. Forster. Thither we went, 
 and after a good deal of trouble I succeeded in bringing the two 
 magnates together. We visited the House of Lords, and were there 
 when, in reply to Lord Malmesbury, Lord Granville stated that he 
 had no reason to doubt, though no official information had been 
 received on it, that France had declared war against Prussia, Whilst 
 there I saw Lord Talbot de Malahide, with whom I had a nice talk. 
 I forgot to say that on Thursday I called at the Indian Office to see 
 the Duke of Argyll by appointment." 
 
 The following letter from the late Mr. Kenrick of York,* is 
 in answer to inquiries respecting some valuable fossils from Kent's 
 Cavern in the York Museum. 
 
 " York, October 17, 1870. ... I have received the papers which 
 1 sent you from ' the archives of the York P. S.' f I have no doubt that 
 the person to whom McEnery's letter was addressed was the President, 
 the Rev. W. V. Harcourt, but * Mr. Strickland ' was not Hugh. The 
 Record stands thus in the Report of 1826 : " July 4th. Account of 
 Fossil bones discovered in Kent's Hole Cavern, Torquay, by the Rev. 
 J. McEnery, with notices by Baron Cuvier and Dr. Buckland (com- 
 municated by G. Strickland, Esq., M.W.S. and Y.P.S.)." He was 
 wide to Hugh Strickland the geologist. Several of the family were 
 devoted to different branches of Natural History ; one of them, Arthur, 
 who resided many years near Bridlington Quay, had a noble collection 
 of birds, especially of sea-birds, which has lately been acquired by the 
 Y.P.S. I see no Strickland's name occurs in McEnery's mention of 
 visitors to Kent's Hole ('Cavern Researches,' p. 37), nor do I know 
 how Mr. G[eorge] S[trickland] came to be the medium of communication 
 of the bones to our Museum. They are thus mentioned in the list of 
 Donations : ' Twenty-eight specimens and casts of teeth and bones of 
 
 * Author of the " History of the Phoenicians." 
 t Philosophical Society probably.
 
 206 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIII. 
 
 Bear, Hyaena, Tiger, Horse, Rhinoceros, Ox, Deer, Elk, etc., from 
 Kent's Hole Cavern, Torquay.' In the Report drawn up by Mr. 
 Harcourt they are thus spoken of : ' The remains of antediluvian quad- 
 rupeds from Torbay were accompanied by an interesting communication 
 from the donor, who, having placed a similar collection in the hands 
 of M. Cuvier, had obtained his opinion upon them. That eminent 
 naturalist found one of the specimens, a cast of which is in the Society's 
 Museum, to be the canine tooth of that species of bear, which he has 
 named Ursus Ciiltridens, an animal of which no remains had been 
 previously known, except a specimen of an entire skull found in Val 
 d'Arno, and deposited in the Museum at Florence. The similarity of 
 fracture which prevails in the bones found in this cave is noticed by 
 Mr. McEnery, and the marks of teeth upon them are particularly 
 remarked by M. Cuvier, who states that these may be more distinctly 
 traced in the English specimens than in any others which he has 
 seen. ..." 
 
 Canon Kingsley followed up his acceptance of the Presidency 
 of the Devonshire Association by consulting Pengelly as to his 
 address. 
 
 Rev. Canon Kingsley to Pengelly. 
 
 "Chester, July 22, 1871. 
 
 " Can you tell me anything of the probable science papers at the 
 Bideford meeting of the Association ? 
 
 "Can you also tell me where I can find the state of geological 
 opinion as to the supposed Mariven Fault in the North Devon bed? 
 I read a good deal about it in the Geological Society's Transactions last 
 year. Also any hints on geological problems, e.g. the sunken forest 
 below the pebble ridge at Northam, and the flint implements said to 
 have been found in it. My poor friend Dech, who found them, I think, 
 is just dead. 
 
 " On the whole, anything that you can send me to post me up for 
 my address, in any direction, will be most thankfully received. 
 
 " I have had a preposterous request from the printers, through 
 
 M the Secretary, that I should send them the MS. of my address 
 
 by the 4th. Do they think a man has nothing to do but to serve them ? 
 I want a whole fortnight after the ist to write my address, and have 
 two lectures and a scientific conversazione to get done between now 
 and then. Pray protect me from the sharks, or slugs, if you are con- 
 cerned in the matter." 
 
 During the meeting of the British Association at Edinburgh 
 in 1871, Pengelly writes to his wife 
 
 " I was so very busy yesterday as to be unable to write to you. 
 On Monday evening the lions fed. It was not a very great success, still 
 by no means a failure. After dinner I went to a huge party at the 
 Misses Stevenson's. Yesterday I lent a hand in sections "C" and "A,"
 
 1869-1871.] BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT EDINBURGH. 2O/ 
 
 and then went to the Committee of Recommendations, where without 
 any difficulty I got another grant Gioo) for Kent's Cavern. After that 
 to dine with a Mr. Smith, where I met Harkness and a lot of other men, 
 some strangers to me. Then to the Conversazione, and finally to an 
 * At Home ' at Lord Neave's, where I met Miss Dundas (formerly my 
 pupil at Torquay) and Mr. Shuttleworth and his bride. Mrs. Prestwich 
 invited me to dine to-night (Wednesday), but I was engaged. I 
 received an invitation to dine with Mr. Cowan on Friday next : but that 
 is out of the question, as I am to leave for home to-night. . . ." 
 
 Professor J. W. Daivson to Pengelly. 
 
 " McGill College, Montreal, July 3, 1871. 
 
 "I have recently been writing some popular articles on geology, 
 and have arrived at the crucial point of the tacking on of geological to 
 human time. In doing so, I propose to take your explorations of Kent's 
 Cavern as one of the best and most instructive examples, and almost 
 the only one deserving of much confidence. As I cannot be at the 
 British Association meeting, I shall regard it as a very great favour if 
 you will kindly send me any full report of what has been most recently 
 done (I have not seen as yet the Report for 1870, except in an abstract). 
 . . . If you have time to answer this you will much oblige." 
 
 Pengelly to Dr. Dawson, F.R.S. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, August 29, 1871. 
 
 " Yours of July 3rd found me very busy preparing for the British 
 Association, and with no more leisure than just to allow me to 
 send you copies of such Kent's Cavern papers as I had by me, and 
 appeared not to be in your possession. I trust they reached you safely. 
 ... I hope to be able to send you a copy of our Seventh Report, read 
 at Edinburgh, in a few days. I shall read your article, in which you 
 make the attempt to 'tack on geological to human time,' with great 
 interest" 
 
 The Chair of Section "C" was occupied this year by 
 Professor Geikie, F.R.S,* whose vast geological knowledge, 
 and special interest in his native country, rendered the choice a 
 particularly happy one. In the Seventh Report on Kent's 
 Cavern, presented at this meeting, Pengelly writes thus : 
 
 " On the completion of the work in the Sloping Chamber on July 
 ii, 1871, the excavation of the 'Wolfs Den,' which opens out of its 
 northern side, was begun. It was in this den that Mr. MacEnery found 
 the canines of Machairodns lafidens, which have excited so much 
 attention. No such specimens have been met with during the present 
 investigation up to this time." 
 
 * Now Sir Archibald Geikie, Director-General of the Geological Surveys of the 
 United Kingdom.
 
 208 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH.XIII. 
 
 What pleasure it would have given the keenly watchful 
 explorer of Kent's Cavern had he known that in the next 
 report he would be able to announce the discovery of a tooth 
 of this rare species ! 
 
 Besides the Yearly Report on the Cave, Pengelly read a paper 
 before Section "A," on "The Influence of the Moon on the 
 Rainfall." He had for some time taken considerable interest in 
 the subject of the Rainfall, especially that of Devonshire, and for 
 many years kept careful meteorological statistics at his residence 
 in Torquay. The following were among the conclusions with 
 which the paper closed : 
 
 " No indication of the moon's influence on the rainfall can be 
 detected in the data furnished by an isolated lunation, or by even a few 
 successive hinations. Though it may be doubted whether the rainfall 
 statistics of a period shorter than that in which the moon's nodes com- 
 plete a revolution, or of a solitary locality, would justify general infer- 
 ences, the data under discussion appear to indicate that, in the long run, 
 the moon does somewhat influence the rainfall ; that on the average the 
 dry period of a lunation extends from the first day before full moon to 
 the first day before the third quarter, and the wet period from the day 
 of the first quarter to the second day before the full moon ; that the 
 moon's influence on the number of wet days is less marked, and that the 
 rainfalls are, on the whole rather, least heavy when the moon has north 
 declination, and when she is in perigee, all indications harmonizing well 
 with physical considerations." 
 
 When presenting his Annual Reports on the Cavern at the 
 meetings, Pengelly usually exhibited some of the specimens 
 found during the year. These, gelatinized and securely stitched 
 down upon separate trays, proved of much interest to the public, 
 though their charge during the journeys involved no inconsider- 
 able amount of anxiety to the exhibitor. 
 
 One day when the cavern exploration had been in progress 
 about six years, a young lady of his acquaintance called, and said, 
 " Mr. Pengelly, you remember that our cook once lived with 
 you?" "Yes." "Well, yesterday she and the nurse were 
 heard having the following discussion. Said the cook, ' Mr. 
 Pengelly calls the bones what he finds to Kent's Cavern 
 'Possil's bones, but I say how can he know the bones of the 
 'Possils from the bones of other men ? ' ' Well/ said the nurse, 
 ' I've heard say as he is uncommon clever, besides nobody 
 knows where the Garden of Eden was, and, if so, why shouldn't 
 it be here, and if 'twas here, where else should the bones of the 
 Apostles be ? ' " It was evidently thought by these two eminent
 
 1869-1871.] PRE-HISTORIC MAN IN KENT'S CAVERN. 2OQ 
 
 theologians that the word fossil was synonymous with Apostle, 
 or as they called it 'Fossil. 
 
 The Cavern was still yielding many fine specimens. In 
 the Monthly Report for September, 1871, Pengelly states that 
 they had entered and commenced work in the " Wolfs Cave," 
 where MacEnery had found the five teeth of Machairodus 
 latidens. Though much of the material had been broken up 
 and searched by MacEnery, considerable portions of the deposit 
 remained intact, especially beneath and between large masses 
 of limestone which had fallen from the roof. 
 
 " Without reckoning the numerous specimens found, as usual, in the 
 broken ground, we had found in the Wolfs Cave, up to the end of 
 August, twenty-six teeth of hyaena, thirty-two of horse, fifteen of 
 rhinoceros, six of deer, five of bear, one of lion, and one of elephant, 
 portions of five antlers, numerous bones and bone fragments, amongst 
 which those of rhinoceros greatly preponderated, but no trace of Machai- 
 rodus. The fallen masses of limestone, many of them several tons in 
 weight, were all completely buried in the cave-earth ; but between them 
 at the eastern side, and near the entrance of the ' Cave,' there were 
 occasional cavities or interspaces, having little or no deposit, but in some 
 instances containing a few comparatively modern bones. In others 
 there were Pecten shells, some of them of great size, and amounting 
 altogether to about twenty-five. Most of them were quite perfect, some 
 had Serpulae attached to their inner surfaces, and many of them were 
 thickly encrusted with carbonate of lime, containing traces of charcoal. 
 In one instance two, and in another five shells were found fitted neatly 
 one in another, and firmly cemented, leaving no doubt that Man had 
 placed them in the cavities in which they were found." 
 
 In the October Report for the same year, after enumerating 
 the number of specimens found during September, it is men- 
 tioned that 
 
 " Many of the teeth are in portions of jaws, and some are very fine 
 specimens. We may specially mention the left lower jaw of rhinoceros 
 with a small part of the right jaw attached to it. Unlike the Cavern 
 jaws in general, its lower border is entire, but ?ts hinder or articulating 
 end is gone. It contains four consecutive molars, and is quite the 
 finest specimen of the kind we have met with. . . . One of the 
 elephants' teeth has belonged to an adult animal, and the upper surface 
 of the crown is six inches long." 
 
 During the autumn of this year, Pengelly stayed with some 
 friends at Harrogate. He was much interested with the various 
 places which he visited in that neighbourhood, more especially 
 with the Dripping Well at Knaresborough.
 
 210 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH.XIII. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " H arrogate, September 3, 1871. Here I am, safe and sound, after a 
 pleasant journey to, at least, Leeds. We were half an hour late in 
 leaving Leeds, and nearly as much more in getting here. Such a rough 
 lot of passengers from Leeds ! Smoking everywhere.* Third-class 
 passengers going where they liked ! (Saturday night.) And when I got 
 here, there was no fly to be had, and no porter, so had to wait a full 
 quarter of an hour till a chance fly drove by, which I secured, the driver 
 being so drunk as to be scarcely able to keep his seat. At the door he 
 fell off on his head, which I hope was very thick. The ladies were still up, 
 and gave me such a warm greeting. We are just going to church. 
 Mr. Jervoise, General and Mrs. Gascoigne, the Bishop of Chester, are 
 here, and I shall see them all, no doubt. I hope the work is going on 
 well." 
 
 The ex-Emperor Napoleon, with the Prince Imperial, came 
 to Torquay during the month of September. In the following 
 month they visited Kent's Cavern, under the guidance of 
 Pengelly, and seemed greatly impressed and interested, giving 
 careful attention to all that was pointed out and explained. 
 
 Professor Roemer to Pengelly. 
 
 " Breslau, September 22, 1871. 
 
 " I safely came back to Breslau, and soon afterwards had here the 
 meeting of the German Geological Society, which was very successful 
 and attended by nearly all our best men in the Geological depart- 
 ments. The last day of the meeting was spent in a very interesting 
 excursion to our Silesian Mountain range, the Riesengebirge. 
 
 " Mr. Fraas, of Stuttgart, who has explored with marked success the 
 ossiferous caverns of Wiirtemberg, and who might be called the German 
 Pengelly, was among the attendants of the meeting. These days of 
 excitement and of much trouble to me having passed away, my first 
 business shall be to write to you, and repeat to you my very best thanks 
 for the kindness and hospitality which you have shown me during my 
 stay at Torquay. I shall always remember these days as the most 
 pleasant and instructive ones of my journey. Our excursion to Hope's 
 Nose was particularly interesting to me. Not less my visit to Kent's 
 Cavern, for the careful and systematic exploration of which the 
 scientific world is chiefly indebted to you. The rumour of the ex- 
 Emperor Napoleon's coming to Torquay, which was current when I 
 was there, has since become a reality. The ex-Emperor, although he 
 committed in these last years some considerable blunders, shows by his 
 selection of Torquay that he is still a man of taste. I have no doubt 
 that he will soon try to make the acquaintance of the man who deserves 
 most to be known at Torquay, and who will be particularly valuable to 
 him, because he probably wants a refreshment of his humour. Pay my 
 
 * Smoking in railway carriages was always a great trial to Pengelly, who, even 
 as a sailor boy, could never endure the smell of tobacco.
 
 1869-1871.] NAPOLEON THE THIRD AT TORQUAY. 211 
 
 respects to Mrs. Pengelly, and express to her, if you please, my best 
 thanks for the pleasant hours spent at your house. ..." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to a Friend. 
 
 "Torquay, September 20, 1871. . . . William called by invitation 
 on the ex-Emperor Napoleon to-day (he has been staying here for 
 some time with his son). He was extremely pleasant, and anxious to 
 hear all about the cavern. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to a Friend. 
 
 " Torquay, October 2. ... The Emperor, accompanied by the 
 Prince Imperial, Prince Achille Murat, Dr. Conneau and his son, and 
 several members of the suite, called on us to-day, to see the fossils, 
 etc. It was a very informal visit. He introduced his son, a nice 
 bright, intelligent-looking boy, who seemed to take a lively interest 
 in his father's conversation with William, relative to the various objects 
 found in the cavern. Speaking of the habitats of various animals, 
 the Emperor mentioned that the rat, which had entered Paris with the 
 Allies, had quite destroyed the old rats, and supplanted them there. 
 The party remained for some time, talking and examining the various 
 remains. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Torquay, Octobei; . . . Colonel Krupp,"" his wife and only son 
 (who is very delicate), the doctor and tutor, are all staying here now. 
 They, too, have been to the cavern, and also paid us a very pleasant 
 visit. They invited William and me to join them in a party to spend 
 the day at Brixham, but we were not able to go. It must be rather 
 galling to the Emperor to be constantly meeting the man whose inven- 
 tion has been so fatal to his country and himself." 
 
 Before leaving Torquay the Emperor sent the following 
 autograph letter to Pengelly : 
 
 Napoleon III. to Pengelly. 
 
 "Torquay, le 17 October, 1871. 
 
 'Je lirai, monsieur, avec un vif interet les livres que vous avez 
 bien voulu m'envoyer, et qui renferment les re'sultats importans de vos 
 scientifiques recherches. Je saisis cette occasion de vous remercier de 
 1'obligeance que vous m'avez temoignee, et je vous prie de recevoir mes 
 sentimens distingue's. 
 
 " NAPOLEON. 
 
 " Je vous prie de faire e'galement mes remerdments a votre ami, 
 M. Vivian." 
 
 * Inventor of the new gun.
 
 212 WILLIAM TENGELLY. [Cn. XII!. 
 
 W. Froude to Pengelly. 
 
 " Chelston Cross, October n, 1871. 
 
 " Shall you, in the natural course of events, be at the cavern to-day, 
 and, if so, will it inconvenience you (well, of course it is sure to do 
 that to a man whose time is always filled up with work; but will it 
 inconvenience you too mudi) to have time enough in hand to talk to 
 two ignoramuses who wish to learn,* one of whom (I answer for myself) 
 is very glad whenever he feels bold enough or entitled to say of himself 
 in praise, what St. Paul mentioned as the proof of the special wicked- 
 ness of the Egyptian magicians, that he is ' ever learning and never 
 able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth ' ? (For I think that to be 
 ' ever learning ' is something, and I don't believe that the wisest of us 
 can feel that he has quite found it all out completely and perfectly.) 
 
 " My brother, who is the older of the two, has a better memory, and 
 is better deserving of being told things than I am, and would specially 
 like to see the cave under your guidance. 
 
 " If you will not be at the cavern, and if you will be to be found at 
 home, shall you be visible there ... or is nothing less than an 
 emperor receivable at Lamorna. (I suppose the Emperor now may 
 think himself capable of sitting to a landscape painter for a view of the 
 Lamorna Cove.) f But if you will be probably visible at home, let me 
 know, please, and we will be down on you there." 
 
 IV. Froude to Pengelly. 
 
 "Chelston Cross, November 16, 1871. 
 
 "I am ashamed (but some people don't mend when they are ashamed) 
 to think what trouble I may be giving you, in asking you to let 
 friends go round the cavern with you in your daily visitation, which 
 anyhow must be a great tax on your time. If you would once whisper 
 in my ear really it is an undue absorption of time, I could always say 
 I know it to be so. But if you are so good-natured that even if 
 entitled to 'curse with your heart' you only 'give good words with 
 your mouth and manner ' 
 
 " Well, after this preamble, I will say that my brother-in-law, Mr. J. 
 Holdsworth (revising barrister in north district, so look out for the 
 conservation of your vote), Sir W. Topham, a friend of ours, and young 
 Mr. Waldegrave (son of Lady Chewton, whom I think you met a day 
 or two since, and whom if she asked the favour herself you could not 
 refuse, her manner and expression are so pleasing), and perhaps my 
 daughter would like pace tud, but perhaps not at your pace, to see the 
 interior of the cavern at your usual hour. 
 
 " May they come ? If they come will you austerely fossilize them 
 by sternness of manner, or will you mollify towards them, as the rocks 
 were mollified by Hannibal's vinegar ? 
 
 " Please say at what hour you will be at the cavern. I wish I also 
 could come ; but I fear I cannot." 
 
 * William Froude himself, and his brother J. A. Froude. 
 
 t Pengelly's house was named after the Cove of ' ' Lamorna," near the Land's 
 End, so this pun was frequently made.
 
 1869-1871.] APPRECIATION OF MAcENERY'S LABOURS. 213 
 
 Professor Owen to Pengelly. 
 
 "British Museum, December 20, 1871. 
 
 "Accept my thanks for the 'Third Part' of your instructive 
 and exhaustive history of Kent's Hole. As F.R.S. you receive your 
 Transactions, and therefore I don't trouble you with duplicates there- 
 from. But seeking about for what might in any way seem an approach 
 to equivalency for your Christmas gift to me, I lit on an address which 
 includes some passing thoughts of medicine as a science, and to which 
 I add a communication on the sense in which classificatory characters 
 are expressed and ought to be understood. 
 
 " I benefited so much by my last winter's sojourn on the Nile that 
 I thought I might try a winter at home, having work I wished to finish. 
 But the first frosty morning brought back my bronchitis. The change 
 to mildness has taken away the sharper symptoms, but if we have a 
 return to ice and snow, I may be ordered to some milder region in 
 England than Upper Sheen. In that case I may ask your good 
 offices to recommend a sitting-room and bedroom at Torquay." 
 
 The following extract from a letter will show the generous 
 testimony which Pengelly always bore to MacEnery's labours 
 in Kent's Cavern. He paid so little attention to the recognition 
 of his own work there that the article which was asked for by 
 James Anthony Froude in the following letter was never 
 written : 
 
 "... Mr. MacEnery deserves all the honour which we can do to 
 him. I am afraid, however, that his personality was so little known 
 beyond Torquay and the neighbourhood that the readers of a general 
 magazine would turn away from an In Memoriam devoted to him 
 without caring to read it. If you would yourself erect a monument to 
 him in your own words by giving us a paper on Kent's Hole and the 
 discoveries there, I need not say how gladly I would accept it. Cannot 
 I persuade you to do this? It would be but a recast of the same 
 materials. MacEnery has been dead so long, and the investigations in 
 the cavern have been carried so much further in subsequent years, that 
 by taking his part of the business for the limit you lose the strongest 
 claim on the reader's interest I shall perhaps be at Torquay for a 
 day or two in the winter, when I shall hope to renew my acquaintance 
 with you. . . ."
 
 214 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIV. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE MENTONE CAVERNS. 
 
 1872. 
 
 A FEW lectures in the North occupied part of the holidays 
 during the winter of 1871 to 1872, and Pengelly thus writes 
 home : 
 
 " Kendal, January, 1872. . . . On Friday morning Mr. Taylor 
 took me over his mill (cotton spinning), and thereby greatly interested 
 me. I then took a look at the town of Bolton, saw a monument to, 
 and the grave of, Crompton. Then to luncheon with Mr. Worthington, 
 Secretary of the Bolton Lecture Society. My lecture was a success, 
 the people say. I began by stating that so far as I knew I was 
 unknown to every one in the room, but funnily enough, when the 
 vote of thanks was proposed to me, a young man rose to support it, 
 and said that he knew me very well, that he had frequently been in 
 Kent's Cavern, and that he was a native of Torquay. I left Bolton 
 for this at three, but didn't get here till after seven, the trains being, 
 as usual on Saturdays, very late. I found waiting me a letter from 
 Bishop Ryan, now vicar of Bradford, asking me to be his guest, during 
 my stay at Bradford. I fancy I shall very much enjoy my stay here." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife, 
 
 "The Vicarage, Bradford, January 26, 1872. Here I am, the guest 
 of the good Bishop Ryan, and am to remain in that capacity until 
 to-morrow morning, when I start for Leicester. We had a very pleasant 
 time at Keighley on Wednesday, where Mr. Callaway, the Secretaiy of 
 the Bradford Phil. Soc., handed me dear Trot's welcome letter and 
 enclosures. I remained with Mr. Brigg until yesterday, when he 
 brought me here, and placed me in the hands of the Bishop. Bradford 
 is now in a state of great political excitement, and there was a large 
 political meeting last night, at the very moment I was lecturing, hence 
 my audience was small; nevertheless it was a most satisfactory 
 gathering. I am glad to think that four out of my six lectures have 
 now been given ; my voice has not been affected in the least I am 
 going to Saltaire to-day, the Bishop having secured me one of the Mr.
 
 1872.] PENGELLY'S INTEREST IN ASTRONOMY. 215 
 
 Salts to be my guide through the great workshops there. Though I 
 have been most kindly received everywhere, I shall be delighted when 
 I find myself home again." 
 
 Notwithstanding his geological labours, Pengelly found time 
 to devote to astronomy, in which he took much interest. 
 
 Pengelly to Professor J. Couch Adams. 
 
 " Torquay, January 12, 1872. 
 
 " I trust you will pardon my intrusion, and my attempt to pick your 
 brains. The books tell me that at present the obliquity of the ecliptic 
 is diminishing at the rate of about forty-eight seconds per century, and 
 that there is a limit to this diminution. Will you be so good as to inform 
 me what, according to the present state of astronomy, are the maximum 
 and minimum values of the obliquity ? " 
 
 ProfessorJ. C. Adams to Pengelly, 
 
 " Observatory, Cambridge, January 30, 1872. 
 
 " I hope you will pardon me for not having written before in reply 
 to your letter. It reached me at Bath, when I was away from my 
 books and papers, and since my return home I have been too busy to 
 make the search required to enable me to give an answer to your 
 question. I am not aware that any trustworthy results respecting the 
 greatest and least values of the obliquity of the ecliptic have been 
 published, but I believe that, several years ago, I worked out the 
 problem for my own satisfaction, and obtained results which were 
 fairly approximate. I will make a search among my papers, and if 
 I can find the calculations I will with much pleasure send you the 
 result." 
 
 Though, as already stated, Pengelly paid little attention to 
 the recognition of his own work, he was glad of the opportunity 
 to correct inaccurate statements as to his labours. The follow- 
 ing extract is taken from a letter written by him to the author 
 of a geological book, the proof-sheets of which had been sub- 
 mitted to him for revision. 
 
 "Torquay, February 9, 1872. 
 
 " I have gone carefully over the proofs, so far as they relate to 
 Kent's and Brixham Caverns, and have made a few unimportant correc- 
 tions. . . . You say ' the Exploration of (Brixham) cave in the manner 
 suggested by Dr. Falconer.' In the most unqualified way I state that 
 the manner was suggested by me only, and have so corrected it. ... 
 
 " And now, let me say, I look forward with great interest to the 
 forthcoming of your book." 
 
 In writing to the Rev. W. S. Symonds, Pengelly throws light
 
 216 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIV. 
 
 upon the physical geography of the Polperro fish beds, and shows 
 that there is no evidence of the occurrence of hippopotamus in 
 Kent's Cavern, as mentioned incidentally by Professor Owen. 
 
 Pengelly to Rev. W. S. Symonds. 
 
 "Torquay, March 17, 1872. 
 
 " I have traced the Polperro fish bed all the way from the 
 River Fowey to the Rame Head at the entrance to Plymouth Sound. 
 Mr. Loughrun knows the fish bed near Polperro of course, but east of 
 that he has no acquaintance with it. The key to the succession of beds 
 |\ about Polperro T Pencarrow Head^ etc., is to be seenTn the cliff about a 
 mile west of my native place Looe. In passing from Liskeard to Looe, 
 we have a continuous ascending series, which is continued beyond the 
 I latter place to Port Nadler the spot in the cliff just mentioned. Here 
 there is a synclinal axis,~and beyond, i.e. south-west of it, we get, by 
 continuing along the road, an entire reversal of the dip, and successively 
 lower and lower bedsTinsfead of as before higher and higher. In short 
 we get beds we had passed between Looe and Port Nadler repeated, 
 the bone bed is directly above the Plcurodutywn slates, and directly 
 below the Plymouth limestones, i.e. the place of the slates of Mudstone 
 Bay, in which I have also found the Polperro fish. If, however, there 
 is not a great fault in Whitesand Bay by which these slates are brought 
 up again at the Rame Head, the fish remains must occupy the slates 
 above the limestones as well as those below them. When next I am 
 in your neighbourhood, you and Holl and I must meet and talk this 
 matter over. When at Plymouth did you see the tusk of hippopotamus ? 
 and what is the evidence that it was found in a cave there ? I see no 
 a priori objection to its having been so found, but in all these cases 
 perfectly trustworthy evidence is required. Owen incidentally mentions 
 the occurrence of hippopotamus in Kent's Cavern ; Bellamy speaks of 
 it at Oreston, near Plymouth ; and an anonymous writer gives Chudleigh 
 cavern, about 12 miles from this, as one of its localities. I have shown 
 in a printed paper that there is no evidence in the first case. About 
 the second and third I can say nothing. Busk says the Oreston 
 rhinoceros was the leptorhine, or great southern form, not the tichorhine. 
 The hippopotamus would be a similar companion. Some years ago, 
 Ormerod bought, at a shop at Teignmouth, teeth said by the dealer to 
 be found in Kent's Cavern. I identified them as molars of hippo- 
 potamus, and this was confirmed by Boyd Dawkins. I demanded 
 proof of their having been found in Kent's Cavern. Ormerod went 
 thoroughly into the question, and came out of it with the avowal that 
 there was no evidence whatever. Buckland mentions hippopotamus 
 teeth amongst the remains found in Kirkdale Cave, and I see Boyd 
 Dawkins places him there (the hippopotamus, not Buckland) as well 
 as in the caverns of Cefn, Durdham Down, Difont Den (Gower), and 
 RavensclifF (Gower). There seems no reason, therefore, why he should 
 not turn up in some of the Devonshire caverns. I shall be glad to 
 hear of the results of your investigations in your Wye Cavern."
 
 1872.] THE FOSSIL MAN AT MENTONE. 21? 
 
 Rev. W. S. Symonds to Pcngdly. 
 
 " Pendock, Tuesday. 
 
 " Thanks for your note and explanations respecting the physical 
 geography of the Polperro fish beds. I thought there must be a 
 fault at Whitesand Bay. I wrote a short letter to the Geological 
 Magazine, and sent it two days ago, calling the attention of amateurs 
 to the Polperro rocks and their fish beds. It is a thousand pities they 
 are not worked out by quarrying on purpose for specimens. At Lantive^ 
 
 I Bay I am sure they would turn out treasures for those who have time 
 to work them. I went with Mrs. Symonds to Oreston, and there we 
 saw a Mr. Hodge, who has a collection of bones from Oreston, and 
 who read a paper on them at Aberdeen; he showed us a number 
 stowed away in a box, and on my coming to a tusk of hippopotamus 
 he informed me that he obtained it from a cave at Plymouth Hoe and 
 not from Oreston. . . ." 
 
 In the spring of 1872 considerable interest was caused by 
 the announcement of the discovery, in a cavern at Mentone, of 
 what was supposed to be a fossilized skeleton of a palaeolithic 
 or neolithic man. Sir William Tite, who was Pengelly's inti- 
 mate friend, and had greatly enjoyed attending his lectures 
 during winter visits at Torquay, was very desirous that the case 
 should be investigated, and wrote asking him to undertake the 
 journey to Mentone for this purpose, offering to provide the 
 needful funds. Pengelly feared that the case might not prove 
 sufficiently clear to repay the trouble and expense ; but he was 
 quite willing to undertake the expedition, should it be likely to 
 be of scientific value. Sir William, in reply, kindly said, " Even 
 if the cave offers but few attractions, the thorough change of 
 scene and climate will do you both a world of good.* All which 
 is a mere acknowledgment on my part, if you will allow me to 
 put it so, of the many hours of infinite pleasure and information 
 which you have given me at Torquay." The journey was 
 accordingly undertaken, and proved of much interest. 
 
 A few extracts from " Notes on the Mentone Cavern," sent 
 by Pengelly shortly afterwards to Sir Charles Lyell, give a brief 
 outline of the Cavern and its contents : 
 
 " Upwards of a mile east of Mentone, and about a furlong on the 
 Italian side of the gorge separating Italy from France, in a vertical red 
 cliff of Jurassic limestone, there are several small caverns which for 
 some years have attracted the attention of men of science. . . . In 1872 
 Dr. Riviere, who, having been charged with a scientific mission, was 
 
 * He had kindly included Mrs. Pengelly in the mission.
 
 2l8 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIV. 
 
 engaged in exploring the quarries and caverns in the environs of Nice 
 and Mentone, discovered in that known as la Berma dti Cavillon, 
 bones of a human foot, and after the continuous and careful labour of 
 eight days, disclosed an entire human skeleton. The full daylight 
 reaches the inner end of the cavern, and thus enabled Dr. Riviere to 
 have an excellent photograph of the skeleton taken in situ. The body 
 lay in the longitudinal direction of the cavern, near the right or east 
 wall, and about twenty feet within the entrance. The skull was of a red 
 colour, and covered with numerous perforated marine shells, all of one 
 species, Nessa Neritra, and twenty-two perforated canines of stag ; the 
 whole having probably been a chaplet. Near the left tibia forty-one 
 perforated shells of the same species were found, the remains, it is 
 supposed, of an anklet. A bone instrument, pointed at one end, lay 
 across the forehead. The skull was very dolichocephalic, and the facial 
 angle, though not capable of being accurately measured, amounted to 
 from 80 to 85. The forearm had been broken and healed during life. 
 The attitude indicated that the man died in his sleep, in the place 
 where he was found. Surrounding and above the body, were fifty 
 unpolished flint ' points,' scrapers and flakes ; a fragment of a small 
 bone needle ; shells of Patella ferruginea, Pectunculus glycimeri s, Carditim 
 rnsticum, Cardium edule^ Mytilus edulis, Pecten jacobeus, the last 
 containing traces of charcoal, and many others ; and the remains of 
 the following mammals, in determining which Dr. Sene"cbal had assisted : 
 Felis spel&a, Ursus spelceus, Ursus arctos, Cants lupus of great size, 
 Erinaceus, Rhinoceros tichorhinus, Sus scrofa, Bos primigenius, Cervus 
 alces, Cervus elaphus, Cervus canadensis, Cervus capreolus, Capra 
 primigenia Gervais, Antilope rupicapra and Lepus. Dr. Riviere is of 
 opinion that the Cave lion, Cave bear, and rhinoceros, found near 
 the skeleton, and on a superior level, indicate the epoch of the man. 
 The skeleton has been taken to Paris and lodged temporarily in the 
 Jar din des Plantes, where it was investigated by Mr. Vivian and myself, 
 and we afterwards proceeded to Mentone to inspect the Cavern." 
 
 A short time afterwards, in answer to a question from Sir 
 Charles Lyell, Pengelly writes : "In reply to your question, I say 
 very confidently that there was not a single polished flint imple- 
 ment lying near the skeleton, nor in the room where the skeleton 
 lay, when I saw it at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, but there 
 was a vast number of unpolished flakes, etc., and I was assured by 
 Riviere that not a single polished implement had been found." 
 
 During July, 1872, the Devonshire Association met at Exeter, 
 under the able chairmanship of the Bishop of the Diocese, Dr. 
 Temple, whose sterling qualities and breadth of view had always 
 been admired by Pengelly, and who was already warmly 
 appreciated in the county where he had been received at first 
 with some feelings of apprehension. In making arrangements 
 for the meeting, Sir John Bowring assisted Pengelly with his
 
 1872.] PENGELLY AS A REVIEWER. 219 
 
 usual energy, and in writing to him speaks of the Bishop's 
 interest in the meeting, and concludes with the following 
 remarks : 
 
 " . . . I have just left the Bishop. He will suggest two or three of 
 the scientific clergy for vice-presidents. I suggest they are rara aves 
 in our woods. 
 
 " He wishes to have a set of our Transactions. ..." 
 
 Pengelly received from Mr. Edward Tylor some interesting 
 facts which threw some light upon his theory as to the human 
 skeleton found in the cavern near Mentone. 
 
 Pengelly to Edward Tylor* 
 
 "Torquay, June n, 1872. 
 
 "Thank you very much for your kind and interesting letter 
 of the Qth, which reached me this morning. The South American 
 tribes, who bury their dead in their huts, and still continue to live in 
 them, are my prime favourites at this moment. The fact is that, in 
 thinking on the circumstances connected with the human skeleton 
 recently found in the Cavern near Mentone, it seemed that they 
 rendered it necessary to suppose that his (or hers, as the case may be) 
 friends buried him in the cave which still continued to be their home, 
 and I was anxious to find some justification for such an idea. 
 
 "Any further facts that you may meet with, and will kindly 
 communicate at your leisure, will be gratefully received and acknow- 
 ledged." 
 
 Pengelly's extreme accuracy in describing facts was recog- 
 nized by all those who knew him well. The charge, sometimes 
 made against reviewers, of reading only such portions of the 
 volumes they criticize as are to be got at without cutting, could 
 never apply to him, for when asked to review a book, he always 
 read it through from end to end two or three times, and even 
 then had misgivings lest he should fail in doing full justice to 
 the author's meaning. 
 
 It was not only in the domain of science, that this striking 
 accuracy was shown, as some extracts from the following 
 Paper, written by him, and entitled f " Is it a Fact ? " will prove. 
 After some preliminary remarks, he writes : 
 
 " The discrepancies in the narratives of a dozen eye-witnesses of 
 the same event are sometimes very startling. Here, however, other 
 sources of error besides defective memory come into play. Every 
 person's narrative is necessarily, to some extent, subjective. There 
 
 * Now Professor Tylor. 
 
 t Read before the Sleeting of the Devonshire Association at Exeter in 1872.
 
 22O WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XIV. 
 
 were things in the event to which his mind was keenly alive, and which 
 he watched almost to the exclusion of other points equally important ; 
 whilst these, in their turn, took almost exclusive hold of another 
 observer, and so on. 
 
 " Further, observers frequently make themselves partisans, and 
 sometimes without being able to account for it. In their narratives 
 they unintentionally soften or suppress certain facts, and give undue 
 prominence or a strong colouring to others. 
 
 " It may be well to state thus early that, in the course of this paper, 
 some illustrative cases which have occurred within my own experience 
 will be given. They will be stated with the most scrupulous regard to 
 accuracy, with the single exception that, where it seems desirable, the 
 names of persons and places will be fictitious. 
 
 " Not long ago I was informed by a gentleman, whom I will call 
 Mr. Lopp* that Miss Pontoon, a friend of his, had seen at Westward 
 Ho, North Devon, a man from Birmingham converting the flints he 
 found on the strand into knives, which he sold to various museums at 
 a great price ; and that he visited the place every summer, as the flints 
 found there were of a superior quality for the purpose of his trade. 
 There was much in the story calculated to inspire one with doubt ; and 
 as it was supposed, by both the lady from whom it had come, and the 
 gentleman who told it me, to be fatal to the doctrine of the great 
 antiquity of man, I expressed a wish to examine it thoroughly. Miss 
 Pontoon was readily induced to give me permission to make the investi- 
 gation, and to publish the result. In order to render all the assistance 
 in her power, she sent me, through Mr. Lapp, the following written 
 statement 
 
 '"About the beginning of August, 1866, we were at Westward Ho, 
 and one day calling at ' Horsaj we were shown into one of the lower 
 sitting-rooms to wait ; and the apology made to us for the litter of the 
 room, which was a good deal strewn with stones, etc., was that they 
 were the property of a gentleman who came generally every year to 
 collect them from the pebble ridge and make them into the knives 
 which we saw partly finished. The woman said he came from 
 Birmingham, and was very clever, and made a great deal of money 
 out of them, as they wanted them at the Museum. 
 
 " ' (Signed) M. PONTOON' 
 
 " It will be seen that already the case has become slightly shrunken. 
 The lady had not seen the Birmingham gentleman make the knives ; 
 she had been told, apparently by a servant girl, that he made them. 
 
 " On the day the foregoing statement reached me, I addressed the 
 following letter 
 
 '"To the Lady who keeps the Lodging-house known as Horsa, 
 Westward Ho. 
 
 " ' Lamorna, Torquay, February 2, 1869. 
 
 " ' A statement, of which I enclose a copy, has just reached 
 me from Miss M. Pontoon of this town, respecting a gentleman who 
 * Throughout this paper fictitious names are printed in italics.
 
 1872.] HOW STORIES GROW. 221 
 
 appears to have lodged at your house in 1866 and some previous years. 
 Will you be so good as to favour me with the gentleman's address, as 
 I am desirous of writing him respecting the knives he makes ? Pardon 
 the trouble I give you.' 
 
 " As soon as the post could bring it, I received the following reply : 
 
 "' Horsa House, Westward Ho, February 4, 1869. 
 
 '"In answer to your note, which I received this morning, I 
 beg to state that I have no recollection of Miss Pontoon calling at 
 Horsa in August, 1866; but about that time there was a gentleman 
 from Widrinker (not from Birmingham) who was collecting flint-stones, 
 which he dug out of the sands when the tide was out. He has been 
 here every year since Horsa was opened, and is coming again this 
 summer. He has collected a great number, and, I believe, presents 
 them to the Museum ; but I don't think he makes them into knives. 
 Some of them are indeed the shape or form of knives, therefore your 
 friend's mistake. The gentleman's name is Mr. Henry Sanderson, 
 Widrinker. In fact, he is this year the Mayor of Widrinker ; therefore 
 perhaps you know him. 
 
 '"There have been other gentlemen stopping at my house who 
 have made collections, but none to the extent that Mr. Sanderson has 
 made.' 
 
 " Such was, no doubt, the genuine story of the Westward Ho flint 
 knives, which, it may be stated, proved to be precisely what I expected, 
 as the case was well known to me from the beginning. It may not be 
 uninteresting to note the metamorphoses the story had undergone in its 
 passage through one single person, who, though she no doubt had a 
 decided bias, was highly educated, well-informed, and utterly incapable 
 of intentional misrepresentation. The gentleman was not from Bir- 
 mingham, but Widrinker ; did not make, but found, the knives; not in 
 the pebble ridge, but in the sands ; and did not sell, but presented, 
 them to the Museum. 
 
 " Unfortunately, moreover, a tendency to prevarication is among 
 the defects of human nature. I refer not so much to the bolder and 
 more audacious falsehood, as to untruthfulness in what are regarded as 
 small things the minor details of a narrative. Memory, perhaps, was 
 a little at fault, or one or two links in the chain were not carefully 
 noted, and what appeared to be the probabilities, or, if the expression 
 may be used, the inevitabilities, were called in to supply the defects. 
 Thus, in some instances, a story is rendered more complete by him 
 who narrates it ; and this not with any desire of, or indifference to, 
 exaggeration. On being told him, it suggested one or two things, perhaps, 
 which were recalled on repeating it ; and, forgetting that they had really 
 nothing to do with it, he annexed them to the story. 
 
 " Not long ago I stated on a public occasion that no one knew 
 anything about the origin of the name of Kent's Cavern, near Torquay, 
 that, indeed, there was not even a tradition or legend respecting it In 
 the course of the evening, the late Mr. Charles Babbage, who had heard 
 the remark, told me what had once been given to him as the origin
 
 222 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XIV. 
 
 of the name. This story I, a day or two after, related at a dinner table, 
 precisely, I believed, as it had been told to me. Within a week after it 
 was told me, a lady, who had heard the story on the occasion last men- 
 tioned, related it to an evening party ; when Mr. Babbage and I were 
 present. The following is the story as she told it : 
 
 " ' It is said that a dog, which was lost in the cavern, was some time 
 after found in the county of Kent, wriggling up through a hole, and 
 having all its hairs turned perfectly white. From this it was concluded 
 that there was a subterranean passage from Devonshire to Kent, and 
 hence the name of the cavern.' On being appealed to by the narrator 
 I remarked that, with the exception of the statement respecting the colour 
 of the dog's hair, which was quite new, the story was precisely what Mr. 
 Babbage had told me. ' Indeed it is not,' said he ; ' I simply said the 
 dog, lost in the cavern, was afterwards found in Kent, but not a word 
 about its wriggling up through a hole.' There was just as much 
 difficulty in convincing the lady that she had ' improved ' the story, as 
 in satisfying me that I had achieved the same thing. 
 
 " Not long afterward, I was accompanied to the cavern by a dis- 
 tinguished American writer, and on the way I told him the story just 
 related, as it is given above. Subsequently it appeared in Harper's 
 New Monthly Magazine. The following is the American New 
 Version : 
 
 " ' The legend as to its name is, that a traveller went in there with 
 his dog ; the traveller was never again heard of, but the dog was found 
 in a weak condition in the county of Kent, about one hundred and 
 seventy miles distance.' * From this we learn, what we did not know 
 before, that the dog was taken to the cavern by a man and a traveller, 
 who was lost, and that the dog was found in a weak condition. 
 
 " Whilst, so far as I am aware, this is the most modern form this 
 story has assumed, the following passage in the late Mr. MacEnery's 
 Manuscript, ' Cavern Researches,' apparently takes us back to its pre- 
 canine stage. ' As indicating,' he says. ' the popular [notion] of the in- 
 definite range of the cave, may be noticed a tradition which is seriously 
 told and believed. It is related that Sir George Gary, an ancestor of 
 the present proprietor of the neighbouring abbey, despatched a hawk 
 with billet and bells, in the hope of discovering its furthermost outlet 
 towards the sea. The hawk was taken on the coast of Kent, from which 
 circumstance it is gravely affirmed it takes its name.t . . .' 
 
 " Those who have favourite, but slenderly supported, hypotheses are 
 greatly in danger of giving a new circulation and an increased tenacity 
 of life to untrustworthy statements. Every alleged fact which can be 
 made useful is hastily pressed into their service, and whatever men may 
 think respecting that which it is made to bolster up, the statement 
 itself attracts attention, and, thanks to the indolence too common 
 amongst us, is not unfrequently accepted as an unquestionable fact. . . . 
 
 " The duty of verification is not at all times easy of accomplishment. 
 Some time ago I had occasion to allude in a paper to a great gale of 
 
 * Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. ccxiii., December, 1868, Vol. xxxviii. 
 
 P- 3 1 - 
 
 t See Trans. Devon. Assoc., vol. iii. p. 460 (1869.)
 
 1872.] VERIFICATION OF STATEMENTS. 22$ 
 
 November, 1824, so fearfully destructive of life and property, especially 
 at Plymouth. At the time of this memorable storm, I was a sailor boy, 
 and rode out the tempest in one of the branches of Plymouth harbour. 
 Though the only damage we sustained was the loss of our bowsprit, the 
 fact that it was my first winter at sea, and my first great gale, enabled it 
 to produce an ineffaceable impression on my mind. I believed the 
 date to be burnt in on my brain, and never doubted that the storm 
 commenced on the evening of November 24th, and culminated early in 
 the morning of the 25th. In order, however, to be accurate, I wrote to 
 two friends at Plymouth, who perfectly remembered the storm, and had 
 no doubt of their ability to determine the exact date. 
 
 " The first reply informed me that ' the great gale of November, 
 1824, commenced on the 24th and continued three days." This, so far 
 as the date was concerned, agreed with my own belief, and had my 
 second friend remained silent I should have taken no further pains in the 
 matter. His reply, however, arrived in a few days, and stated that ' the 
 wind began to rise between nine and ten o'clock on the evening of 
 the 23rd of November, and increased in violence until between two and 
 three o'clock on the morning of the 24th, when the gale reached its 
 height. It then began to ease a little, and finally dropt almost suddenly 
 about half-past three, with a dreadful crash of thunder. By eleven 
 o'clock the Sound was like a mill-pond.' 
 
 " It will be seen that the foregoing accounts differ both as to the 
 date and duration of the tempest. My belief is that neither of them 
 is correct in the latter particular. Unless I am greatly in error, the 
 gale did not last twenty-four hours, and I am confident that, instead 
 of being ' like a mill-pond,' the Sound was exposed to a heavy swell 
 for more than a week. 
 
 " As the discordance of the replies had rendered the date uncertain, 
 I requested a friend to consult such county newspapers as were filed 
 in the Library of the Devon and Exeter Institution, and in a few days 
 he sent me three paragraphs respecting the gale, copied from Trewman's 
 Exeter Flying Post, of Thursday, November 25, 1824. 
 
 "The first stated that 'the storm began Monday, November 22, 
 1824, at Exeter, early in the afternoon, and continued with little 
 interruption for twenty-four hours.' 
 
 "The second, dated Plymouth, November 24, 1824, recorded 
 that 'the wind last evening, at the south, increased to a hurricane, 
 and continued with unabated violence during the night ; and it being 
 spring tide, the lowest parts of the town were inundated.' 
 
 "The writer of the third paragraph, dated Plymouth, November 23, 
 1824, said, ' We have been visited with one of the most tremendous 
 storms that ever was experienced here perhaps the most violent. It 
 began to blow hard yesterday at the turn of the tide, and continued 
 increasing in violence the whole night.' 
 
 "Up to this point, five statements had come to hand, of which one 
 made the gale begin on the 24th, two on the 23rd, and two on the 22nd, 
 and to add to the amusing discordance, the three paragraphs from the 
 same newspaper did not agree. 
 
 " As the inquiry could not be allowed to stop here, I requested a 
 friend to examine the local newspapers filed in the Cornwall County
 
 224 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIV. 
 
 Library at Truro. He promptly forwarded extracts from the Cornwall 
 Gazette of November 27, 1824, descriptive of the storm and its 
 ravages at Penzance, Falmouth, Fowey, and Polperro, in each of 
 which it was stated to have begun on November 22nd. 
 
 " At this stage I remember that the Religious Tract Society had 
 published a description of this very storm. On application at the 
 depot, I readily obtained a copy of it, and found that it made the storm 
 begin on the 22nd. Beyond this I made no inquiry, being willing to 
 accept the 22nd as the correct date, and to believe that, respecting a 
 great event whose progress I had painfully watched, I had for upwards 
 of forty years unwaveringly held an opinion that was not a fact. 
 
 " I have often thought that every teller of ' good things ' must 
 frequently be in a state of great apprehensiveness when relating some 
 choice anecdote, epigram, or bon mot, lest some candid and kind friend 
 should remark, ' Oh ! that's a very old Joe ! It was first told of 
 So and So. . . .' 
 
 "There formerly lived in a Cornish town, two ministers of religion, 
 each having the same name, let us say ' Jones,' and each a Doctor of 
 Divinity, but one a member of the Church of England, the other a 
 Dissenter. It will be readily foreseen that letters and parcels frequently 
 went to the wrong house. On one occasion, so runs the story, the 
 clergyman of the Establishment received and opened a letter intended 
 for the eye of his namesake only. Perceiving the error, he reclosed 
 the letter and sent it to him for whom it was intended, and with it the 
 following laconic note : ' Sir, if you had not taken to yourself a title 
 to which you have no claim this mistake would not have occurred. 
 I am, etc.' Some time after, the Nonconforming Doctor received a 
 parcel, which proved to be a series of manuscript sermons intended 
 for the Churchman. On detecting the mistake he forwarded the 
 parcel to its destination, accompanied by the following note : ' Sir, 
 if you had not entered an office for which you are apparently not 
 qualified, this mistake could not have happened. I am, etc.' 
 
 "Having heard this story several times, I once availed myself of 
 what seemed a satisfactory opportunity for ascertaining whether it were 
 a fact. I was once introduced to a brother of the dissenting Doctor, 
 himself a Nonconformist minister, and asked him whether the story 
 were a truth or a fiction. He replied that it was unquestionably and 
 literally a fact. Thus endorsed, I had frequently told it until I was 
 informed by a friend that he had often heard the same story of two 
 Reverend Doctors, of the name of 'Brown,' we will suppose, who 
 resided in the same town in Sussex. 
 
 " It would be easy to enlarge this budget of untrustworthy statements 
 which usually pass as facts, but probably enough has been said to show 
 the necessity and duty of verification. 
 
 " In conclusion, I may allude to the numerous slanders which, from 
 time to time, appear in the public prints respecting many of our most 
 eminent men. It is true they have generally been disposed of in the 
 most satisfactory manner, and as soon as they have presented them- 
 selves ; but it is also true that they follow one another so rapidly as to 
 induce one to ask, Is it a Fact that the public pay no attention to the 
 continued cry of ' Wolf ' ? " 

 
 1872.] LYELL'S "ANTIQUITY OF MAN." 225 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell was now about to set to work on a new 
 edition of the " Antiquity of Man " ; owing to increasing trouble, 
 from the state of his eyesight, he was unable to work for long 
 at a time. 
 
 Pengelly to Sir Charles Lyell. 
 
 " Torquay, June 8, 1872. 
 
 "Though I am afraid you greatly over-estimate my strength in 
 the question of Human Antiquity, and though I have no prospect of 
 such leisure, it will afford me great pleasure to devote such time as 
 I can command to the work you propose. ..." 
 
 Sir Charles Lyell to Pengelly. 
 
 "73, Harley Street, July 2, 1872. 
 
 " . . . I am much obliged to you for the notes which I received 
 this morning, and which are just exactly what I want. 
 
 " I may have to ask you about the change of level at Pentewan, for 
 I am rather puzzled as to the period when it took place. I see you 
 are not inclined readily to admit post-Roman changes of level, and I 
 expect that I shall have to declare against them entirely, as regards 
 that part of Scotland where Geikie thought there was a change of 
 twenty-five feet. 
 
 " My correspondence on this subject with Mr. Milne Home, and 
 the sub-curator Young, of the Glasgow Museum, is becoming so 
 interesting that I think by-and-by of sending you the letters. The 
 antiquaries have recently found a new Roman inscription, which shows 
 that the legion which finished the building of the wall, left off a few 
 yards from where they would now, from the present shore, and only a 
 few feet above the present level of the sea. It will, I think, bear upon 
 the changes at St. Michael's Mount, etc." 
 
 from Sir Charles LyeWs Amanuensis to Pengelly. 
 
 "73, Harley Street, London, W.,Jtily 5, 1872. ... Sir Charles 
 Lyell has just returned from a tour in France, where he has been 
 visiting the caves and learning much about the work being done there. 
 He is now about to set to work on a new edition of the Antiquity of 
 Man, which is required, and finds that in the ten years since the last 
 edition, such an immense amount has been written on the subject that 
 it will be very difficult to review it, especially as he is obliged to work 
 very little at a time now. 
 
 "He thinks that if you could find time to read through the 
 Antiquity, and make notes as to the parts which seem to you to require 
 revision, and points on which you know good papers have been 
 written, it would be a very great help to him. . . . 
 
 " He will keep the book in its present form, and enlarge it as little 
 as possible if possible not at all, leaving everything that still remains 
 true, and making room, by omitting any doubtful statements, for any 
 new facts that are absolutely necessary as, for instance, the carvings 
 
 Q
 
 226 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIV. 
 
 and sculptures on bones which are all new since the last edition, 
 and of which new ones were found even when Sir Charles was in 
 France. . . ." 
 
 Towards the end of July in this year (1872), Pengelly had 
 the great satisfaction of discovering in Kent's Hole Cavern, an 
 incisor tooth of the MacJiairodus latidens, for which he had long 
 and anxiously searched. He thus announces his find at the 
 close of his Annual Report of the Kent's Cavern Committee, 
 read to the British Association at Brighton in August, 1872. 
 
 "... The other specimen is a well-marked incisor of Machairodus 
 latidens, found July 29, 1872, with the left lower jaw of bear containing 
 one molar in the first or uppermost foot-level of cave-earth, having 
 over it the granular stalagmitic floor two to five feet thick. It answers 
 admirably to the following description given by MacEnery of the 
 incisor he found : ' The internal face of the enamel is fringed with a 
 serrated border. This tooth is distinguished further by two tubercles 
 or protuberances, at the base of the enamel from which the serration 
 springs, and describes a pointed arch on the internal surface . . . the 
 body of the tooth in this specimen is not compressed, but rounded.' 
 He adds, ' Whether this belongs to an inferior species of U. Cultridens, 
 or [is] simply the incisor anterior to the canine of the larger species of 
 U. Cultridens, I am not able to pronounce with certainty. If merely 
 the incisor, it is still interesting, as it serves to show that the serrated 
 character is not confined to the canines, and that the rest of the teeth, 
 and consequently the frame, are marked by a peculiar conformation.' 
 A glance at the new specimen suffices to explain why Mr. MacEnery 
 was uncertain respecting the canine or incisive character. Indeed the 
 workmen sent it to the secretary of the committee, under the belief 
 that it was the canine of a wolf, it being partially covered with cave- 
 earth, and its true character was detected whilst it was being washed, 
 August 5, 1872. 
 
 " MacEnery states that his incisor, which unfortunately cannot be 
 traced, was 'about an inch long' the expression in all probability of 
 a rough guess, and not of actual measurement. The incisor from the 
 cavern (doubtless that discovered and described by MacEnery) figured 
 by Professor Owen in his ' History of British Fossil Mammals, etc.,' 
 very nearly corresponds in size with its homologue just found ; the new 
 specimen is slightly longer in the crown, and somewhat thicker in the 
 fang. . . . 
 
 "... One of the hopes of the cavern committee, in commencing 
 their researches, was that they might find some traces of Machairodus. 
 This they have never abandoned, though year after year passed away 
 without success; and they cannot but express their gratitude to the 
 body, whose patience and liberality has enabled them to continue their 
 labours until this hope was realized. The greater part of the report 
 was written before the discovery was made ; and had the work ceased 
 on July 28, 1872, those who always declined to believe that Machairodus.
 
 II 
 
 C . 
 
 o ~q 
 
 ={ 
 
 i
 
 1872.] DISCOVERY OF THE MACHAIRODUS TOOTH. 22/ 
 
 had ever been found in Kent's Cavern would have been able to urge, 
 as an additional argument, the fact that the consecutive, systematic, 
 and careful daily labours of seven years and four months had failed to 
 show that their scepticism was unreasonable. This great accumulation 
 of negative evidence has been for ever set aside, and all doubt of Mr. 
 MacEnery's accuracy for ever removed, by the discovery the com- 
 mittee have now had the pleasure to announce. They can now 
 announce also that Machairodus latidens and man were contemporaries 
 in Britain ; for even if, notwithstanding the great array of facts to the 
 contrary, the former should prove to have belonged to the era of the 
 breccia, and not to that later time represented by the cave-earth, 
 the two flint implements found in the breccia, to which attention was 
 called in a previous part of the report, as well as that produced and 
 described at Exeter in 1869, take man back to that earlier period 
 also. . . ." 
 
 Mr. Harpley, in his valuable obituary notice of Pengelly, 
 mentions the following incident which occurred during the 
 reading of the Report. 
 
 " He had the pleasure of being Mr. Pengelly's companion at the 
 meeting of the British Association at Brighton in 1872. While returning 
 from the railway station, whither they had gone together to see after 
 the safe transit of the boxes containing the bones, implements, etc., 
 collected during the previous year's exploration of Kent's Cavern, Mr. 
 Pengelly was suddenly seized with hemorrhage in the throat; this 
 produced a fainting fit, from which he speedily recovered, but great 
 weakness of the throat succeeded. Mr. Pengelly was induced by 
 medical advice to abstain as much as possible from using his voice 
 during the meeting, and the writer undertook to read his report for 
 him. On reaching that portion which referred to the discovery of the 
 ' Tooth,' Mr. Pengelly, with his characteristic enthusiasm and impulsive- 
 ness, seized the manuscript, and said, 'Oh, I must read this at all 
 hazards ! ' and finished the reading, in spite of the pain he suffered, 
 amid the cheers and acclamations of the Savans assembled in 
 Section ' C.'" 
 
 Professor Oiven to Pengelly. 
 " Sheen Lodge, Richmond Park, December 28, 1872. 
 "Accept my best thanks for your additional elucidation of one 
 of our rarest and most interesting British fossils Machairodus / and 
 your valuable summary of the literature of the Oreston Caverns. 
 
 " I hope to be able to make some return in kind, when I am back 
 to work in spring, for, notwithstanding the rare mildness of this 
 December, I have had so obstinate and severe a cough that I am 
 ordered off again to Alexandria."
 
 228 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XV. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 LECTURES IN THE NORTH; RECOGNITION OF HIS WORK 
 IN KENT'S HOLE. 
 
 JANUARY, 1873, TO DECEMBER, 1874. 
 
 AT the meeting of the Devonshire Association in 1873, Pengelly 
 read a paper entitled the " Literature of the Cavern at Ansty's 
 Cove, near Torquay." This cavern was examined by Mr. 
 MacEnery, and is well known, as it is situated in one of the 
 most lovely parts of Devon. The exploration had yielded some 
 important results. At this meeting he also read papers, 
 on the " Caves of Buckfastleigh and Chudleigh," and on some 
 " Implements found in Kent's Cavern." 
 
 In January of this year he visited some of the large towns 
 in the North to fulfil lecture engagements. He thus writes 
 home from Hull : 
 
 Pengelly to his daughter Lydia. 
 
 "January 15, 1873. You will all be glad to hear that my lecture 
 was largely attended last night, and apparently gave great satisfaction, 
 and that I am none the worse for it; still, it was a wise course to 
 stipulate for a clear evening between two evening lectures. I have 
 written to Mr. McK. Hughes,* declining his invitation to visit him and 
 the caves near St. Asaph, though the temptation is a strong one. 
 
 " I am sorry to have missed Admiral Spratt, whom I know pretty 
 well. He was captain of the ship-of-war in which the late Professor 
 Edward Forbes made his natural history researches in the ^Egean Sea, 
 and through Forbes he no doubt knew our friend Dr. Day. 
 
 " After the lecture a good many friends dropped in at Mrs. King's ; 
 amongst them were several I knew, and a pleasant evening was spent. 
 In this way I made the acquaintance of Mr. Staniland Wake, who, 
 though in practice as a lawyer here, frequently attends the meetings of 
 the Anthropological Institute in London, and occasionally reads papers 
 there. 
 
 * Now Professor of Geology at Cambridge.
 
 1873-1874-] THE SAGACITY OF DOGS. 229 
 
 "Yesterday was very fine and mild here, and I walked about all 
 day, chiefly on the outer wall of the docks, where I at once commanded 
 a view of the enormous number of ships (for this is the third port in 
 England), the Humber, and of the opposite or Lincolnshire coast. 
 This is likely to be a fine day also, so as soon as my letters are dis- 
 posed of I shall start for another walk, if all be well." 
 
 A letter of Darwin's in Nature, on " Perception in the 
 Lower Animals," attracted Pengelly's attention. The well- 
 authenticated stories alluded to in the following letters were 
 verified with much care, and were included in a paper read by 
 Pengelly before the Torquay Natural History Society, under 
 the title of "Notes on the Sagacity of the Infra-Human 
 Animals." 
 
 Pengelly to Charles Darwin. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, March 17, 1873. 
 
 " Your letter on ' Perception in the Lower Animals ' in Nature of 
 the 1 3th has induced me to send you the enclosed slip. I trust you 
 will pardon this intrusion by an almost entire stranger." 
 
 " THE HOTEL DOG. (Copy of a letter from Mr. R. Fry, formerly of 
 Woodgate, now of Exeter.) 
 
 " Woodgate, near Wellington, I2th mo. 8, 1859. 
 
 "There is a very pretty light tawny-coloured dog, with a fine 
 bushy tail, at the Queen's Hotel, Exeter, that has attracted my attention 
 by his sagacity as well as his beauty. 
 
 " I watched his contrivance a week or two ago to get out of the 
 coffee-room. The door is a double swinging door, opening either way, 
 but so stiffly that the dog has not strength enough to put it open with 
 his nose. He therefore walked back several yards, and ran against the 
 door. This manoeuvre opened the door, but not wide enough to please 
 him ; he therefore repeated the act, taking a longer run than the first, 
 and having acquired a greater impetus. This done, he opened the door 
 wider, and then passed through. 
 
 " On speaking to his owner about the cleverness of the dog, he said 
 the dog had learnt by experience that it was unsafe to attempt to pass 
 through if the door was not pretty far opened, for he had twice had his 
 tail caught and pinched from the door falling fast before he was com- 
 pletely through. Is not the above an exhibition of something more 
 than instinct?" 
 
 " THE ISLE OF WIGHT DOG. (Copy of two letters from Mr. Kirk- 
 patrick, Banker, Honiton.) 
 
 " Honiton, November 19, 1868. 
 
 "In compliance with your wish expressed by you when I had 
 the pleasure of meeting you in the train on Tuesday last, I will now
 
 230 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XV. 
 
 recapitulate the little anecdote I told you about the terrier dog belong- 
 ing to my late father, Joseph Kirkpatrick, of St. Cross, Isle of Wight. 
 
 "About the commencement of the present century, before the days 
 of quick coaches and railways, my father crossed from Cowes to 
 Southampton with his horse and terrier, and rode to London -via 
 Basingstoke. On reaching town he put up his horse at an inn in 
 Westminster, and, as he was going into the city, directed the ostler 
 to tie up, and take care of, his dog. 
 
 "When he returned from the city, he found the dog had broken 
 loose and disappeared. Exactly twenty-four hours afterwards the dog 
 arrived at St. Cross. 
 
 " About a month after this my father was at Cowes with the dog, 
 and on meeting Captain Stevens of the Fox cutter, which plied as a 
 passage vessel between Cowes and Portsmouth, Stevens remarked, ' Is 
 that your dog, sir ? ' ' Yes,' was the reply. Stevens then added, ' He 
 was my passenger a few weeks ago from Portsmouth to this place' 
 (Cowes), ' and on the vessel sailing into Cowes harbour, without waiting 
 to get into the boat, jumped overboard and swam ashore.' 
 
 " This is the story I have often heard my father relate." 
 
 " Honiton, November 20, 1868. 
 
 " I quite forgot to tell you in my note of yesterday that the 
 terrier to which I referred was born in the Isle of Wight, and had 
 never been out of the isle till the day my father rode to London by 
 Southampton." 
 
 Charles Darwin to Pengelly. 
 
 "Down, Beckenham, Kent, March 19, 1873. 
 
 " I am much obliged to you for so kindly sending me the 
 very curious account of the sagacity of dogs. I can believe almost 
 anything about them. You must forgive me for differing from you on 
 one point, when you call yourself 'an almost entire stranger,' for I, at 
 least, have a lively and very pleasant remembrance of seeing you some 
 dozen years ago at Torquay." 
 
 It will have been seen that Pengelly, who was always desirous 
 to benefit all classes of the community by the dissemination of 
 scientific knowledge, found some of his most interested hearers 
 amongst the skilled artisans of the manufacturing towns, the 
 shrewd Scottish people, and the miners of his native county of 
 Cornwall. He writes on one occasion : 
 
 " I have frequently been much pleased at the interest manifested by 
 working men especially miners in geological questions and discus- 
 sions. With a geological friend, I once left a large mine accompanied 
 by the captain or chief superintendent a well informed, thoughtful 
 man, who had risen from the ranks. He had shown us over the 
 works, and was walking with us to the neighbouring town, about four 
 miles distant. Our road lay through a district of considerable interest,
 
 1873-1874.] INTEREST TAKEN IN GEOLOGY BY MINERS. 231 
 
 displaying, amongst other things, elvan dikes traversing the stratified 
 rocks ; whilst on the surface of the country there were several large 
 boulders of distanj^ derivation. These naturally formed the subjects 
 of our conversaVoln, and we stopped from time to time to note the 
 phenomena more^caremlly. A party of miners who had ' just come to 
 grass ' in other words, had come up from their work underground left 
 the mine very soon after us, and were observed, when they overtook us, 
 to regulate their pace so as to keep within hearing. About two miles 
 from the mine the road divided one branch leading to the town, whilst 
 the other and less important led to the miners' cottages. Instead, how- 
 ever, of turning off there, as they ordinarily did, they followed at our 
 heels ; and this fact seemed to annoy the captain, as he feared they 
 were going to the town, and might be tempted to some public-house. 
 He accordingly turned and said 
 
 "'I hope you are not going to the town? ' 
 " And one of them replied 
 
 " ' No, sir ; but we want to hear what you've got to say 'bout elvan 
 courses and that ; and, as it won't take us much further, we're going on 
 to the next lane end about half a mile further on.' 
 
 " The reply was, of course, more than satisfactory : and we induced 
 them to join us, and join in the conversation. 
 
 " I once requested an innkeeper in a small hamlet, to get me a guide 
 to a point on the coast said to be of great interest, but difficult to hit. 
 He very soon brought me his ' brother John' a fine stalwart young 
 fellow, the occupier of a small adjacent farm who offered to be my 
 companion to the cliffs. The distance was about two miles, over a fine 
 table of moorland, and commanding an excellent view of the sea. Of 
 course we beguiled the way with talk, which John thus opened 
 
 " ' I've heerd that people think a good deal of the scenery hereabout, 
 especially where we're going ; and many strangers come from distant 
 parts, quite a good way up the country, to zee it. I s'pose that's what 
 makes you wish to go there ? ' 
 
 " ' Well, the scenery is spoken very highly of, and I quite expect to 
 be much delighted with it ; but my main object is to examine the rocks, 
 to see what they are, how they lie, and whether they contain any 
 fossils as I quite expect they will.' 
 "'Oh!' 
 
 " This last word was obviously pronounced in order to avoid saying 
 nothing ; but John's puzzled look was much more significant, as it 
 unmistakably told me that he had no idea of what I had been speaking. 
 During the rest of the walk out, we talked of the weather, and the state 
 of the crops ; and he pointed out such objects as he thought likely to 
 interest me. At length we found ourselves at the foot of the cliff; and 
 almost immediately a black patch in the bluish-grey slate presented 
 itself, and as I expected, proved to be a fragment of the well-known 
 Devonian fossil, Steganodictyum now known to be fish. The moment 
 its true character was disclosed, I was down on my knees, with hammer 
 and chisel endeavouring to extract it ; whilst John exclaimed 
 " 'Why, what be about?' 
 " ' Do you see this black patch ? ' 
 " ' Ees, I zee it plain enough.'
 
 232 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [On. XV. 
 
 " 'Well, that's a fossil, and I'm trying to get it out.' 
 
 " ' Oh, that's a fossil, is it ? what is a fossil ? ' 
 
 '"Sit down, John, and I'll try to explain. Do you suppose there 
 are any dead shells, or fish bones, lying on the bottom of the sea 
 yonder ? ' 
 
 " ' Of course there is.' 
 
 " ' What is the state of the river, in yonder beautiful valley, after 
 heavy rain ? ' 
 
 " ' Why, very muddy.' 
 
 " When there's a very heavy gale, throwing violent waves on this 
 cliff, does the cliff ever give way ? ' 
 
 " ' Oh yes ; there's always some part or other of it wasting.' 
 
 " ' Very well. Now, the mud which the river brings down from the 
 country, as well as that which the waves tear from the cliffs, finds its 
 way to the sea, as you know, and sooner or later it settles on the bottom 
 of the sea, and buries up such remains of dead animals or vegetables, as 
 may be lying there, and forms a new sea bottom ; on which, by-and-by, 
 other shells, and things of that nature, will find their way ; and these 
 will be buried in their turn. Now, if this work goes on for a very long 
 time, the mud and sand carried into the sea will form a very thick mass ; 
 and if you can suppose it to become more or less hard, it will be a rock, 
 with remains of animals in it. And if it should from any cause get 
 raised above the sea, the waves would begin to break it up, little by 
 little, just as they break up the rock on which we are sitting ; and after 
 a t while any person who carefully looked for them would be able to see 
 the shells, and fish bones, and so on, that had been buried very long 
 before, and he would call them fossils.' 
 
 " ' But do you mean to say that that's the way that black thing got 
 into the rock ? ' 
 
 '"Yes; that's what I mean to say.' 
 
 " ' Was this rock mud once ? ' 
 
 " ' Yes.' 
 
 " ' Not made when the world was made ? ' 
 
 " ' Oh, dear no ! It was made very long since. There are rocks of 
 very great thickness in other parts of the world, made in the same way, 
 and some of them are much older, and others much newer, than this.' 
 
 " ' Well, you have opened my eyes. I'll tell 'ee what 'tis I've lived 
 longer this morning than in all the years of my life before. So that's 
 a fossil, is it ? Was it a shell or a fish bone ? ' 
 
 " ' There's a difference of opinion about it at present. None of 
 them are very perfect ; and some say it's a piece of sponge, whilst others 
 think it's part of a fish.' 
 
 " ' Well, never mind ! 'Tis a fossil ; let me look at 'en, and then I'll 
 try to find some.' 
 
 "He accordingly proceeded to inspect the rocks, and in a few 
 minutes cried out 
 
 "'Here's one. Here's another,' and, in a short time, detected 
 several good specimens. 
 
 " On our journey back, John asked me numerous questions, most of 
 them very pertinent, and some of them by no means easy to answer. 
 At the inn I betook myself to the ' parlour ' in order to greater quietude
 
 1873-1874-] INTEREST OF WORKMEN IN KENT'S CAVERN. 233 
 
 for writing. John felt himself happier in the kitchen ; but, as the one 
 room opened out of the other, I frequently heard my zealous disciple 
 repeat to the villagers who came in from time to time though with 
 sundry modifications and some errors the lecture he had heard in the 
 morning ; the invariable peroration being 
 
 " ' I'll tell 'ee what 'tis I've lived longer this morning than ever I 
 lived all the years of my life before. ' " 
 
 It was a real pleasure to Pengelly to receive letters such as 
 the following from working men : 
 
 W. G. Cove to Pengelly. 
 
 " Westminster, March 8, 1873. 
 
 " I suppose you will be surprised to receive a letter from me, 
 but if I have never written to you, it is not because you are not thought 
 of, for often when talking of days long past I cannot help feeling 
 gratitude, mingled with great pleasure, for the lasting happiness you were 
 so anxious and constant to impart to us young men, during the ' Young 
 Men's Society,' and afterwards at the Mechanics' Institute, which existed 
 by way of diffusing knowledge amongst us, and although I have been a 
 teetotaller now thirty-three years, I don't forget that it was to you I owe 
 with thankfulness the first gleam of light on the subject when answering 
 a question at the Young Men's Society Meeting. 
 
 "I think it stood thus, 'Is Drunkenness curable? If so, what is 
 the most efficient cure ? ' and you undertook to answer it, which you 
 did by advocating entire abstinence from intoxicating drinks, which at 
 the time I did not clearly see. I hope not to tire you with too lengthy 
 a letter, so will pass over a great number of pleasing circumstances in 
 connection with the Young Men's Society, and Mechanics' Institute 
 days, in which I derived much information on many subjects from you, 
 which as I before stated affords me lasting pleasure ; and I have often 
 felt and said I owe more gratitude for the small amount of knowledge 
 I possess, to Mr. Pengelly of Torquay, than to any living man, and I 
 think there are a few now in Torquay who might truly say so too. I 
 did not intend to say so much, but having honestly stated my convictions, 
 I now come to the intended purport of my letter. An acquaintance 
 of mine will be taking a holiday this month, and wishes to go into 
 Cornwall to see some of its beauties. Now, as you are well acquainted 
 with what such a person should see there, I thought you would be kind 
 enough (as he is passing through Torquay) to direct him an interesting 
 route thither ; for the late Robert Ash and myself were favoured once 
 by you as to what we ought to see, when planning to go there, and 
 greatly pleased we were. I think that was in the summer of 1841. 
 If convenient also I think he would feel interested in knowing a little 
 of famous Kent's Cavern." 
 
 From a " Manchester man" 
 
 " Manchester, December i$th. 
 
 "You will, I hope, pardon the liberty of a plain uneducated 
 working man addressing you on this occasion, who makes no pretension
 
 234 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XV. 
 
 whatever to any literary ability, neither received any education beyond 
 the three R's, and that in a country village school, in my school-boy 
 days belore either the last or the present educational code was 
 introduced. 
 
 " I beg respectfully to intimate that I take a great interest in 
 scientific subjects, but more particularly in that of Geology, having 
 been employed at a mine for eight and a half years ; hence geology 
 has been my favourite study ever since. 
 
 " During my leisure hours, for sheer innocent amusement therein, 
 I have written a kind of sijfes and sevens or ' patchwork ' description 
 of one of our public parks (Peel Park), wherein I have introduced a 
 Section on Science, including a little on geology on twenty-seventh page, 
 wherein I took the liberty of introducing your name in a footnote therein 
 (being copied verbatim from a newspaper paragraph which I came 
 across) in reference to your scientific contents of Kent's Cavern, and 
 also being the subject of your lecture to-night, which I intend to avail 
 myself of the very great pleasure in hearing you on this exceedingly 
 interesting subject. . . ." 
 
 The following notice of the second of Pengelly's lectures in 
 the "Science Series for the People," given at Manchester on 
 December 17, 1873, contains some account of the discourse : 
 
 " The lecture of Wednesday night was delivered by Mr. W. Pengelly, 
 its subject being " The Time that has elapsed since the era of the Cave 
 Men of Devonshire." It may be remembered that Mr. Pengelly 
 delivered a lecture in the last series on the same subject, consequently, 
 lecturer and audience met as old friends, and were clearly on the very 
 best terms with each other. . . . 
 
 " Mr. Pengelly's style is most attractive. It is incisive, clear, and at 
 times there are touches of humour. His perfect knowledge of his 
 subject, combined with his intense earnestness, clothed his lecture with 
 genuine eloquence. No one who heard him but regretted the unusually 
 speedy termination of the orthodox hour, or who did not wish to have the 
 time prolonged. We have heard many excellent lectures in the Hulme 
 Town Hall, but have never listened to a better or an abler one than 
 that of Wednesday night" 
 
 The answer to the following letter is unfortunately missing. 
 
 Pengelly to Edward A. Freeman. 
 
 " Lamorna, September 8, 1873. 
 
 "... I infer from passages in your paper on 'The Place of 
 Exeter in English History' {Macmilfats Mag., Sept., 1873, P- 4 7 6), 
 which I have read with the greatest interest, that the Bishoprics of 
 Cornwall and Devonshire were first joined in the time of Edward the 
 Confessor ; that on the junction being made Exeter became the See ; 
 and that Leofric was the first Bishop of the united dioceses. I had 
 previously believed, solely on the authority of Carew (Survey of Cornwall, 
 pp. 8 1, 109, 124, ed. 1769), that the Danes having burnt the Church
 
 1873-1874-] TESTIMONIAL FOR WORK IN KENT'S CAVERN. 235 
 
 and Palace of the Bishop of Cornwall, at Bodmin, the See was removed 
 thence to St. Germans in the same county ; that in the time of Canute 
 the two bishoprics were joined at the instance of Livingius, Bishop 
 of Crediton, who became Bishop of the united dioceses, and had his 
 See at Crediton ; and the See was subsequently translated to Exeter. 
 Without questioning your correctness, I should be gratified if, without 
 much trouble, you would kindly refer me to authorities on the points 
 raised." 
 
 In March, 1874, Pengelly was the recipient of a very handsome 
 testimonial in recognition of his nine years' work in Kent's Cavern. 
 The presentation was made by Professor Phillips, who most 
 kindly took a special journey from Oxford to Torquay for the 
 occasion. Professor Phillips opened the proceedings with an 
 eloquent scientific address. He said 
 
 "The purpose of their meeting was to commemorate the successful 
 progress of a great geological work which had been undertaken in this 
 neighbourhood at the suggestion of the British Association for the 
 advancement of Science, and especially of the Geological Section of 
 that body, namely, the excavation of Kent's Cavern. They had a 
 second duty, to express on the part of the Geological section of the 
 British Association, and very many members of the Geological Society, 
 and of every member of the committee appointed by the Association to 
 direct the operations in Kent's Cavern their affectionate admiration and 
 gratitude for the great amount of labour, long continued and of a highly 
 scientific character, that has been performed at the request of the 
 Association by one of their townsmen, Mr. Pengelly. A few words 
 only were required to place them in possession of some of the reasons 
 why the geologists of this country had felt so great an interest in the 
 excavation of Kent's Cavern, and in having the work directed with the 
 extraordinary degree of minute and careful attention which had charac- 
 terized the proceedings. Mr. Pengelly had not only shown a rare careful- 
 ness and scrupulosity in collecting and preserving interesting specimens ; 
 but he had literally inspected and examined the work of exploration 
 from day to day, giving a large portion of most precious time to 
 examining the stuff as it was dug up, taking home the fossils, washing 
 and labelling them, putting them in a catalogue, and writing notices 
 respecting them. Mr. Pengelly had, in fact, turned his own residence 
 into a substitute for Kent's Cavern, and his house must be full of bones. 
 Out of regard for him, however, he hoped Torquay would be able to 
 preserve a very fine collection, the largest and most perfect, of these 
 remains, and that it would be for a long time the principal feature of 
 the Museum of the Natural History Society. In undertaking such a 
 duty, however, it should be remembered that it was not sufficient merely 
 to place these bones in drawers and to say they were safe there; 
 what was wanted for them was that they should be so placed as to 
 instruct all who had sufficient interest in the history of mankind and in 
 the nature and extent of these discoveries. These remains afforded
 
 236 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XV. 
 
 evidence which carried them back to the first occupation of this country, 
 to a period much earlier than was generally supposed, when the reindeer 
 and early races of deer lived with the elephant. For the minute 
 examination of which these discoveries were the result they were 
 especially indebted to the extraordinary scientific acumen and untiring 
 zeal of Mr. Pengelly, and they should be performing a great act of 
 injustice, now that the Geological Section of the British Association 
 was coming near to the end of its most prosperous work in connec- 
 tion with Kent's Cavern, if they were simply to accept the results and 
 give Mr. Pengelly an ordinary expression of thanks. He thought they 
 should take the opportunity now afforded them to express to Mr. 
 Pengelly, in the presence of his personal friends in his own town, 
 amongst those who knew his personal worth and were aware of his high 
 scientific attainments, to offer him publicly an expression of the 
 affectionate regard and the profound respect entertained for him by 
 persons in this country who devoted themselves to geological inquiry 
 of a high order, and by all persons in the least degree interested in the 
 most important historical inquiry which related to the occupation of 
 the northern parts of Europe by races of inferiorly educated men. 
 
 Mr. J. E. Lee (the treasurer of the testimonial fund), said 
 
 " Though he entertained a dislike generally to testimonials, yet 
 there were exceptions to every rule ; and, if there was an exception 
 which it was proper to make to a rule, it was in the present case of Mr. 
 Pengelly. He had no hesitation in saying that there was no professional 
 man living who had worked harder and more freely, and more 
 successfully, without the slightest idea of remuneration, than Mr. 
 Pengelly. No one who knew Torquay could deny that if they wanted 
 to meet Mr. Pengelly at a certain hour they had only to put themselves 
 on the Babbacombe Road between four and five o'clock in the after- 
 noon, and Mr. Pengelly would be sure to be met either going to or 
 returning from Kent's Cavern." 
 
 At the proposal of Mr. Guyer, Mr. Pengelly was also to be 
 presented with an illuminated parchment, containing the names 
 of the subscribers, and setting forth the object of the testimonial 
 as follows : 
 
 " The undermentioned members of the British Association and 
 other friends beg to present to Wm. Pengelly, Esq., F.R.S., etc., etc., 
 this testimonial in recognition of his long and valued services to science 
 in general and more especially for the exploration of Kent's Cavern, 
 Torquay. March 17, 1874." 
 
 Mr. Vivian, in asking Professor Phillips to make the presen- 
 tation, expressed his indebtedness to Mr. Pengelly for the amount 
 of geological teaching he had received from him. 
 
 Professor Phillips then presented the testimonial to Mr. 
 Pengelly.
 
 1873-1874-] APPRECIATION OF THE TESTIMONIAL. 237 
 
 " As a mark of the high appreciation of his services by the Geological 
 Section in particular, and the members of the British Association very 
 generally, and every member of the Kent's Cavern Committee, of which 
 he was the secretary. In making the presentation, he would only add 
 these words in regard to Mr. Pengelly 
 
 "... cui 
 
 Gratia, fama, valetudo contingat abunde, 
 Et mundus victus, non deficiente crumena." 
 
 The professor then handed to Mr. Pengelly the illuminated 
 address and a cheque. 
 
 The recipient acknowledged the honour paid him in a charac- 
 teristic speech, beginning in the playful and humorous style for 
 which he was so well known. He went on to say that 
 
 " He had done this work in connection with Kent's Cavern simply 
 because he liked it. He was, however, utterly unable to give expression 
 to the gratification which he felt at their kindness, and the kindness of 
 his friends throughout the country generally, unless he could coin his 
 heart into words, which was beyond him. It had been very pleasant to 
 him to do the work in Kent's Cavern day by day for now nearly nine 
 years, it having been begun on March 28, 1865. He had endeavoured 
 to husband the means at his disposal as if the money were his own. He 
 had had the pleasure of spending five hours a day, taking one day 
 with another, for the past nine years on Kent's Cavern work ; and, 
 whilst his work in the Cavern had been considerable, that at home had 
 often carried him into the morning hours. But he had experienced 
 intense pleasure in it ; and he could assure them that, on his finding a 
 Machairodus latidens, after seven years and a half exploration, the 
 discovery of that one tooth, in his opinion, was worth all the money that 
 had been spent in the exploration of the Cavern. It was particularly 
 pleasurable for him to receive this testimonial at the hands of Professor 
 Phillips, for he could not forget that he represented geologically the 
 great University of Oxford, he being the Professor of Geology in that 
 university, and that to the reading of one of Professor Phillips' works he 
 owed more of his geological knowledge than to any other man. It was 
 also pleasurable, to find in the list of subscribers every member of the 
 Kent's Cavern Exploration Committee ; * also the names of the president 
 of the Geological Society and of the two presidents before him, and 
 those of both professors of geology at the universities of Oxford and 
 Cambridge, and friends whose names he hardly expected to have seen 
 there, but which gave him a great deal of pleasure. Reference had 
 been made to the possible inconvenience of his having to keep the 
 fossils in his own house. He had only 6320 boxes of bones there. 
 He hoped to devote a portion of the money presented to him in build- 
 ing an additional room in which he might put the large private collection 
 
 * The Committee now consisted of the following members : Sir Charles Lyell, 
 Bart., F.R.S. ; Sir John Lubbock, Bart, F.R.S. ; John Evans, F.R.S. ; Edward 
 Vivian, M.A. ; George Bush, F.R.S. ; William Boyd Uawkins, F.R.S. ; William 
 Ayshford Sanford, F.G.S. ; John Edward Lee, F.G.S. ; and W. Pengelly.
 
 238 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Ca. XV. 
 
 of Devonshire fossils he had collected, so as to enable his friends to 
 study them. He thanked Mr. Lee for the kindness and delicacy he had 
 displayed in the matter. He did not wish for one moment to speak 
 slightingly of the pecuniary value of the testimonial, but let it be under- 
 stood, once for all, that their appreciation of his services, such as they 
 had been, was the thing which he valued chiefly in this matter. . . ." 
 
 A few days later the following article appeared in connection 
 with the Testimonial : 
 
 " There are those who receive testimonials and those who deserve 
 testimonials. The world is full of one class, whilst only a comparative 
 few belong to the other. Mr. Pengelly is one of the few. The whole 
 geological world is indebted to him for the results which have attended 
 his careful and energetic exploration of Kent's Cavern, and the country 
 up and down is under compliment to him for his contributions to 
 science, whilst Torquay owes a double meed of gratitude to him for his 
 lucid exposition of scientific and social truths during a generation, and 
 for lending it the distinction of his name. Geologists generally have 
 been afforded the opportunity of acknowledging their obligations to and 
 appreciation of Mr. Pengelly by permission to subscribe to a testimonial ; 
 but the Torquay townsfolk, and particularly those who years ago 
 derived advantage from Mr. Pengelly's lectures, and to whom testimonial 
 circulars would not be sent, have a right to complain that sufficient 
 publicity was not given to an intended public compliment. By confining 
 the knowledge of the Committee's intentions to those who were likely 
 to give large sums, the very appearance, that of paying in coin rather 
 than in expression of feeling, which Mr. Pengelly, as well as the Com- 
 mittee, would wish to avoid, was given to the testimonial. The six- 
 pences of the working men, who have derived advantage from Mr. 
 Pengelly's private and public instruction, would be more acceptable to 
 him than the pounds of more wealthy subscribers contributed as a 
 reward. These, and others who knew nothing of the testimonial, have 
 a right to complain at the somewhat exclusive character of the 
 compliment." 
 
 The kindly feeling shown in this paragraph calls for no 
 comment. It is, I trust, unnecessary to say that Pengelly was 
 altogether unaware of the manner in which the funds of the 
 testimonial had been raised. Most highly would he have valued 
 a tribute of esteem from the working men of Torquay, whose 
 appreciation of his labours was most grateful to him. To have 
 seen their signatures in the list of subscribers, would have 
 been to him quite as great a pleasure as the recognition of names 
 so illustrious in different branches of science as those of Sir 
 Charles Lyell, Sir John Lubbock, Charles Darwin, Sir William 
 Armstrong, dnd Sir John Hawkshaw, or others so eminent in the 
 social world, as the Dukes of Argyll, Devonshire, and Somerset,
 
 1873-1874.] LYELL'S "STUDENT'S ELEMENTS." 239 
 
 the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, and Sir Wm. Tite, then in his last 
 illness. The following letter from an intimate friend of the 
 eminent architect, bears touching testimony to his constant 
 attachment to Pengelly : 
 
 " March 20, 1874. 
 
 " In the Torquay paper, which I receive weekly, I have just read 
 a very pleasant column, on which you must please let me congratu- 
 late you very sincerely ! It is a most delightful thing to see an act of 
 justice and kindness done, and especially so when one has the added 
 satisfaction of knowing the recipient. 
 
 " I am sure one little circumstance I can tell you, will contribute to 
 your appreciation of the Testimonial. The last time poor Sir William 
 ever signed his name, was to the cheque by which he paid his tribute to 
 the Testimonial. This was two days after his final illness had assailed 
 him, and was the closing act of business and of kindness ! After 
 dictating a letter concerning this matter he never again asked for letters, 
 or made the least effort to transact business of any sort." 
 
 Criticisms on scientific work and information as to the 
 scientific mode of investigating caves were frequently solicited 
 from, and always most cordially given, by Pengelly. Readers 
 of " The Life of Sir Charles Lyell " will call to mind an appeal 
 made to Pengelly by that great geologist, concerning the ex- 
 ploration of caverns in Borneo, which came within the jurisdiction 
 of Pengelly's friend, the Rajah Brooke, whose good offices Sir 
 Charles was anxious to enlist. " No one," he writes, " could 
 better explain, than you, the interest of such an inquiry." 
 
 Pengelly to Sir Charles Lyell. 
 
 " Torquay, March 22, 1874. 
 
 " What a busy man you are ! I had no idea that a second edition 
 of your ' Student's Elements ' was in the press, and lo ! the postman 
 hands me a presentation copy of the said new edition. Be so good 
 as to accept my warm thanks for it, and the assurance that it is most 
 gratifying to be thus remembered by you. Have you seen a letter by 
 
 published for March on the Eoozoon Canadense ? ... In substance 
 
 it is this: He is silent on the question of the mineral or organic 
 character of Eoozoon, declines to give an opinion on the mineral 
 hypothesis by King and Co., but states that the structure is most 
 certainly not that of Foraminifera, I trust you will see the article. 
 Pardon my calling your attention to what is, in all probability, an error 
 in the useful diagramatic Table of British Fossils at the end of your new 
 edition. In the Group Trilobita, page 630, the families ' PhacopidaJ 
 ' Cheirudidtej and ' Cyphuspidie ' are represented as not extending into 
 the Devonshire formation, whereas in Sailer's monograph, Pal. Soc., 
 Part I., the following species occur in the Devonians of Devon and 
 Cornwall : (i) Phacops granulates, (2) Ph. /<zvis, (3) Ph. cryptoptophatinus.
 
 240 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XV. 
 
 (4) Ph. latifrons, (5) Ph. pernidatus, and (6) Cheirocurus articulatus. 
 Indeed your text and figure of Ph. latifrons, page 446, establish the 
 extension of the Phacopidce. When poor Salter was preparing his 
 monograph, I sent him all my Devonshire Trilobites from Devon and 
 Cornwall, and when they came back, I found them all named by him, 
 and they are still in my cabinet, with his handwriting on the tablets. I 
 have all the species named above, with the exception of the third 
 only, and in addition a specimen of cyphaspis, but without a specific 
 name attached, found in the middle Devonian limestone of Newton 
 Bushel. This specimen has not been described, but it establishes the 
 extension of the Cyphaspidae into middle Devonian times." 
 
 Professor A. Newton, F.R.S., to Pengelly. 
 
 " Magdalene College, Cambridge, May 9, 1874. 
 
 " Will you kindly inform me whether you have any work going on 
 now in Kent's Cavern or elsewhere ? My object in asking is that a 
 young friend of mine has just been selected as one of the naturalists to 
 the Rodriguez Transit Expedition, and in that island are some very 
 interesting caves which will have to be explored by him. Consequently 
 I should like him to see, if possible, your admirable method in practice, 
 for, though he has had some experience in cave-hunting, it would be 
 well for him to be acquainted with all the latest improvements the 
 more so since he will have only half-savages to dig for him instead of 
 intelligent men. 
 
 " Perhaps if there is nothing going on with you, you may know 
 where people may be at work in the proper manner, and if so I would 
 ask you kindly to use your good offices so that my friend may be able 
 to see and avail himself of the process. I don't yet know when he 
 will have to leave England, but most likely not till July or August 
 
 " I have just found a grand prize in a magnificent Bos primigenins, 
 almost perfect, dug up near this place within the last few weeks." 
 
 Mr. Slater, the friend alluded to in Professor Newton's letter, 
 paid a short visit to Torquay, when he daily took advantage of 
 the opportunity of studying cave exploration as exemplified in 
 Kent's Cavern under Pengelly's guidance and instruction. 
 
 In several letters subsequently received from Mr. Slater he 
 expressed his indebtedness for the valuable aid given him, as 
 well as for the hearty kindness with which he had been received. 
 
 The following letter from Mr. Froude relates to the chair- 
 manship of a local Scientific Society, which his friend was 
 anxious he should undertake : 
 
 W. Froude to Pengelly. 
 
 " Chelston Cross, Torquay, July 2, 1874. 
 " What a man you are : what a way you have ! 
 " I hate to disoblige kind friends, who I know are seeking to 
 express their goodwill towards me, and appreciation of me, in making the
 
 1873-1874.] w. FROUDE'S DIFFIDENCE AS PRESIDENT. 241 
 
 request you have conveyed to me. And if I only could know for 
 certain that I should be dead by the time at which the assent would 
 have to take effect, I would assent most cordially. 
 
 " But if a man at sixty-four does not know the duties he is unfit, 
 for he is a fool, and is fit for little ; and really, I know so well that 
 I am not the right man in the right place if I sit in the chair to which 
 you invite me, that so far as the fitness of things is concerned I should 
 be courting it, in accepting the invitation. I know very well how 
 kindly you value me, overvaluing me in many ways, and especially not 
 knowing of some of my particular defects. 
 
 " I grant, or rather I am vain enough to assert, that I know a great 
 deal about some particular subjects, and have an intelligent apprehen- 
 sion of the elementary ideas belonging to other subjects. 
 
 "Yet in dealing with one of the subjects I understand best, to put 
 together into a readable, still more into a preachable form, an exposition 
 of the things I want to say and know are worth saying, is to me a 
 burden and an anxiety which wears and tears me. . . . 
 
 " You who have such astonishing power of work, and do your work 
 so clean and well out of hand, will hardly understand the difficulty I am 
 trying to describe. 
 
 " My brother, who though not a man of science is a man full of 
 philosophical ideas, has the readiness of mind and pen which make his 
 task easy for him ; and there are many men who without being philo- 
 sophers, as he is, have a general acquaintance with science and a facility 
 of composition, that enables them to get through the work both in- 
 terestingly and instructively. I should be both a failure and a bore. 
 
 " If, then, you can get me off, without my appearing a graceless cur- 
 mudgeon for refusing a proposal which I know has been meant so 
 kindly, I hope you will do so. But if I am putting you in a disagreeable 
 dilemma by being reported as recusant, I will forego my objection ; for 
 I am sure if, after what I have said, you desire me to accept, it will be 
 for some reason which I could not rightly disregard. If you can get me 
 off, do ; if you can't, don't ! " 
 
 During this summer, whilst his wife went with her daughters 
 to spend the holidays from school at Budleigh Salterton, Pengelly 
 visited Ireland, and attended the meeting of the British Asso- 
 ciation at Belfast, returning directly after the dispersion of the 
 gathering to Devonshire. 
 
 Pengelly to his youngest child Hester. 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, before breakfast, September n, 1874. 
 
 "I am beginning this letter to you with the present intention of 
 sending it off not to-day, but to-morrow. Just after taking my tea 
 yesterday, a note came from the Baroness,* stating that they were to 
 have a small party, and as I had been obliged to refuse the dinner, 
 
 * Burdett-Coutts.
 
 242 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XV. 
 
 asking me to drop in, not late. I accordingly went, and found the 
 drawing-room pretty well filled with ladies, including Lady Erskine, 
 Mrs. Fortescue, Miss Dyott, and many others. In due time came in 
 March Phillips, Vivian, Dr. Ramsay, Sir George Macgregor, Mr. 
 Fortescue and others. . . . Your very nicely written letter of yesterday 
 has arrived. I am glad to find you are all enjoying your walks, games, 
 and blackberries (I mustn't forget them), and glad too that you saw so 
 much of the regatta. I am getting on with ' Romola,' which seems 
 a sad story. The kitten came back on Tuesday evening, and seems to 
 have had proper care. She is frisking about at this moment as madly 
 as ever. . . . 
 
 " The ' snake ' * has not been used, it being utterly unnecessary, as 
 there has been rain every day this week so far, and in no limited 
 amount. 
 
 " There, now I think I have disposed of your letter. Saturday, 
 September izth. Lydia's letter has come to-day; be so good as to 
 thank her for it, for me, and, if you can trust me for so much, you may 
 give her a kiss. Tell her that no respectable female will be able to 
 get into the new Chamber in Kent's Hole until at least three months' 
 work has been spent on it, and that I am not sure that so much will 
 ever be done, for we are finding nothing now to encourage us to do 
 so. ... I go into the garden nearly every day and pick and eat two 
 or three pears, but it is so fearfully wet among the bushes, that we 
 cannot pick up the fallen fruit." 
 
 How much Pengelly's time, ever burdened with serious work, 
 was encroached upon by strangers and casual acquaintance 
 wishing to visit the cavern under his guidance, the following 
 letter, selected from many of a similar character, will testify. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, September 18, 1874. I have just reached 
 
 home from the Cavern, where I had to act guide to Miss T , her 
 
 aunt and two other relatives, and this has occupied more of my time 
 than it is pleasant to think of, though I must say the dear old maids 
 
 were all very nice, and Miss kindly allowed the idea to peep out 
 
 that they were doing me a kindness to visit my cavern under my 
 guidance. All this to tell you that I have but little time, and that 
 you must put up with a short letter. I yesterday had a call from Mr. 
 
 W of Liverpool, whom I have seen at the Brit. Assoc. Meeting, 
 
 but did not know. He was at Belfast, but not being able to get to 
 hear my ' Lecture on Kent's Cavern/ he had called to ask where, if 
 anywhere, it had been or was to be printed ; he being much interested 
 in Cavern researches and kindred topics. I told him the Report was 
 printed in extenso in this week's Directory, and would be in large 
 abstract in Nature, probably of this week. On which he said, 
 Nature, what Nature 1 } And then it came out that this man, a 
 
 * His child's name for the water-hose.
 
 1873-1874.] HOW A BUSY MAN'S TIME IS ENCROACHED ON. 243 
 
 resident in Liverpool, interested in cavern researches, and I blush to 
 add, a Cornishman, was ignorant of the serial called Nature. At the 
 Cavern yesterday, I found two men from Halifax, waiting for me with 
 a letter of introduction from Mr. D. of Halifax. The funny thing is 
 that I know no Mr. D. of Halifax. Be this as it may, I took them 
 into the Cavern, and they were well pleased. This afternoon I found 
 three ladies (?) waiting at the Cavern for me ; but I handed them over 
 to Smerdon,* much to his, and perhaps not to their satisfaction. On 
 my return C. Parker waylaid me, and in the most pathetic manner 
 besought me to go home to tea with him." 
 
 * The chief workman who was allowed to take visitors over that part of the Cavern 
 not in course of exploration.
 
 244 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XVI. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 LOSS OF FRIENDS. 
 
 JANUARY, 1875, TO SEPTEMBER, 1878. 
 
 A VARIETY of untoward circumstances and events combined to 
 make the opening of the year 1875 a period of singular dis- 
 comfort, anxiety, and depression for Pengelly. The season was 
 one of extreme severity, and being far from robust in health at 
 the time, he suffered greatly from the cold in the fulfilment of 
 his engagements to lecture at Gloucester and other towns ; while 
 sickness in his own household made it difficult for him to leave 
 home, and caused him great uneasiness during his absence. In 
 January he was much affected by the intelligence of the death 
 of his valued friend Canon Kingsley, whose warm-hearted en- 
 thusiasm in the cause of popular education, and the deep interest 
 he took in furthering the well-being of the working-classes, had 
 greatly endeared him to Pengelly as a kindred spirit and fellow- 
 worker in the cause he had so constantly at heart. This severe 
 blow was followed by another that he felt no less keenly. As 
 his human sympathies were engaged by the noble character of 
 Canon Kingsley, it may be readily understood how his scientific 
 life and studies had been intertwined and bound up with the 
 work of the great geologist Sir Charles Lyell, his intimate friend 
 and constant correspondent, whose death occurred in February 
 of this year. Though he had been in failing health since the 
 decease of Lady Lyell, in 1873, his last illness and death came 
 as a sudden shock, and had an effect on Pengelly which even his 
 buoyant nature did not enable him to recover from for a con- 
 siderable period. The void which his death caused in the world 
 of science was not greater than that which it left in the heart of 
 his friend. 
 
 In February, 1877, Pengelly was the second recipient of the 
 recently established Lyell Fund, which was presented to him
 
 1875-1878.] RECEIVES THE LYELL FUND. 245 
 
 as the President of the Geological Society remarked by the 
 unanimous wish of the Council, " as evidence of his untiring 
 devotion to the great task of extending scientific knowledge 
 relating to the Antiquity of Man. . . ." In the spring he had 
 the pleasure of welcoming home, on long leave, his son Alfred, 
 who was now a Deputy Commissioner in the Forest Department 
 of the Indian Civil Service. 
 
 Pengelly had been a member of the " Boulder " Committee of 
 the British Association for some years, and numerous letters re- 
 lating to the work for the furtherance of which it was appointed, 
 are found among his papers. It was a subject that had special 
 attractions for him. 
 
 In a letter written during the previous year he thus describes 
 the origin and labours of the Committee : 
 
 Pengelly to the Editor of the Western Morning News. 
 
 " . . . The British Association first appointed a Boulder Committee 
 in 187 1, at the instance of D. Milne Hume, Esq., whose labours in 
 connection with the Scotch boulders are well known ; and it has been 
 annually re-appointed. No report was made in 1872, but one, read 
 at Bradford in 1873, will appear in the annual volume of the Association, 
 which it may be presumed will shortly be published. It may be well 
 to state, in order to prevent a loss of labour, that the Report in 1873, 
 contains a description of the famous granite boulder on the northern 
 shore of Barnstaple Bay, and arrangements have been made for including 
 in the Report for 1874 an account of the numerous boulders in the 
 1 Head ' of Bovey Heathfield and the adjacent districts. It is hoped 
 that no one will describe any specimens from mere hearsay, as a careful 
 inspection alone can secure the accuracy essential to science. 1 shall 
 be happy to send copies of the printed questions on which the Com- 
 mittee are desirous of information to any one wishing to have them, or 
 they can be obtained from the Rev. H. W. Crosskey, F.G.S., Hon. 
 Sec. Boulder Committee. 
 
 " It is to be hoped that the boulders on Dartmoor will not be utterly 
 neglected, even though they may be of the granite of the district, partly 
 because Dr. Otto Torell of Lund, an eminent authority on the question, 
 has expressed the opinion, after a careful personal study of the district 
 with G. W. Ormerod, Esq., F.G.S., that glacial Moraines exist on the 
 Moor ; and also because the Committee are desirous of recording all 
 legends and superstitions connected with any particular boulders. 
 
 " Observers intending to assist the Committee will do well to study 
 the first report of the Committee on Boulders appointed by the Royal 
 Society of Edinburgh, drawn up by D. M. Hume, Esq., and published 
 in the Proceedings of the Society, vol. vii., 1871-2." 
 
 The following letter from the Secretary of the Committee,
 
 246 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XVI. 
 
 the late Rev. H. W. Crosskey, refers to a contribution to the 
 Report for 1875. 
 
 Rev. H. W. Crosskey to Pengelly. 
 
 " Birmingham, July 14, 1875. 
 
 "I am delighted to return the 'Hail fellow, well met' involved 
 in dispensing with 'Rev.' and 'Mr.' and 'Sir.' Many thanks the 
 Report will do admirably please let the Boulder Committee have the 
 privilege of printing it and not the Devonshire Association. It is 
 precisely what is wanted for each district." 
 
 In response to a request from Professor Rolleston, Pengelly 
 read a paper before the Anthropological Section of the British 
 Association, which met at Bristol, in 1875. 
 
 Professor Rolleston to Pengelly. 
 
 " Oxford, July 20, 1875. 
 
 "... I have to preside over the Anthropological Section of the 
 Bristol British Association meeting, and I write to ask if you can give 
 us something out of your ample stores. Mr. John Evans, who has just 
 been staying with me, encouraged me to ask you, and, acting upon this 
 advice, I do so. Anything which you can give we shall be glad of, 
 and I do not presume to suggest any particular line to you. Except 
 so far as I may say that probably we shall have some foreign anthro- 
 pologists at the meeting, and that they might be disappointed if they 
 did not get some viva voce discourse from you on the points with which 
 they have learnt from print to connect your name." 
 
 Pengelly to Professor Rolleston, F.R S. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, July 21, 1875. 
 
 " The only subject on which I have any special knowledge is Kent's 
 Cavern. If you care to have a summary of all that has been done 
 there, under some such title as ' The Anthropological ( ? Archaeological) 
 Discoveries in Kent's Cavern, Devonshire,' I shall be most happy to 
 comply with your flattering request, if all be well. 
 
 " I purpose reading the Eleventh Report of the Kent's Cavern 
 Committee to the Geological Section, which no doubt will be fixed for 
 the orthodox time of eleven o'clock, Friday, August 27, and I would 
 rather not encounter another Section the same day, as my throat is not 
 very strong. I therefore suggest Monday, the soth. 
 
 "Be so good as to favour me with a line just to say, ist, Whether 
 you approve the topic and the title. 
 
 " 2nd, Whether you prefer that I should speak, or write and read, 
 what I have to say. 
 
 " 3rd, What amount of time you would wish me to occupy."
 
 1875-1878.] DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION AT TORRINGTON. 247 
 
 Professor Rolleston to Pengelly. 
 
 " Oxford, Thursday, July, 1875. 
 
 ' I have been away from Oxford exploring, with Colonel Lane 
 Fox, the flint mines which the early British excavated at Cissbury as 
 other people did at Spienne. Otherwise your note would have been 
 answered, as I hope you will have imagined, before this. 
 
 " As regards your questions, I would say in short, that we shall be 
 glad of anything you will give, with whatever title, and whether written 
 or spoken, and the longer the better. However, to answer in detail, I 
 should think the title would be ' Anthropological (rather than Archaeolo- 
 gical) Discoveries in Kent's Cavern.' 
 
 " As to reading the MS., I should think if you had a short abstract 
 such as would do for the volume, and gave us viva voce the details, that 
 would be as well for all parties. 
 
 "As to time to be occupied, you could give us forty minutes, if that 
 is not too much." 
 
 Before going to the meeting, Pengelly attended the Devon- 
 shire Association at Torrington, and afterwards joined his wife 
 in a family gathering at the marriage of one of her nieces, 
 Mrs. Burgess. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Lamorna, July 31, 1875. 
 
 " Here I am, having just breakfasted and read your letter. We have 
 been lucky indeed in the weather. . . . Now for a brief account of our 
 meeting at Torrington. The President's address was admirable. I 
 enclose a copy. The next day the reading of the papers was well 
 attended, the only drawback was that the President was a little too in- 
 dulgent in the precious matter of time. At six our dinner began, when 
 nearly eighty sat down. I had my old Toast of ' The New Members.' 
 It was over by nine, when we went to the Concert of which you know 
 already. C. Fowler played charmingly. Thursday the papers as before. 
 The meeting over, about thirty of us went off to see Wear Gifford Hall 
 and Frithelstock Priory. It was a very pleasant drive, but the day was 
 too far done for us to see much of the Priory ruins. Friday morning I 
 went to the Vicarage to breakfast, where, besides Mr. and Mrs. Buckland 
 (the vicar and Vicaress), the former the half brother of the famous Dr. 
 Buckland, I met our President and some others, and ' the fun grew fast 
 and furious.' Happily there was a little ballast, as every now and then 
 
 the point of a joke had to be shown to Mr. G and sometimes he 
 
 got a faint view of it. About one o'clock Mr. Wren, owner of some 
 clay pits, drove in from his place, in his break and four, and drove a 
 lot of us out to his pits about five miles off. We got back just in time 
 to get a chop and catch the train to Exeter, and the meeting at Torring- 
 ton began to fade away to join its older brothers somewhere in the 
 mighty past. . . ."
 
 248 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XVI. 
 
 Amongst those in search of information about the discoveries 
 made in Devonshire caverns were Dr. Dawson, F.R.S.,* and Mr. 
 G. H. Kinahan. 
 
 Pengelly to Dr. Dawson, M.A., F.tf.S* 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, January 3, 1876. 
 
 "First let me wish you in British fashion a 'Happy New Year,' 
 and then thank you for your letters of yth and i3th ult. 
 
 " I have not the least doubt that the ' cave-earth ' was introduced 
 in small instalments, at very protracted intervals by a small stream, 
 which heavy rains occasionally swelled, but which ordinarily flowed 
 tranquilly through the valley immediately in front of, and but little 
 below the cavern entrances, instead of, as now, about seventy feet 
 below them. 
 
 "I incline to the opinion that the 'breccia' is at least of inter- 
 glacial age, but more probably preglacial ; though I have not been 
 able to detect any signs of ice action. 
 
 " Some of the bears' bones and implements in it may have been 
 rolled, but probably not many of either series. The bear's leg, of 
 which you have heard, was found in Brixham, not Kent's Cavern. 
 There is much error afloat concerning it. By this post I send for your 
 kind acceptance a few of my papers, which will perhaps answer all 
 your questions better than I can in a letter. I need not say that I 
 shall have great pleasure in giving any further information I can, as 
 I am sure that though we may differ, we both desire to know and 
 teach the truth. 
 
 " P.S. Though we have broken all the pieces of stalagmite embedded 
 in the breccia, we have found no organic remains in them. W.P." 
 
 Pengelly to G. H. Kinahan, Geological Survey, Wexford, Ireland. 
 
 " Lamorna, January 21, 1876. In reply to yours of the gth inst. 
 I have to state that we find in Kent's Hole skulls of sheep in the 
 ' Black Mould,' or uppermost deposit only some of them horned, and 
 some hornless, but none of them having more than two horns to the 
 best of my recollection. Sheep and goats are easily confounded with 
 one another, I believe." 
 
 This summer Pengelly visited Scotland again, and, whilst 
 there, attended the British Association Meeting at Glasgow. 
 He had lectured in Scotland in December, 1875, and did so 
 again in the early part of 1877 at Glasgow and Dundee. 
 
 Nowhere were his lectures and papers more warmly re- 
 ceived than North of the Tweed. The Duke of Argyll, writing 
 to him in 1876, says, "I have never heard a clearer lecturer, nor 
 one with so much enthusiasm for his subject." 
 
 * Principal of McGill College, Montreal, Canada ; now Sir William Dawson.
 
 1875-1878.] BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT GLASGOW. 249 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Glasgow, September n, 1876. . . . On Saturday, Harkness 
 dined with my host and hostess, and we spent a bright, merry evening, 
 which every one seemed to enjoy. On Sunday I went to hear the 
 sermon announced in the enclosed, which was simply magnificent, 
 though it had one or two errors in it. The sight of fully four thousand 
 people (as I judge) hanging on the lips of one man, was a grand one 
 (I was on the platform and could command the whole); and the 
 singing congregational as well as trained was truly superb, and made 
 me vibrate from top to toe. I then rambled about, took a light dinner, 
 and at 6.30 found myself in a ' Hall of Free Thought,' of the Holyoake 
 stamp and probably foundation. There were one hundred and fifty 
 people present (as I judge). A good discourse not cultivated was 
 delivered, though it is not what is called Christian, and there were 
 some curious scenes of which I may tell you. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his daughter Lydia. 
 
 "Glasgow, January 25, 1877. Thank you heaps upon heaps of 
 times for your nice letter. . . . And now for the events in my history 
 since I wrote yesterday. We duly dined at Sir James Watson's, where 
 I met Sir William Thomson,* Dr. Allen Thomson, and several other 
 folk. The gathering was a most pleasant one. The lecture audience 
 was much larger than that last year, and my reception very flattering. 
 It would have done your heart good to have heard some of the laughs. 
 My new diagram, the printed one, was, and is, an undoubted success. 
 It is not a bit too large. I am beginning to feel jubilant as the back 
 of my work is broken, and I shall soon be speeding southwards, if all 
 be well. . . ." 
 
 Towards the close of the year 1 876, Pengelly paid a visit to 
 Sir Samuel Baker. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, December 25, 1876. . . . William returned 
 yesterday from his visit to Sir Samuel Baker, which he has greatly 
 enjoyed. The Duke of Somerset, who lives near Sir Samuel, came in 
 on Sunday with the duchess. William says she is still a most charming 
 woman. She was a Sheridan, and a sister of Mrs. Norton whom we 
 met when she was in Torquay. Sandford Orleigh, the Bakers' house, 
 is full of curiosities ; they have brought home numbers of heads, and 
 horns, and skins of animals shot by himself. He told William that 
 his tale for boys, ' The Castaways,' brings him in quite a little fortune. 
 Unfortunately Mr. Froude, who had been asked, with the duke, to meet 
 William, could not come. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Torquay, April 5, 1877. ... We dined lately with the Hunts 
 to meet Lord and Lady Rayleigh. They were on their way home 
 
 * Now Lord Kelvin.
 
 250 
 
 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 [CH. XVI. 
 
 from Madeira. Mr. Froude was there, and he and Lord Rayleigh 
 (who was Senior Wrangler) would talk mathematics. Lord Rayleigh 
 took me in to dinner, and I found his conversation very interesting. 
 We greatly enjoyed our evening. Both he and his wife are much 
 occupied in scientific questions. She is, as I expect you know, a niece 
 of the Marquis of Salisbury. . . ." 
 
 In April, 1877, Pengelly's friend and fellow-worker at the 
 Museum, the Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing,* who had for some years 
 resided at Torquay, left that place for Tunbridge Wells, and his 
 congenial companionship was much missed by him. 
 
 The Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing to Pengelly. 
 
 "Tunbridge Wells, May 28, 1877. 
 
 "We are now definitely settled here. For a long time we had 
 a sort of vague feeling that we were only here on a visit, and that 
 when the holidays were over we should return to the Warberry Hill, 
 and this feeling was heightened by my receiving notices from time to 
 time of important meetings of the Natural History Society. The natural 
 impulse is still at times very strong upon me of an afternoon, when 
 there is nothing else in particular to be done, to wander down to the 
 Museum. . . . 
 
 "Who are the comparative anatomists that confounded a bear's 
 fibula with that of a man ? That sort of slip gives great occasion to the 
 unscientific to scoff at wisdom and research." 
 
 Pengelly's exhaustive treatment of the Geology of Devon- 
 shire is thus amusingly described by his friend Archdeacon 
 Earle, now Bishop of Marlborough, when enumerating the diffi- 
 culties in choosing a subject for his Presidential Address, before 
 the Kingsbridge Meeting of the Devonshire Association : f 
 
 " First I turned my mind naturally enough to the geology of Devon, 
 and thought (as is evidently the duty of a local president to direct 
 attention to local objects of interest; and in this I felt some small 
 comfort, because a very bad bit of timber may make a very decent 
 directing post) of a local paper on the Thurlestone Rock, and the 
 submerged forest under Milton Sands, which are two of the principal 
 objects of geological interest in the neighbourhood. But I found that 
 not only had Mr. Pengelly been before me in this particular subject, 
 but that he would be before me when the address would be read. The 
 idea of reading a geological paper in the presence of the father of 
 Devonshire geology was absolutely fossilizing, and I felt that I would 
 sooner sit out the remainder of my existence in the remotest darkness 
 of Kent's Cavern, with the absolute certainty of becoming an interesting 
 
 * Author of " The Challenger Amphipoda," and " History of Crustacea," etc. 
 t President's Address, Trans. Devon. Association, 1877.
 
 1875-1878.] BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT PLYMOUTH. 2$ I 
 
 addition to the human remains in that solemn crypt of scientific mystery, 
 than attempt such an impertinence as to speak of geology in his presence. 
 So I left Thurlestone and its geology to him." 
 
 In August, 1877, Pengelly presided over the Geological Sec- 
 tion of the British Association, held at Plymouth ; taking for 
 the subject of the address, " The History of Cavern Exploration 
 in Devonshire." 
 
 Professor Harkness to Pengelly. 
 
 "Penrith, Cumberland, August 3, 1877. 
 
 " I am glad to find you are to be President of Section ' C ' at 
 Plymouth. Being a Cornish man, you will be able to give me some 
 information about the country where the Silurians occur in the county. 
 I think Veryan Bay is a place on the shore where they are seen, and 
 that there is a section here which has been described by Sedgwick. I 
 have read Sedgwick's paper, and from it I gather that his time and the 
 weather were not favourable for a proper examination. 
 
 " Is not St. Austell the best place to stop at to see the Silurians ? 
 How far is the coast section which shows them from this ? After I have 
 seen them, I must try to see the Serpentines, which I think are best 
 exhibited at the Lizard. I also want to look at the Granites, and I wish 
 also to obtain some minerals. Bonney read a paper on the Serpentines 
 of Cornwall at the Geological Society a short time ago. I have not 
 seen it, and perhaps it is not yet printed If it be, I must try and get 
 a copy from him." 
 
 Not only was he warmly supported by his brother geologists, 
 but the public were attracted by the Chairmanship of one who 
 had taken a leading part in establishing, on a scientific basis, the 
 belief in the Antiquity of Man. His old friend Mr. Crosskey 
 was unable to be present, and wrote as follows : " To my very 
 great disappointment, engagements, I find myself unable to alter, 
 will prevent me from reaching Plymouth. I know well how 
 first-rate the Geological gathering will be, in especial under your 
 happy Presidency, and all the heartiness which will be thrown 
 into the Wisdom; but the Fates are against me." 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Plymouth, August 18, 1877. 
 
 ". . . It is not a large meeting, but many of the Papers are 
 interesting. I enjoyed one to-day by Professor Rolleston exceed- 
 ingly. The subject was, ' The Flora and Fauna of Prehistoric Times.' 
 He also made some very good remarks on the various objects of interest 
 in the Plymouth Museum, brought here for exhibition. Professor 
 Rolleston is a delightfully bright speaker, and Professor Newton almost
 
 252 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XVI. 
 
 equally so. Yesterday we dined at Mr. and Mrs. Fox's, to meet the 
 President, Professor Allen Thomson, and his party, Dr. Beddoe, Mr. John 
 Evans, and many others. The pictures are a most interesting feature of 
 the Exhibition : two Holbeins, a splendid landscape of St. Michael's 
 Mount, and another of the Mill near Capel Curig by Leader, a charming 
 study of wallflowers by Mrs. Leader, etc., etc. Of course Sir Joshua 
 Reynolds, Opie, and other Devonshire artists were represented. We 
 had a very pleasant day in Cornwall. Mr. E. W. Cooke the marine 
 artist accompanied us, as he wanted to see that part of the coast which 
 was new to him. He was delighted with everything, each fern and 
 flower, as well as the lovely sea views. He made a few charming little 
 sketches while we were at Looe. Every time we see him he says, 
 * Wasn't that a delightful day we had in Cornwall.' He is a very old 
 friend of William's, and they always seem happy together, and enjoy 
 each other's society extremely. William tried to put himself into the 
 old Pillory at Looe to amuse us, and Mr. Cooke was so much entertained 
 that he made a sketch on the spot. A Mr. Ashley, an artist who was 
 staying at Looe, finding out who Mr. Cooke and William were, gave 
 them each an engraving of the Pillory adjoining the curious little old 
 Guildhall. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Pttngclly to her Sister. 
 
 "Plymouth, August 24, 1877. 
 
 '' . . . On Thursday William went to act as guide to the Torquay 
 excursion party of the British Association, Kent's Cavern, of course, 
 being one of the attractions. He says they had a most enjoyable day, 
 and that when they reached Panorama hill, they all sat down to rest, 
 while Professor John Couch Adams gave them an account of the two 
 satellites of Mars just discovered in America. 
 
 " To-day William and several other members of the Association are 
 gone to attend a curious old ceremony, held by the Corporation every 
 year in commemoration of Sir Francis Drake having brought in the 
 water here from the moor, then and ever since an immense boon to 
 the people of Plymouth. The ceremony is held about nine miles from 
 here. It consists in first drinking to the memory of Sir Francis Drake 
 in water, and then comes the Toast, ' May the descendants of him who 
 gave us water never want wine.' The first dish served always consists 
 of fish caught in the Leat." 
 
 Professor Rolleston to Pengelly. 
 
 "33, Clifton Place, Plymouth. 
 
 " Do you happen to have any separate copies of your papers on De 
 Riviere's Mentone Man, which were published in the transactions of 
 the Devonshire Society ? I have got the volumes out of the library, 
 but should be very glad to have the papers available to my hand. The 
 same, I need not say, applies to any papers you may have of your own. 
 But I must refer to your papers on the Mentone Man in a part of a 
 book I'm engaged upon just now."
 
 1875-1878-] DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION AT PAIGNTON. 253 
 
 Professor Rolleston to Pengclly. 
 
 "Oxford, September^ 1877. 
 
 " I am very much obliged to you for the papers you have sent me. 
 I wish very much I had anything of corresponding value or interest to 
 send to you in return. I do send two small publications of mine which 
 may show you, at any rate, how very heterogeneous my field of activity 
 here is. I took the opportunity of reading a considerable number of 
 your papers whilst I was at Plymouth, having borrowed the Transactions 
 of the Devonshire Association from the library. I do not, if I can 
 avoid it, go out to dinners at Association or other times, and hence I 
 get quiet evenings for the purpose. But I am very glad to have the 
 papers for myself, and I thank you very sincerely for them. I have 
 referred to them for one or two points in a part of a book which 
 Greenwell and I are bringing out. 
 
 " I see that Dawkins enumerates the rabbit among the Prehistoric 
 Mammalia. I still doubt it, and I think you do too, from what you say 
 of the finding of it and of the pig in the Mentone Cave. But there is, 
 of course, as the skull of the pig you showed me and many others, 
 abundant evidence for the pig having been in England and even 
 domesticated in the Neolithic times. 
 
 " It would be, as it has always been, a pleasure to me to see you 
 here or elsewhere." 
 
 Notwithstanding his unremitting attention to geology, Pen- 
 gelly took a considerable interest in folk-lore, dialect, and kindred 
 subjects, and amongst his correspondents were Professor Skeat 
 and other eminent authorities. 
 
 The Paignton meeting of the Devonshire Association in 
 1878 occupied his time to a greater extent than usual; for in 
 addition to the fact that it was held in the immediate neigh- 
 bourhood of his residence, the President-elect, Mr. William 
 Froude, was almost at the last moment prevented from fulfilling 
 his engagement, owing to the death of his wife. Fortunately 
 Sir Samuel Baker was prevailed on to fill the vacant place, 
 which he did most successfully. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, June 16, 1878. 
 
 "... I have written the rough copy of my paper on the Geology 
 of Paignton, but instead of embracing the whole Parish, it is confined 
 to the Cliff from Torquay Gas Works to CoL Smith's odd looking 
 house. Two books have recently arrived from the English Dialect 
 Society ; and one of them is dear old delightful Thomas Tusser's ' Five 
 Hundred Points of Good Husbandrie.' It seems a work to be issued 
 by the Early English Text Society rather than English Dialect Society, 
 but I don't care whence it comes, so glad am I to get it. . ."
 
 254 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XVI. 
 
 C. W. Peach to Pengelfy. 
 
 " 30, Haddington Place, Edinburgh, July 3, 1878. ... 1 have 
 again the pleasure of handing you a Lady's Ticket for the Meeting of 
 the Devonshire Association at Paignton. I confess to feeling sorrow 
 at not being able to be with you there. I have the farther regret that 
 I have nothing to send you to be read. Perhaps you know that I 
 lived at Paignton for a year or more, and although I had commenced 
 collecting principally sea-weeds I did no more, and have no records to 
 refer to. I have, however, faint recollections of the Rocks and 
 Madrepores, the Pholades in the Red Sandstones, and of getting, in 
 what was then Paignton harbour, Defromoia purpurea (under a flagstone 
 I tore up) several of them. They were such very fine ones, Mr. 
 Jeffreys begged two of me when writing his work on shells, believing 
 them to be a good variety Philberti or Lavice of Masavinga. See 
 Jeffreys, British Conchology, vol. iv. page 374, where he mentions my 
 find as belonging to Var. i. 
 
 " I also remember the Beach being thickly covered with a beautiful 
 cardium, etc., etc., in such abundance they became a nuisance. Also I 
 remember seeing a seine drawn in upon the beach, with lots of Maia 
 squinado, 'Gaverok' of the fisherman of Cornwall plentiful there want- 
 ing on the east coast of Scotland. These were all soft, having exuviated. 
 Unfortunately I did not note whether male or female this I have often 
 regretted, so little being known about them when in this state. I ought 
 to be whipped for it I fancy they were males, because it is a well- 
 known fact that, when the female is exuviating, the male always attends to 
 protect her, and his shell is then hard. Maia squinado was one of 
 Charles Kingsley's pets, see ' Glaucus,' p. 133. I do so regret not being 
 able to visit Paignton ; after nearly fifty years leaving it, who would know 
 me ? I have wept as I walked up the street of my native village, no one 
 knowing me to say, ' Charles, how do you do ? '" 
 
 After attending the meeting, Pengelly spent his summer 
 holiday in Ireland, combining pleasure with business by being 
 present at the British Association at Dublin, where, besides the 
 usual Report on the Cavern, he read a paper, entitled, " The 
 Raised Beaches and Submerged Forests of Torbay," before the 
 Geological Section. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "British Association, Dublin, August 17, 1878. ... I dined in 
 ' Hall ' at Trinity College last night, as Haughton's guest, where I met 
 Roscoe, W. Adams, and a lot of other men I knew, and had ' a good 
 time.' After that I went to the evening lecture on ' Animal Intelligence,' 
 by Mr. Romanes. It was very clever, but unfortunately I had to leave 
 before it was over to catch the 9.45 train to Bray. To-night Mr. 
 Findlater '"" and I dine with the Lord Mayor to meet the Lord Lieu- 
 tenant. We agreed to apply for ;ioo to continue the Kent's Cavern 
 work. . . ." 
 
 * His host at Bray.
 
 1875-1878.] DARTMOUTH PARISH CHURCH. .255 
 
 During a visit to Dartmouth in the following month, some 
 difficulty was experienced by Pengelly and his friends as to 
 viewing the interior of the chancel of the fine old parish church. 
 The Rev. Prof. Haughton, who was particularly anxious to see 
 the finely carved screen, was much annoyed, and said to the 
 caretaker, "I am a clergyman, and you may tell your Vicar 
 that he has no right to close this to visitors," adding some very 
 forcible language to his message. On the next occasion when 
 Pengelly visited the church, he asked the custodian if she remem- 
 bered his having come there with a clergyman who wanted to 
 see the chancel. " Oh yes, sir, " was the immediate reply ; 
 
 " he told me to tell the Vicar that he ought to be d d for 
 
 closing it." " Hardly so strongly worded as that," was 
 Pengelly's amused answer. 
 
 Pengelly to his daughter Lydia. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, September 6, 1878. 
 
 "... I throw myself on your mercy and admit that I have neglected 
 to write you ever since you have been on the borders of Taffy's Land ; * 
 but, on the other hand, I claim your full and deep gratitude for having 
 brewed you so large a barrel of most admirable weather, wherewith to 
 enjoy your excursions, picnics, etc. ... Dr. and Mrs. Boycott are here ; 
 they called yesterday. Professor Haughton of Dublin and his son 
 (home from Ceylon) came to see me on Wednesday. I took them to 
 the Museum, to Kent's Cavern, and to Dartmouth, where we called on 
 Mr. George Bidder, and oddly enough, two Miss Bidders called here the 
 same day. . . ." 
 
 * His daughter was staying with friends in Monmouthshire.
 
 256 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XVII. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 COMPLETION OF THE EXPLORATION OF KENT'S HOLE. 
 1879 T0 J ULY > I 88 3- 
 
 THE exploration of Kent's Cavern terminated on June 19, 
 1880, and Pengelly's work is thus referred to by an eminent 
 geologist,* who, having been engaged in similar work, was fully 
 competent to give a just estimate of its value. 
 
 " Day by day, except when the work was stopped, he visited the 
 cave, and recorded on maps and plans the exact spot where each 
 specimen was found, for no less than sixteen years. The vast collection 
 of palaeolithic implements and fossil bones, each of which bears traces 
 of his handiwork, is represented in most of the museums in this country, 
 and the annual reports, listened to with so much pleasure by crowds at 
 the meetings of the British Association, are the most complete that 
 have ever been published. It may be objected that the accumulation 
 of so much evidence of the existence of man in the Pleistocene age in 
 the south of England was unnecessary. It was, however, necessary to 
 sweep away the mass of prejudice, and this could best be done by 
 repeating the evidence. Had this not been done man would not occupy 
 the recognized position which he now holds in the annals of geology. 
 The rest of Pengelly's life was mainly given up to the researches in the 
 other caves in Devonshire. In estimating his scientific work, it must not 
 be forgotten that it was done in addition to the daily task of bread 
 winning." 
 
 The completion of the excavation ended the last important 
 geological work undertaken by Pengelly. It was a fitting close 
 to his long and energetic career, which was characterized by 
 a past President of the Geological Society, as leaving " a record 
 equalled by few and surpassed by none." 
 
 Professor Boyd Dawkins to Pengelly. 
 
 " En route London, February 5j ^879. 
 
 " I am writing under difficulties, in an express, to ask you to be 
 kind enough to allow a friend of mine, Mr. Barlow (who is of a geological 
 
 * See Obituary Notices of the Proceedings of the Royal Society, vol. lix.
 
 1879-1883.] CANON GREEN WELL ON CAVE EXPLORATION. 257 
 
 turn), to enter the hallowed precincts of Kent's Hole. And I introduce 
 him to you. 
 
 " I hope that you and yours are none the worse for this Arctic 
 weather and that you have beaten me in caves. I have just lately 
 scored Hip. and R. leptorhinus along with man, of your breccia age. 
 
 " P.S. Do you know of any small dark Cornishmen of the same sort 
 as the dark Welsh ? Stephen Hawker alludes to a small village near him 
 which may be what I want to discover." 
 
 In April, the Rev. Canon Greenwell, of Durham, to whom 
 all those who are interested in Pre-historic Archaeology are so 
 greatly indebted, visited Torquay. It is hardly necessary to say 
 with what pleasure Pengelly received one whose studies and pur- 
 suits were so entirely in accord with his own. Soon afterwards 
 the distinguished archaeologist wrote, in the following terms : 
 
 The Rev. Canon Greenwell, D.C.L., F.R.S., to Pengelly. 
 
 " April 9, 1879. 
 
 " You will not, I am sure, think it impertinent in me when I ex- 
 press my obligation for the most careful, patient, and scientific way in 
 which you have conducted the exploration of Kent's Cavern. Though 
 I was aware how thoroughly it had been done, I certainly did not rightly 
 appreciate the wonderful effort of patience it must have been to go on 
 year after year and inch by inch. Few persons could have put such a 
 restraint upon themselves as you must have done, and have worked with 
 such a singleness of purpose. Pre-historic archaeology owes you a deep 
 debt of gratitude. 
 
 " Since I saw you I have been as far as the Land's End, seeing a few 
 early remains in Cornwall, amongst them a most curious assemblage of 
 dwelling places at Chysawster near Penzance. To-day I was at Wookey 
 Hole, where there is, I should think, a valuable field for exploration. 
 The small cave which has been worked at appears to be still, to some 
 extent, unexplored. To-morrow I go to Stonehenge, which I have not 
 seen for some years past, and then to town for a few days before I 
 return home." 
 
 Amongst the visitors to the Kent's Cavern during the year 
 before the exploration was terminated were the Prince of Wales's 
 sons, accompanied by their tutor, Mr. Dalton. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Sister. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, July 21, 1879. 
 
 "... Yesterday, while William was giving young Harrison his 
 lesson, before leaving for the Devonshire Association Meeting at 
 Ilfracombe, we received a visit from the two sons of the Prince of Wales 
 with their tutor, Mr. Dalton, who had come over from the Britannia 
 at Dartmouth. They called to ask William to accompany them to the 
 
 S
 
 258 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XVII. 
 
 Cavern, but would not hear of his delaying his departure on their 
 account, as he wished to do. They were most pleasant, asking many 
 questions about the fossils, corals, etc., in William's museum ; but the 
 skeleton leaves, in the case in the drawing-room, particularly charmed 
 Prince George, who is very bright and pleasant looking, much shorter 
 than his brother, though I believe only about a year younger. The 
 elder is very like his mother, and will make a very good-looking man. 
 The bones gnawed by the hyaenas, both ancient and modern, seemed to 
 amuse them very much. 
 
 " We could not possibly have had a better opportunity of seeing 
 them. Their midshipman's dress was very becoming to them ; they 
 looked very happy natural boys. When William was showing them a 
 rough flint implement, Mr. Dalton, their tutor, reminded them that they 
 had seen similar ones in the museum at Copenhagen. Mr. Dalton 
 seems fond of science, and is very easy to get on with. He preached 
 a farewell sermon on board the Britannia on Sunday ; he is to 
 accompany the Princes on the Bacchante. As they leave Dartmouth 
 the day after to-morrow, they had no opportunity of coming, or they 
 would have done so, in order to get William to accompany them to the 
 Cavern ; so they went there with the guide after leaving us. I could not 
 help being reminded of the poor Prince Imperial who was so much the 
 same age and size as Prince Edward, when we saw him in the same room 
 a few years ago, and he was so pleasant and friendly when he accom- 
 panied his father * on his visit to us, when you were staying with us, 
 and we were all so interested in wondering what his future would 
 be. . . ." 
 
 The meeting at Ilfracombe, mentioned in the last letter, 
 passed off well under the Chairmanship of Sir Robert Collier.f 
 
 That held the next year at Totnes was equally successful, 
 and was presided over by Dr. (now Sir Henry) Acland, of 
 Oxford, whose charming address was listened to with marked 
 attention. 
 
 Just before the meeting Pengelly received a letter from 
 Dr. Acland, then staying at Winchester, in which he says : 
 "... I cannot help writing a line to say I am coming towards 
 you. I am looking forward to your meeting with deep interest." 
 
 In later years, when Pengelly had become a confirmed 
 invalid, Dr. Acland was much at Torquay, and afforded his old 
 friend much pleasure by the frequent visits he paid him. 
 
 Pengelly naturally felt considerable regret at the loss of an 
 occupation which had for many years engrossed a large portion 
 of his time and thoughts. It is characteristic of his solicitude 
 for the well-being of others that, in concluding his final Report 
 on the Kent's Cavern explorations, read at the Swansea meeting 
 
 * The Ex-Emperor Napoleon III. f Lord Monkswell.
 
 1879-1883.] DEATH OF PENGELLY'S ONLY SON. 259 
 
 of the British Association, in August, 1880, he dwelt particularly 
 upon the careful manner in which the workmen had performed 
 their task, and made a special appeal on behalf of George 
 Smerdon, of whom he says that "he had been continuously 
 engaged on the work, and for thirteen years he was the fore- 
 man. During the entire period he not merely discharged his 
 duties in a most faithful manner, but he never had a misunder- 
 standing with the Superintendents." 
 
 On leaving the Geological Section, after reading this Report, 
 a telegram was put into Pengelly's hand, urgently summoning 
 him to Torquay. Arriving at home long after midnight, he 
 was met by the sad intelligence of the death of his only 
 surviving son, Alfred, whose promising career had been cut 
 short by an accident encountered in the pursuit of big game 
 in India. The shock of this sudden bereavement was acutely 
 felt by Pengelly, though the sympathy of friends, and the 
 tenderness of feeling shown to him on all sides, relieved, in some 
 measure, the poignancy of grief. "Your departure, and its 
 cause," wrote one of his friends from Swansea, "have cast a 
 gloom on this meeting which nothing can dispel." 
 
 At the Geological Section in particular this kindly feeling of 
 sympathy was especially strong, as evinced by the following 
 letter : 
 
 W. Whitaker, F.G.S., to Pengelly. 
 "British Association for the Advancement of Science, August 30, 1880. 
 
 " I write on behalf of the President and Committee of Section ' C,' 
 to express our heartfelt sympathy with you in the sad loss of your son, 
 a loss which we feel may affect you the more from his absence from 
 home and from the suddenness of its occurrence. 
 
 " We trust, however, that the affection of the other members of your 
 family may in some measure soften the sorrow which they share. 
 
 " On behalf of all the geologists here, I beg you will accept our 
 condolence." 
 
 This melancholy bereavement rendered it necessary that all 
 geological and other work should for a short time be laid aside. 
 The first thing which revived Pengelly's interest in daily affairs 
 was his desire to help in the collection for the " Smerdon Fund." 
 
 He had experienced too much trouble himself, and was, 
 moreover, too considerate by nature, ever to be indifferent to 
 the anxieties and needs of others. The claims of his valued 
 workman like himself a sufferer from rheumatism brought on
 
 20O WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XVII. 
 
 by labouring in the damp cavern were advocated by him so 
 ably that a sufficient sum was collected to purchase for the old 
 man a small annuity. 
 
 During the spring of 1881 Pengelly had the pleasure of again 
 meeting Sir James Watson and Sir Henry Cooper at Torquay. 
 The latter remained there for some time, and took many rambles 
 with his old friend, who was still a good walker, in earlier years 
 having been able to manage forty miles a day with ease. 
 
 In July Pengelly paid a most pleasant visit to the Rev. 
 Richard and Mrs. Barham of Dawlish, to attend the Devonshire 
 Association Meeting. His host, a son of the author of the 
 " Ingoldsby Legends," and himself a man of fine literary taste, 
 was a most bright and genial companion. Just before the 
 meeting, he wrote to Pengelly concerning a paper on which he 
 was engaged. 
 
 Rev. R. H. D. Barham to Pengelly. 
 
 "West Cliff, Dawlish, July 4, 1881. 
 
 " MY DEAR MR. PENGELLY, 
 
 "... My paper is not ready for the press, as one or two 
 points remain to be made clear. Let me thank you, however, very 
 heartily, for the friendly interest you have shown in it. But the fact is 
 I have been ill, very ill part of the time, or the article would have been 
 completed. . . . We have trouble before us anent our ' Barrow,' which 
 Mr. Hutchinson proposes to open. The money wanted was voted 
 nem. con. ; but the proprietor talks of his wife's feelings ! regards it as 
 a family mausoleum would like to be present when it is opened, but 
 can't expects to find his great grandfather there if not, can't guess 
 where he can be, etc., etc. Clearly a shuffler and jibber not, I fear, to 
 be driven or coaxed. Baker, however, fancies he has got another dish of 
 the same sort to set before the Association. Once more let me thank 
 you for all your kindness." 
 
 Pengelly read two or three papers at the Devonshire 
 Association. An enthusiastic friend who had contributed a 
 paper with which Pengelly was much pleased, wrote to him 
 afterwards thus modestly, " My small contribution savoured of 
 Solomon's cargoes, apes and peacocks among gold and ivory. 
 . . . You need not fear that I shall desert the Association as 
 long as you are with it." 
 
 It had been suggested by a large circle of Torquay friends, 
 in the beginning of 1881, that Pengelly should be presented 
 with his portrait. The proposition met with a hearty response 
 both in the neighbourhood and elsewhere, and in the summer
 
 1879-1883.] SITS FOR HIS PORTRAIT. 26 1 
 
 of the same year the well-known portrait-painter, Mr. Arthur S. 
 Cope, was commissioned to undertake the work ; so Pengelly 
 left Dawlish for London, in order to begin the sittings for 
 his portrait. In the meetings of the Medical Congress he found 
 a pleasant relief from the monotony of sitting. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Surbiton, Surrey, August 10, 1881. 
 
 " Monday brought me a letter from the best of wives, and to this I 
 proceed in the first instance. I read to Mr. Cope the passage, ' I hope 
 he will not put you top much colour, as it is not natural to you to have 
 very much.' He received the hint charmingly. In fact he is a most 
 agreeable fellow. He told me a day or two ago that he believed the 
 portrait would be the best he had done. 
 
 " Now for such news as I have in my budget Last Monday 
 Wilberforce Bryant * and I went to the gathering of the ' Medicos ' at 
 Holly Lodge. It was very wet, and the crowd and packing were very 
 great. I met many old friends Dr. Leith Adams, Gwyn Jeffreys, Dr. 
 Gladstone, Tomlinson, Mr. Johnson (nephew of Rajah Brooke), Mr. 
 Critchett, and others. . . . 
 
 " Yesterday on leaving Cope I went to the Physiological Section of 
 the Medical Congress, and was in time to hear the President of the 
 Section, Dr. Michael Foster, close the Section, which he did in a very 
 eloquent speech. MacAlister was there, and we chatted a little. 
 The final meeting of the Congress was held at two, in St. James's Hall, 
 when Huxley delivered a lecture on Medicine and the Biological 
 Sciences. The meeting was very large, but he was not heard well. 
 The lecture will no doubt appear in an early number of Nature. After 
 the lecture, the ' Butter ' [concluding] meeting, which was well managed. 
 Amongst the audience were Dr. Henry Acland, Dr. Carpenter, Dr. 
 Boycott, Bowman (oculist), Allen Thomson, Joseph Lister, and 
 several others I knew. I sat by Mac Alister, Prof, of Zoology at 
 Dublin. ..." 
 
 The Jubilee Meeting of the British Association in 1881 
 was appropriately held at York, the cradle of the Association. 
 An unusually large number of old members attended, and 
 Pengelly had the pleasure of again meeting Alfred Russell 
 Wallace, Sir Joseph Hooker, Professor Owen, Sir William 
 Armstrong, Professor Huxley, Sir Andrew Ramsay, and many 
 other friends. He also made the acquaintance of Dr. Asa Gray, 
 the distinguished American botanist, who was a guest at the 
 same house in which he was staying. 
 
 A friendship sprang up at once between the two scientists, 
 and Dr. and Mrs. Asa Gray visited Torquay, before leaving for 
 America. 
 
 * A former favourite pupil, and now his very kind host at Surbiton.
 
 262 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XVII. 
 
 Pengelly's portrait was completed in the winter, and the day 
 before it was presented he thus wrote to his wife's invalid sister, 
 for whom he entertained the highest regard : 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, January 18, 1882. . . . Time has invested 
 me with authority to congratulate my relatives and friends whenever 
 an anniversary of their birthday occurs. Such an anniversary is to 
 happen to your history to-morrow, if all be well, and the note I am 
 now writing is intended to convey to you my very warm congratulations 
 on the event. I am using no mere words of custom or civility when I 
 say that I am that we are thankful, very thankful, that you have 
 been spared to us; and I am thankful, too, that I am still among 
 those who can offer you congratulations. When I occasionally look 
 over my correspondence, the fact that most of my friends are already 
 gone, comes vividly, painfully before me ; and a few minutes ago, when 
 looking over the list of subscribers to my portrait, I was struck with 
 the fact that, though the list was opened no longer ago than last May, 
 eight of the names are those of friends who have since passed to the 
 unseen world. ' On this side, and on that, men see their friends drop 
 off, like leaves in autumn.' The portrait just mentioned was to have 
 been presented on the 1 2th inst., my birthday ; but being inconvenient 
 to the secretary of the committee, the day was changed to the iQth, 
 to-morrow, your birthday instead of mine. The portrait arrived 
 yesterday, but has not yet been unpacked. The artist (Mr. A. S. Cope) 
 is to reach Torquay to-night, and take up his abode with Mr. Lavers 
 until Friday morning, when he returns to town. We are to meet him 
 to-morrow at dinner (Thursday evening), and there are to be no other 
 guests. . . ." 
 
 The following notice of Pengelly, which appeared shortly 
 after the presentation, shows that, in spite of his long residence 
 in Devonshire, it was never forgotten that he was a Cornishman, 
 and it also bears testimony to the sincere regard entertained 
 towards him in the West Country. 
 
 " Mr. Pengelly, F.R.S., is a link binding Cornwall to Devon. Born 
 at Looe, and being a thorough Cornishman in sympathy and in social 
 characteristics, he has become a naturalized Devonian by a residence 
 of forty-six years at Torquay. The time has not yet come, happily 
 and we hope is far distant for reviewing Mr. Pengelly's work as a 
 whole. He has yet, we trust, much useful work to do, much pleasure 
 to impart, and much happiness to enjoy. But he has long since, by 
 his genius and industry combined, become famous alike as a geologist, 
 a lecturer, a humorist, and a public man of very varied attainments and 
 multifarious work. To know him well is to esteem him highly, and to 
 be admitted to his society is a profitable privilege. It is not surprising, 
 therefore, that Mr. Pengelly's fellow-townsmen should make him an ex- 
 ception to the proverbial rule, and do honour to the prophet in their 
 midst. The admirable portrait of himself, presented to Mr. Pengelly on
 
 1879-1883.] HIS BOOK ON KENT'S CAVERN ABANDONED. 263 
 
 Thursday, the arrangements being made by the committee of the local 
 Natural History Society, is a well-merited tribute of admiration, respect, 
 and regard. By doing honour to Mr. Pengelly, reflected honour has 
 been shed upon the committee which originated and carried out the 
 proposal." 
 
 For a year or two after the completion of the excavation, 
 Pengelly had the full intention of giving to the scientific world 
 the results of his conclusions, in a more complete form than 
 could be found in his scattered papers to various societies. In 
 1882 he writes thus to an American correspondent : 
 
 "... I have no reason whatever to change my opinions respecting 
 the stalagmites of Kent's Cavern, namely, first, that they are of very slow 
 accumulation ; second, that they are not necessarily definite or trust- 
 worthy chronometers. 1 have not abandoned the idea of publishing a 
 book on Kent's Cavern : but I am an old man, having my hands full of 
 work." 
 
 Gradually, however, the conclusion forced itself upon him 
 that the task must be given up, seeing how entirely his time was 
 occupied with gratuitous work for local societies. In 1884 he 
 wrote to a correspondent : " I have more writing on my hands 
 than I shall ever get through." Had the book which he con- 
 templated been written, it might have proved a really important 
 contribution to geological literature. It is not, of course, for 
 the present writer to estimate the loss caused to the scientific 
 world by the abandonment of the scheme ; but knowing how 
 congenial the work would have been to him who alone could 
 have executed it, she cannot but regret that its accomplishment 
 remained for ever an unfulfilled desire. 
 
 In March, 1882, Pengelly received a volume entitled, 
 'Addresses and Sermons," by the Rev. E. E. Jenkins, M.A.,* 
 who was his assistant teacher, when he was conducting his 
 school at Torquay. 
 
 Ra>. E. E. Jenkins to Pengelly. 
 
 "3, The Paragon, Blackheath, S.E., March 14, 1882. 
 
 " I am sending you a copy of a volume which I hope you will 
 do me the favour to accept for 'Auld Lang Syne.' I have now a 
 long past of memories, but none of them are more distinctly traced or 
 more agreeably recalled than the scenes of our association now many 
 years ago. Our vocations have called us to tread different paths, but 
 
 * President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference in 1880.
 
 264 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XVII. 
 
 I believe both have been honest seekers after truth ; and I pray that 
 the great Author and Redeemer of our mind may permit us to find 
 light and rest in Himself." 
 
 Pengelly was Vice-President of Section " C " of the British 
 Association, which met at Southampton in 1882. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Southampton, British Association, August 23, 1882. . . . Got 
 here safely yesterday afternoon. Professor W. G. Adams and I lunched 
 together at Salisbury, saw cathedral and Blackmore Museum, and 
 travelled thence together. At the station found Harpley and son. 
 He had secured lodgings for me, if I chose to have them. Went to 
 Reception Room with them'; found that every hotel of every kind was 
 full and had 'turned hundreds away.' Went with Harpley to said 
 lodgings close to the sea, of which a fine view. No extra charge for 
 'insects.' I had to get up between one and two, and after sundry 
 experiments and failures slept, if I did sleep, on the floor. Professor 
 W. G. Adams, not having a Harpley here, had got no lodgings when 
 I saw him about eight last night. 3.30 p.m. Have seen lots of friends. 
 Don't think there will be a newspaper worth sending. No daily paper 
 in this town. I am again a vice-president of ' C,' and a member of the 
 Committee of Recommendations. My paper is to be read in ' C ' 
 to-morrow (Thursday), and in Anthropology another day. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 "Southampton, August 29, 1882. 
 
 ". . . Sir William Thomson's lecture on the Tides, which was given to 
 a large audience, was good for all who understood it. But Thomson him- 
 self was splendid ; he danced about the platform in all directions, with a 
 huge pointer in his hand ; he shook in every fibre with delighted excite- 
 ment, and the audience were as delighted as he. I sat next Prestwich, 
 J. C. Adams, and W. G. Adams. On Sunday, in the afternoon, I took 
 a delightful walk on the left bank of the river up to the village of Mill- 
 brook, whence I walked back to Southampton. In the evening I went to 
 church and heard the rector of All Saints preach, in his own pulpit, a 
 capital sermon on the words, ' What shall I do to be saved ? ' He is a 
 brother of the new Dean of Westminster, and happily neither patted 
 Science on the back, nor took up the question of 'Science -versus 
 Theology.' I was glad I went. Yesterday I read my paper to the 
 ' Anthropops,' where it was well received. Evans and Dawkins spoke 
 on it. 
 
 "... In the evening Professor Mosely gave a capital lecture on 
 ' Pelagic Life,' which, pardon the impertinence, means strictly, ' Life on 
 the Surface of the Ocean, distant from Land.' It was well delivered 
 and well illustrated. Thanks were proposed by Professor Gamgee, and 
 seconded by the Bishop of Winchester, the scholarly Harold Browne, 
 whilom a rector near Truro, and who married a Truro lady. I was
 
 1879-1883.] EFFORTS IN THE CAUSE OF TEMPERANCE. 265 
 
 glad to see him. There has been a long discussion in our Section to-day 
 anent the Channel Tunnel, and we have been popular. ..." 
 
 In the autumn of 1882, a Temperance Mission, conducted 
 by Canon Wilberforce and other eloquent speakers, was held at 
 Torquay. In the midst 'of scientific activity, the busy geologist 
 found time to attend these meetings, which appealed warmly to 
 his sympathies as a means of raising the moral standard of the 
 people and conducing to their happiness and well-being. He 
 wrote thus of the mission : 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, October 4, 1882. 
 
 "... The Temperance Mission was a remarkable affair. The final 
 figures are that 2509 new pledges have been taken, and 4290 blue 
 ribbons accepted. Of course there are many children, who, like some 
 of riper years, may change their minds ; nevertheless a very large amount 
 of good has no doubt been done. Blue ribbons meet the eye everywhere, 
 worn by persons of all ages and all ranks, from the old magistrate to 
 the small errand boys, and including some rough loafers. I made use 
 of the ' blue flag ' yesterday. Several small boys were teasing, almost 
 beyond endurance, the ' mad woman ' who comes about sometimes. As 
 I passed the group I observed that two of the boys wore the blue, and 
 I at once appealed to them not to disgrace the ribbon by their cowardly 
 cruelty. The appeal had the desired effect. This month's Fraser 
 contains the following announcement, 'With the present number the 
 publication of Fraser 's Magazine will cease. On November ist the first 
 number will be published of Longmans' Magazine, which will be con- 
 tinued monthly.' Thus dear old Fraser died with the issue of No. 634, 
 which signifies an age of fifty-two years and ten months ; and it makes 
 me sad. The fact is significant. Longmans the publishers in each 
 case hope to reap a better harvest by cultivating readers who can pay 
 6d. monthly, than those who pay 2s. 6d. monthly. In short, the masses 
 have become readers ; there's a text for you. . . ." 
 
 Pengelly's enthusiasm in the cause of science first drew Mr. 
 H. H. Howorth's * thoughts to the study of Eastern ethnology. 
 
 H. H. Hoivorth to Pengelly. 
 
 " Eccles, May 23, 1883. 
 
 "It was a gleam of sunshine to receive a letter from you. 
 I am buried elbow deep in Eastern ethnology, and receive heaps of 
 letters from all kinds of Eastern sages, but from none whose acquaint- 
 ance I hold more dear than the famous Troglodyte of Devonshire, whose 
 enthusiasm first, I believe, stirred me to think of these subjects. Will 
 you send me your photograph to add to my so-called menagerie ? 
 
 " I expect to have a whole posse of geological hammers on my 
 
 * Now Sir Henry Howorth, M.P., K.C.I.E., F.R.S., etc.
 
 266 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XVII. 
 
 head before I have done ; but I mean to go on, for no chickens are 
 hatched until some shell is broken, and if mine prove addled, well, the 
 sitting will not have been altogether thrown away, and you, who used to 
 love fighting, will forgive me. 
 
 " May you live for ever ; and if any chance brings you this way, come 
 and see me. I am afraid I shall not be at Southport ; a congress of 
 Eastern people at Leyden will have greater attractions for a Mongol 
 like me. Many thanks for the note about the Lemming, which I will 
 take care shall be used." 
 
 The following letter from Pengelly is in reply to another 
 from Mr. Howorth, which is unfortunately missing : 
 
 Pengelly to H. H. Howorth. 
 
 "Torquay, July 9, 1883. 
 
 "Thank you for yours of the 6th inst. I read Dawkins' letter 
 in the Geo. Mag. for July, and had no doubt that you would reply. 
 When you say, ' There are no Scotch caves,' I presume you mean 
 none that have yielded remains of mammoth. The Proc. Society of 
 Antiquarians of Scotland (voL x., 1875) contains a Paper, by Messrs. 
 Corrie, Bruce-Clarke, and Hunt, descriptive of a cave they explored in 
 Kirkcudbrightshire. They begin with a long notice of caves previously 
 explored near Montrose, at Wemyss, near North Berwick, in BanfTshire, 
 at Oban, and at Duntroon, in Argyleshire. None of them appear to 
 have any bearing on your question. 
 
 "The following passage occurs in Leith Adam's British Fossil 
 Elephants (Pal. Soc., p. 174): 'I can now have no hesitation in 
 admitting the Mammoth among the pre-Glacial Mammals of the British 
 Isles.' I think Mr. Newton takes this view in his ' Vertebrata of the 
 Forest Bed.' 
 
 "Here's the photo, such as it is. ... I am sorry you are not to be 
 at Southport." 
 
 It was in the summer of this year that Professor Huxley 
 was elected President of the Royal Society, and Pengelly, who 
 greatly admired his splendid services to science, and also en- 
 joyed his personal friendship, wrote warm congratulations on 
 the occasion. The following extract from a letter in response 
 shows how much the Professor appreciated the pleasure which 
 the appointment gave to his large circle of friends : 
 
 Professor Huxley to Pengelly. 
 
 "July, 1883. 
 
 " I am a very bad correspondent, but not so bad as to think 
 of leaving a kind letter like yours without acknowledgment. ... I 
 think the best part of the business is the multitude of kind expressions 
 which have reached me in consequence of it."
 
 1879-1883.] DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION AT EXMOUTH. 267 
 
 Later in July Pengelly, according to his invariable custom, 
 attended the meeting of the Devonshire Association, which 
 was held this year at Exmouth, under the Presidency of the 
 well-known historian, Dr. Merivale, Dean of Ely. 
 
 It will be readily understood that Pengelly, in common with 
 most men whose scientific work has attracted general attention, 
 was continually asked to furnish a sketch of his life and labours 
 for periodical publications and biographical notices ; nor did he 
 escape frequent applications for a conference from " interviewers." 
 He had, however, the strongest objection to say or write any- 
 thing that might savour of self-seeking notoriety or adver- 
 tisement, and his replies, though always courteous, were 
 sufficiently decided to stay further correspondence. The follow- 
 ing may be taken as an example of the numerous letters of a 
 similar kind he had to write : 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay. 
 
 " I beg to acknowledge receipt of your kind letter and to thank 
 
 you, as well as the Editor of , for your gratifying -proposal. I can 
 
 only say in reply that it has always appeared to me undesirable to 
 print a biographical sketch of a living person, and undesirable that any 
 one should write his own biography. 
 
 " I trust you will not think me churlish in abiding by the aforesaid 
 opinions."
 
 268 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XVIII. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS WORK. 
 
 SEPTEMBER, 1883, TO OCTOBER, 1887. 
 
 IN September, 1883, Pengelly, having been elected President of 
 the Anthropological Department of the British Association at 
 Southport, took for the subject of his address," The Bone Caves 
 of Devonshire." * He had lately devoted much of his time to 
 the work of distributing duplicate specimens of the fossils found 
 during the excavations at Kent's Hole amongst various museums, 
 and his next letter refers to some of his work, before leaving 
 home. 
 
 Pengelly to his youngest daughter, Hester. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, September, 1883. 
 
 "... I trust you may have a safe and pleasant journey that the 
 Watsons will be most kind, I am sure. Please time your journey 
 down from Scotland f so as to reach Southport on the i8th as early 
 as you can. ... I was hard at work all last week, as indeed for 
 some time before, arranging Kent's Cavern specimens for exhibition in 
 our Museum ; almost as fast as I arrange them Mr. Else \ fastens them 
 in their places. I am anxious to complete the arranging before leaving 
 for Southport, so that Else may complete his part by the time I return, 
 if all be welL We shall then be able to get the room ready for the 
 lectures. Else works capitally ; but it will tax him to the uttermost to 
 get ready in time. I had quite a foretaste of the British Association 
 yesterday. The post brought me a letter from Bonney about my 
 address. Also a letter from Spence Bate, to the effect that he was not 
 going to Southport, but intended to attend the Canada Meeting next 
 year ; he wishes to go as some sort of official. 
 
 * See Chapter VII. 
 
 t His daughter was for the first time visiting the Western 'Highlands with Sir 
 James and Miss Watson. 
 
 J Mr. Else, the Curator of the Torquay Natural History Society, who for many 
 years was invaluable in carrying out all the arrangements at the Museum, in a most 
 efficient manner.
 
 1883-1887.] DEATH OF PROFESSOR HEER. 269 
 
 " While at the Museum, two youths, sons of Professor Balfour Stewart, 
 called, bringing cards of introduction from their father and Boyd 
 Dawkins. They had scarcely sat down, when Mr. Francis Gallon,* 
 whom you no doubt remember, called on me, and I did what was civil 
 to the trio, and dismissed them. Gallon and his wife are in lodgings 
 here. Next came Mr. George Griffith (whom you also remember), his 
 wife and some friends, and once more I had to be civil. . . . Sunday. 
 About 1.45 I started for Oddicombe beach, and walked thence under the 
 cliff to Babbacombe, and then home. My object being to see whether 
 the Teign Naturalist Field Club, which I am to conduct on Tuesday, all 
 being well, would be prevented by the tide from getting along under the 
 cliff. The result was ' they will not.' 
 
 " I got home just in time to enter the door with J. E. Lee,f and our old 
 friend, Professor Roemer of Breslau. The Professor with his Professoress, 
 is on a visit to Mr. Lee. They all intend to go to South port." 
 
 Pengelly to his daughter Hester. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, October, 1883. 
 
 "Your letter arrived yesterday, and I may safely say it was 
 welcome. I have never seen Whalley Abbey, but Ingleborough Cave I 
 have seen. . . . You no doubt remember that in my Address j I stated 
 that no trace of hyaena had been found in the Forest Bed of Cromer. 
 Since my return Mrs. Colman of Norwich, wife of the M.P. of that city, 
 has written me stating that hyaenas' teeth, now in her possession, were 
 found recently in the Forest Bed, and are to be figured and described 
 in the Geological Magazine shortly. 
 
 " On Sunday, Mr. preached on the following lines 
 
 ' God leads to joy through suffering, 
 To quietness through strife, 
 Through yielding unto conquest, 
 Through death to endless life.' 
 
 Who is the author? The preacher spoke well and at some length, 
 professedly by way of exposition ; but, like many expositors, he found 
 more in the lines than the author intended probably. 
 
 " Did I tell you that my old friend and co-worker, Professor Heer of 
 Zurich, was dead? I saw by the journals last night that Barrande is 
 dead. I will tell you who and what he was when you return, if you 
 wish." 
 
 In the following summer a party of excursionists belonging 
 to the " Geologists' Association " of London visited Devonshire, 
 making Plymouth their head-quarters, and Pengelly was asked 
 to arrange a geological day's excursion for them at Torquay. 
 
 * Francis Gallon, D.C.L., F.R.S., etc. 
 
 t John Edward Lee, F.S.A., F.G.S. Author of " Isca Silurum." Translator of 
 Dr. F. Keller's " Lake Dwellings." 
 
 \ Delivered at Southport to the Anthropological Department of the British 
 Association.
 
 2/O WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XVIII. 
 
 Pengelly to IV. H. Huddlestone, F.G.S. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, May 27, 1884. 
 
 " Your letter of the 24th duly arrived yesterday. I know of nothing 
 at present to render 2ist July or 4th August an unsuitable day. It will 
 be high water about 4.45 on each date, and as the party will no doubt 
 travel by the train leaving Plymouth at 8.35, and due here at 10.6, that 
 will suit fairly, not perfectly well. The following is my programme : 
 I meet you at Torquay Station, and conduct you along the coast to 
 Hope's Nose the northern horn of Torquay pointing out the Sub- 
 merged Forest on Torre Abbey Sands, the place of junction of the 
 Trias and the Devonian Limestone, the contortions in the Torquay 
 Limestone, the Slaty Cleavage at Meadfoot, the Raised Beach at Hope's 
 Nose, and the contorted and Cleaved Limestone near it. This will be 
 quite as much as we can accomplish, if we proceed on foot ; but the best 
 plan, on every account, would be to take boats at Torquay, and to land 
 at points of great interest (not otherwise accessible) on the way to 
 Hope's Nose. In this case we might be able to reach the fine junction 
 of the Trias and Devonian in Babbacombe Bay, touching, perhaps, at 
 the Trap of the Black Head on our way. I will inform Mr. Champer- 
 nowne of my proposed programme, but it will not in all probability 
 clash with his. A month of hard work would give but a superficial 
 acquaintance with the geology between the Teign and the Dart. . . ." 
 
 It was about this time that Pengelly was introduced to Mr. 
 F. S. Ellis,* who had lately come to reside in the neighbour- 
 hood of Torquay. The acquaintance soon ripened into friend- 
 ship, and was a source of great pleasure to them both. Mr. 
 Ellis, writing after Pengelly's death, says : " His was one of those 
 wonderful personalities towards which one feels at once attracted, 
 and with which one is more charmed by recurring intercourse. 
 Alas ! that such men must share the common lot ; but his 
 memory will sweetly live while one person survives who knew 
 him." 
 
 Pengelly attended all the meetings of the British Association, 
 from 1856 to 1889 inclusive, with the exception of that held 
 at Montreal in 1884. From the time when the visit to Canada 
 was first mooted, he had strenuously opposed the suggestion, 
 not only because of the increased expense to the members, but 
 mainly because he thought it impossible for many of the leading 
 scientists to spare the time requisite for such an expedition. 
 Notwithstanding this protest it was suggested by some people, 
 that, being such a regular attendant, he would certainly be seen 
 at the meeting. Anyone entertaining such an idea for a moment 
 
 * F. S. Ellis, author of the "Shelley Concordance," and editor of the 
 Chaucer and numerous other books for the Kelmscott Press.
 
 1883-1887.] PRE-HISTORIC MONUMENTS IN BRITTANY. 2?I 
 
 must have understood his character very little, for he was the 
 last man in the world to change his mind, without good and 
 sufficient cause. The time he might, perhaps, have spared, 
 and the expense was not an objection (for his wife's private 
 means had now become sufficiently ample to save him all 
 anxiety on the score of cost), but his decision remained un- 
 altered. There is abundant evidence, in letters he received from 
 eminent members of the Association, to prove that he was by no 
 means isolated in his opinion on this matter. 
 
 This summer Pengelly, accompanied by his family, made a 
 long tour in Cornwall. 
 
 The following letter, received from a medical friend who 
 shared his antiquarian tastes, and love of Cornwall, greatly 
 pleased Pengelly : 
 
 " Auray, South Brittany, Sunday, June 15, 1884. 
 
 " I have been thinking of you so much to-day, and wishing so much 
 you were with me as counsellor, companion, and friend, that I have 
 determined to have my say to you on paper. 
 
 " On this bright summer's day, with a cool wind, I started for Carnac, 
 and the country all there about, to see the Megaliths and the Cromlechs, 
 and I have seen so many that I am blase with them. It is a grand 
 sight. I have been in the land of the great forgotten, I have been in 
 the tombs of the mighty dead, I have moralized among avenues of 
 Megaliths that in the distance seem coming over the hills like a pack 
 of hounds in full cry, and I have spent two hours in small local 
 museums which have made me take in learning by the pores, and I 
 have longed for you. The French Government (vive la Republique) 
 protect their historic monuments. They have set up a great number 
 of the stones on their bases again, they have run a narrow trench each 
 side of the avenues, and have put up what look like milestones, and 
 thereon inscribed ' proprie"t^ de Pe'tat,' with a caution against mischief- 
 makers. Every Cromlech is protected by a light rail or hurdle with the 
 same stone, and at the junction of the roads are iron finger-posts 
 directing the traveller where to go and what to see. ' They manage 
 these things better in France,' says Yorick, in the ' Sentimental Journey,' 
 and they do. 
 
 "That most glorious of all mediaeval monuments, St. Michael's Mount, 
 visited by me last Wednesday, is also protected and very well restored 
 by the Government 
 
 "There are three sets of monuments here: tumuli, dolmens, and 
 menhirs. In the tumuli are found human remains, pottery, glass beads, 
 gold collars and bracelets, bronze implements. In the dolmens, parts 
 of human skeletons, in one case a complete skeleton lying on his side, 
 which I have seen, and, with or without these remains, flint implements, 
 beautifully shaped barbed arrow heads, a few with some polished 
 neolithic ornaments, and crystals or crystal pebbles and mother-of- 
 pearl shells, and chalcedony, pierced for ornaments, but underneath
 
 2/2 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XVIII. 
 
 the megalithic menhirs nothing is found but palaeolithic chipped spear 
 heads, etc., of the usual type. I took a long time questioning the 
 curator of a museum on this point, and I touched each article separately 
 and said menhir, tumulus, and so on to the end, and then he told me 
 that no polished tool had ever been found under a menhir, nothing but 
 rough chipped flints. I questioned him particularly as to whether it 
 was only a chance find, whether it were only one found here and there, 
 but he said positively that they were found in numbers under the few 
 that had been undermined, and he showed me a drawing to corroborate 
 his statement. Now, if this be so, it is a most remarkable fact, because 
 it connects the erection of these menhirs with the old flint chippers, 
 as much as the money put under the foundation stone of a modern 
 building connects the building with its modern founders. 
 
 " Brittany is French Cornwall. It is Cornwall all over. I cannot 
 imagine at times I am out of England. The rail is like the Cornish 
 rail runs along the tops of hills, then suddenly comes upon a deep 
 valley and you shoot over it on a lofty viaduct one a hundred and sixty 
 feet high. Then a town I was at (Concarnea) yesterday, is supported 
 on, and stinks of, pilchards. Well, I could stand all that. If God sends 
 them pilchards, and they are nasty enough to eat them, it is no sin ; but 
 when I found they had stolen a Cornish saint and rechristened him, I was 
 angry. Why, in the church at Landerneau, there is an enormous painting 
 of an old saint crossing to Brittany on a big flat stone pushed by angels. 
 Now we KNOW that it was St/Piran who came to Cornwall, from Ireland, 
 on a grindstone, and these pirates have boned the idea and the credit." 
 
 From Falmouth Mrs. Pengelly wrote to her sister: 
 
 "August 13, 1884. . . . We are much enjoying ourselves, the 
 sea is splendid and the harbour very fine. On our way here we visited 
 Lostwithiel, an interesting quaint old town, with an exquisite lantern 
 spire on the church ; from there we walked to Restormel Castle, a ruin, 
 more beautiful though not so extensive as Berry Pomeroy. We then 
 went on to Truro, where we paid a visit to the new Cathedral, and were 
 astonished to find it so far advanced. It will be very beautiful when 
 the tower is finished. At twelve next day we went to the Polytechnic 
 Hall, and soon met Anna Maria Fox, who at once engaged us to go to 
 Pengerrick in the afternoon. It was so nice to see her again ; she starts 
 for Canada to-morrow to attend the British Association. The Bolithos, 
 and many others we met, all seemed delighted to see William down in 
 his native county, and he was speedily pounced upon to second the 
 vote of thanks to Lord Mount Edgcumbe for laying the foundation 
 stone of the new Observatory. 
 
 "We all attended the ceremony in the afternoon. Archdeacon 
 Phillpotts read a suitable prayer; he is very like his father the old 
 bishop. William spoke after Mr. T. Bolitho. We then started for 
 Pengerrick; there were only a few invited (as Anna Maria Fox was 
 starting so soon). Mrs. Warrington Smyth and a few others. The 
 place, as you will imagine, looked delightful, the trees and shrubs 
 .magnificent; many subtropical. Palms in abundance, though not
 
 1883-1887.] DECLINES TO LECTURE AT ROYAL INSTITUTION. 2/3 
 
 large. A Tree-fern seemed most flourishing, as well as a Camphor 
 tree, and some rare specimens from California and other warm 
 countries. The birds would have delighted you. In the evening we 
 returned to see a torchlight procession of boats round the harbour. 
 The Polytechnic Exhibition was a very good one especially the 
 pictures. Those of Napier Hemy (who lives here) were decidedly 
 interesting." 
 
 On returning home at the end of August, Pengelly received 
 a letter from his friend Dr. Percy, Professor of Metallurgy, 
 introducing Mr. Woolner, the sculptor and poet, who had long 
 wished to make his acquaintance. Mr. Woolner had prolonged 
 his stay at Torquay that he might be able to visit Kent's Cavern 
 under such able guidance. Immediately after reaching London 
 he sent Pengelly a copy of his poem, " Silenus," with a letter of 
 hearty thanks expressing the extreme interest he had found in 
 witnessing the evidences of pre-historic life under such favour- 
 able circumstances. 
 
 Later in the autumn Sir Henry Thompson, the eminent 
 surgeon, visited Devonshire, and was most enthusiastic in his 
 appreciation of the wonders of Kent's Cavern and the collection 
 of specimens disinterred from it, as arranged in the Museum 
 of the Natural History Society. He wrote of his visit to the 
 Cavern as "one of the most delightful treats ever enjoyed," 
 and was very anxious to induce Pengelly to lecture once 
 more at the Royal Institution. He was, however, unable to 
 accede to the request, and wrote as follows to Sir William 
 Bowman : 
 
 Pengelly to Sir William Bowman. 
 
 " Torquay, November 26, 1884. 
 
 " Thank you very much for your kind proposal that I should 
 give two lectures on Kent's Cavern at the Royal Institution next 
 February. I have thought the matter over, and have come to the 
 conclusion that the topic has become a little stale. 
 
 " Most people are satisfied that Man's advent was not later than 
 Pleistocene times, and are now considering whether it was not earlier ; 
 and on this part of the question I have little or nothing to say. 
 
 " Moreover, all the Cavern specimens having been distributed to 
 various museums, I have nothing whatever to show an audience. 
 
 " On the whole, therefore, I feel under the necessity of declining 
 your kind proposal. 
 
 " While recently on a visit here, Sir Henry Thompson went to the 
 Cavern, and to the Museum of the Torquay Natural History Society, 
 with me, and was greatly interested ; but unfortunately I cannot take 
 the Cavern, or the Museum into your lecture theatre." 
 
 T
 
 274 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XVIII. 
 
 He had now given up all professional work, even the teaching 
 for which he had so great a love and so remarkable an aptitude. 
 It has already been mentioned that he had a great power of 
 winning the affection of those he taught, and an old pupil, the 
 well-known novelist " Q " (A. T. Quiller Couch), who attended 
 the lectures he gave some years before at Newton College, 
 writes thus appreciatively : 
 
 " Your father's visits to Newton are among the pleasantest recollec- 
 tions of my school life there, and I think he was particularly kind to 
 me for the sake of my ' haveage.' I know he once tried to persuade 
 the Head Master (Mr. Warner) to let me have a whole holiday with 
 him in Kent's Cavern unluckily without success. But what kindness 
 on the part of such a man, towards an urchin of twelve ! 
 
 " He was, I think, the most inspiriting lecturer I have ever met. 
 He simply compelled one to attend. But it is rather as a friend that 
 with all the difference of years I presume to remember him." 
 
 His last pupil was the present writer. 
 
 The year 1885 was mainly occupied by miscellaneous work. 
 Amongst the visitors of note to Torquay during the winter was 
 the traveller, Mr. im Thurm. 
 
 Mrs. Pengclly to her Sister. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, December 29, 1885. 
 
 "... The traveller you ask about who is staying here, is Mr. im 
 Thurm, of British Guiana, the first explorer who has ever ascended 
 the very remarkable mountain there, called Roraima. He found some 
 very curious plants on his expedition, and showed us some striking 
 photographs of the vegetation there. William has been greatly interested 
 by his descriptions of the natives and their customs, and hopes to get 
 him to give a lecture on them. Mr. and Miss im Thurm brought home 
 from British Guiana a squirrel monkey, which they have given to the 
 Zoological Society of London. He told us that when he went there the 
 other day it twined round him most affectionately, though he had never 
 taken much notice of it, as it belonged to his sister ; this certainly 
 shows that it had a wonderful memory. Poor Sir Walter Medhurst, 
 whom we had seen so much of since he came to live here lately, was 
 seized with a most alarming attack on Wednesday, after taking a cold 
 bath, and died a few days afterwards, to our great regret. Did I tell 
 you that he had been a great deal in China, and gave us an excellent 
 lecture on ' The Chinaman at home,' only a month ago ? He had 
 promised us another on Japan. We have quite a good course of lectures 
 coming on. Our friend, Lady Low, takes a great deal of interest in 
 them, and is a most wonderful woman for her age. She has a great 
 knowledge of Indian affairs, her husband, Sir John Low, having been a 
 very experienced soldier. Her brother, Sir Richmond Shakespeare,
 
 1883-1887.] AWARDED THE " LYELL MEDAL." 2/5 
 
 was the young officer who so bravely rescued the English prisoners 
 from the Afghans in 1842. She has given William an account her 
 brother wrote of one of his earlier expeditions, which quite delighted 
 him. She often tells us amusing tales about Thackeray, who was her 
 first cousin. . . ." 
 
 Early in the year 1886 Pengelly received a visit from a 
 deputation of the Falmouth Polytechnic, asking him to become 
 President in succession to Lord Mount Edgcumbe. This he 
 was obliged to decline, though it would have been a great 
 satisfaction to him to be so closely connected with one of the 
 Associations of his native county. 
 
 The winter was a bitterly cold one, even in Devonshire. 
 In February Principal Tulloch died at Torquay, where he had 
 been staying for some time. Pengelly was one of the very 
 few people he had been able to see during his illness, and, in 
 common with all who knew him, much regretted his loss. 
 
 On the 1 8th of February, Pengelly went up to London and 
 was presented on the following day with the "Lyell Medal" 
 of the Geological Society. He received many warm con- 
 gratulations on the occasion, and much enjoyed seeing several 
 of his old colleagues. The President concluded his speech with 
 the following words : " There is a peculiar fitness in the award 
 to you of this medal, as a memorial of the fearless and illus- 
 trious author of 'The Principles of Geology' and 'The 
 Antiquity of Man.' " Pengelly, in reply, spoke of the gratifi- 
 cation which this award afforded him, especially as it bore the 
 name of an old and well loved friend, with whom he had 
 worked much and earnestly. 
 
 Soon after returning he had the pleasure of meeting Sir 
 William Gull, who was paying a short visit at Torquay, and in 
 April his old friends, Sir Joseph and Lady Hooker (who had 
 then left Kew), also stayed at Torquay and came to see him 
 and his family. Later in the month Professor W. G. Adams, 
 who was in the neighbourhood, paid a hasty visit to his fellow 
 Cornishman, when they both enjoyed talking over old times. 
 
 This summer the Devonshire Association met at St. Mary 
 Church, an important parish adjoining Torquay. Pengelly, who 
 had long been the Honorary Acting Treasurer, and in other 
 ways intimately associated with the work of the Society, now 
 felt that the time had come when he must relinquish his more 
 active share in connection with it. The prosperity of the
 
 2/6 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [H. XVIII. 
 
 Association bore witness to the soundness of his financial 
 management, for, both in his public and private affairs, he made 
 it a rule never to allow expenditure to exceed income. 
 
 In September he attended the meeting of the British 
 Association at Birmingham, where he read a paper before the 
 Anthropological Section, entitled "A Scrobicularia Bed con- 
 taining Human Bones at Newton Abbot, Devonshire." 
 
 Leaving Birmingham he proceeded to Falmouth to deliver 
 a lecture, whilst his wife and daughters were paying visits, and 
 on Mrs. Pengelly joining him at home wrote thus to his daughter 
 Lydia : 
 
 " Lamornciy Torquay. . . . Your nice chatty letter arrived this 
 morning with the account of your doings and seeings in the Lake 
 district. . . . The Great Chief has duly and safely arrived, and as a 
 matter of course I am dethroned. You will be glad to learn that I bear 
 it beautifully, and am proud to have reason to believe that I am a 
 conspicuous example of humility and resignation. Now don't strike me 
 all of a Heap by reminding me of Uriah, and thereby play the Dickens 
 with me. . . . The upshot of my efforts in the matter of the Natural 
 History Society's lectures, is that I shall have to give three certainly 
 four most probably. One of the results of inviting other men to lecture, 
 is that other men ask me to lecture. Mr. Statham has just asked me to 
 lecture at and for his Parish Guild, and I have consented. . . ." 
 
 In November Pengelly went to London that he might be 
 present at the annual dinner of the Royal Society, and attend a 
 meeting of the Anthropological Institute, of which he was now a 
 member. 
 
 In March, 1887, his valued friend Canon Brownlow* 
 gave two very interesting lectures at the Torquay Museum, on 
 " Serfdom," a question to which he had devoted much attention. 
 His volume on "Slavery and Serfdom in Europe," published 
 in 1892, is dedicated to Pengelly. 
 
 During the same session Pengelly gave a Lecture at the 
 Museum, entitled " An old Man and Woman," which was a 
 graphic account of some pre-historic human remains found near 
 Newton. The discourse was successful in a marked degree in 
 arousing attention, and was attended by many old friends from 
 a distance. 
 
 Pengelly entertained the strongest regard for Professor 
 Tyndall, whom he esteemed second only to Faraday as a 
 lecturer. 
 
 * Now Roman Catholic Bishop of Clifton.
 
 1883-1887.] BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT MANCHESTER. 277 
 
 Pengelly to Dr. Brnshfield. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, June 26, 1887. 
 
 " I beg to say, in reply to your interesting letter of 25th, that it 
 is my intention to attend the Plympton Meeting. ... I shall go alone, 
 as my wife and daughters are going to Switzerland, if all be well. I have 
 declined an invitation to a private house at Plympton, and shall put up 
 at the ' George Hotel ' there, if I can be taken in. I shall probably 
 return home on Thursday morning. I propose going to London 
 to-morrow to assist at the 'Tyndall dinner' on Wednesday, the 29th, 
 and to return home on the 3oth, when I hope to write the Local 
 Secretary at Plympton about the HoteL I hope it can be managed for 
 us to be together." 
 
 Most unfortunately Pengelly took a severe cold at the 
 Plympton meeting. His family, who had just returned from 
 Switzerland, were greatly concerned at the state of his health, 
 and feared that he would not be able to attend the British 
 Association that year. By the end of August, however, he 
 was sufficiently recovered to be present at Manchester. The 
 meeting was an unusually large one, and he was so warmly 
 welcomed by his colleagues, that he many times expressed the 
 pleasure he felt that he had not spared himself the exertion of 
 coming. He was repaid by meeting some friends whom, alas ! 
 he was destined to look upon no more, amongst them being 
 Dr. Asa Gray, who died the following January, and Professor 
 John Couch Adams, the astronomer. 
 
 Pengelly read a paper on "Recent Researches in Bench 
 Cavern, Brixham, Devon," before Section " C," and again 
 another day before the Anthropological Section, which was 
 presided over this year by Professor Sayce, of Oxford. It 
 was at this meeting that he made the acquaintance of Dr. 
 Moorhouse, Bishop of Manchester, as well as that of the Roman 
 Catholic Bishop of Salford, now Cardinal Vaughan. Dr. Moor- 
 house and Pengelly were much amused at their non-success in 
 hearing one another the geologist having spent part of Sunday 
 in fruitless efforts to find the cathedral, which he only reached 
 after the conclusion of the bishop's sermon, whilst the latter 
 was unable to find the room where Pengelly was reading his 
 Paper on Monday morning. 
 
 The next letter gives evidence of his unremitting labour 
 as Honorary Secretary of the Torquay Natural History 
 Society.
 
 278 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XVIII. 
 
 Pengelly to his daughter Lydia. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, October 6, 1887. . . . Your very acceptable 
 letter of the 4th inst. duly arrived yesterday. The reopening of the 
 College Hall must have been an interesting occasion. I have now 
 completed cataloguing the books from Mr. Lee's Library* (and the 
 boy has fair copyized my work), but there is still a host of pamphlets 
 bound up in, I think, seventeen vols., and I am now at work on them. 
 Each volume contains on an average twenty pamphlets, I opine, so the 
 cataloguing work still before me is by no means slight. Ah ! well ! 
 'twill all rub out when it's dry. You remember, no doubt, that our 
 friend Mr. Ellis informed the Shelley world, through the Athenaum, 
 that there was in Mr. Lewin Bowring's possession a manuscript copy 
 of Shelley's poem, 'The Mask of Anarchy' in other words, the 
 ' Peterloo Massacre at Manchester ' and that the copy differed in sundry 
 places from the printed copy of the said poem. Mr. Lewin Bowring 
 called on me at the Museum on Monday last, and told me that he 
 parted with the MS. to a member of the Shelley Society, and that the 
 Society had printed a fac-simile ' of what had been his MS.,' with an 
 'Introduction' by H. Buxton Forman. Moreover, he said that six 
 copies had been sent to him, and as he only needed one, he had brought 
 one for the Natural History Society, and one for me if I would accept 
 it. Of course I was ' only too happy,' and, to tell the truth, felt it to be 
 a pretty compliment. You and Hettie may now quarrel as to which of 
 you shall read it first when you and the book are under the same roof. 
 Your mother has finished the translation of the Paper on the Belgian 
 Cavern, and I began to fair copy it last night. . . ." 
 
 * Left to the Library of the Torquay Nat. Hist. Soc.
 
 279 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 FAILING POWERS AND DEATH. 
 
 1888 TO 1894. 
 
 DR. BRUSHFIELD, Dr. Samuel Smiles and his wife, and Professor 
 and Mrs. MaxMiiller were at Torquay in the spring. The 
 Professor went over the Museum there with Pengelly, also 
 paying him a very pleasant visit at his own house. He was 
 glad of the opportunity of renewing his acquaintance with 'Mrs. 
 MaxMiiller, who had been one of his favourite pupils in former 
 days. 
 
 About the same time the celebrated pianist, Charles Halle, 
 accompanied by Madame Norman Neruda, gave one of their 
 concerts at Torquay, staying there over the Sunday, when 
 Pengelly and some of his family met them. Pengelly much 
 enjoyed making the acquaintance of these accomplished inter- 
 preters of the works of the great composers. He had always 
 taken great pleasure in the society of musicians, and loved music. 
 After attending the splendid performance of the "Elijah" at 
 the close of the Birmingham meeting of the British Association, 
 he exclaimed that he would rather have missed the reading of 
 any paper during the meeting, than failed to hear the Oratorio. 
 
 Mrs. Pengelly to her Shter. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, March, 1888. . . . Dr. Brushfield was here 
 again lately. William was very glad to see him and talk over various 
 literary matters; he gave us a very good lecture on ' Obsolete Punishments' 
 at the Museum. Mr. Stebbing has given us a most entertaining lecture 
 on the ' Shrimp.' He and Mrs. Stebbing seemed to enjoy meeting 
 their old friends again very much. We lunched with them at Mr. 
 Audus Clark's during their visit, and they came to us to meet Sir Jacob 
 and Miss Behrens, the Watsons, Miss Hughes, who is now here from St. 
 Asaph, and one or two others.
 
 28O WILLIAM PENGELLY. [CH. XIX. 
 
 " On Wednesday afternoon we went to the Behrens', to meet Dr. 
 Samuel Smiles * and his wife. They are both delightful, so easy, that 
 we became friends at once. They are coming to us to-morrow. We 
 find they know the family of William's old friend Robert Chambers 
 very intimately. ..." 
 
 During the Easter Vacation of 1888, Professor McKenny 
 Hughes, of Cambridge, stayed a week or two at Torquay, accom- 
 panied by several members of his Class, who were all eager to 
 see some of the geological features of the district under Pengelly's 
 guidance. Amongst other expeditions he took them to the 
 .Brixham and Kent's Cavern, and was much pleased to see them 
 at his own house on Sunday afternoons, and also in the evenings 
 after their long " Field Days," when they greatly enjoyed show- 
 ing their " finds " to the veteran geologist, whose enthusiasm 
 for his favourite science remained as keen as ever. The advice 
 which he had given to a Manchester audience in 1872, he still 
 continued to impress on all young workers. 
 
 "'Be careful in scientific inquiries that you get a sufficient number 
 of perfectly trustworthy facts, that you interpret them with the aid of 
 a vigorous logic, that on suitable occasions you have courage enough to 
 avow your convictions, and don't be impatient or annoyed if your 
 friends don't receive all your conclusions, or even if they call you hard 
 names." 
 
 Though still fairly vigorous, he was beginning to feel the 
 necessity of taking a less active part in scientific matters, than 
 he had been accustomed to do for many years past. 
 
 Pengelly to Dr. Brushfield. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, July 2, 1 888. 
 
 "Thank you very much for your nice chatty letter of the 25th 
 ult. I hope to read in due course your paper on Andrew Brice. I am 
 taking things easy this year, having sent nothing to the Devonshire 
 Association, and have no thought of writing anything for the British. 
 ... I congratulate you on the well-deserved compliment paid you by 
 the Society of Antiquaries. Having been long an antiquarian student, 
 may you live to be an antiquarian study. ... I went to Plymouth last 
 Saturday to assist at the opening of the Marine Biological Laboratory, 
 and, as our American cousins say, ' had a good time.' Our host on the 
 occasion was Sir James Clark Lawrence, Prime Warden of the Fish- 
 mongers' Company. . . . He came out as one of the brickiestof bricks. 
 He fed us well, and spoke to us in excellent terms and manner. May 
 his shadow never grow less, that is in this latitude." 
 
 * Author of "Self Help," "The Life of George Stephenson," etc. .
 
 1888-1894.] LAST ATTENDANCE AT BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 28 1 
 
 In August Pengelly started with his family for Matlock Bank, 
 with the object of enjoying a thorough change and rest before 
 attending the British Association at Bath in September. During 
 the meeting he went with Professor Sayce, and some other 
 members, on an excursion to see the remains at Stanton Drew. 
 Unfortunately one or two of the party were missing when the 
 time came for the return drive ; this caused so much delay, and 
 the evening became so bitterly cold, that Pengelly, Professor 
 Sayce, Mr. Ussher, and some ladies returned to Bath by 
 train. The result of this exposure was a very severe chill, 
 which prevented Pengelly from taking any further part in the 
 meeting. 
 
 Professor Sayce to Mrs. Pengelly. 
 
 "Bath, September 14, 1888. 
 
 " I am very sorry that I am not able to come to you this after- 
 noon, as I have followed Mr. Pengelly's example, and am laid up 
 with a severe cold . . . and to-day I am confined to the house. A 
 British Association cold seems to be worse than any other. I hope 
 that Mr. Pengelly is recovering by this time." 
 
 Pengelly recovered partially from the cold he had taken, and 
 left Bath in time to attend the International Geological Congress 
 in London. There, though unable to attend all the sittings, he 
 had the pleasure of meeting many foreign geologists of note, 
 including M. Gaudry of Paris, Professor Capellini of Bologna, 
 Baron P. von Richtofen of Berlin, Professor Stefanescu of 
 Bucharest, and his old friends Professor Otto Torell of Stockholm, 
 Dr. Szabo of Buda-Pesth, and Professor O. C. Marsh from 
 America. 
 
 One of the pleasant results of the Congress was an interesting 
 correspondence between himself and Professor Gaudry. Pen- 
 gelly often looked back on the meeting with fond regret, as 
 being the last of the many scientific gatherings that he attended 
 with any enjoyment His friend Chevalier Dr. Josef Szabo, 
 the eminent geologist and foremost representative of Magyar 
 science, outlived him less than a month, dying on April 10, 
 
 1894- 
 
 The winter of 1888-9 was one of much suffering to Pengelly, 
 who was troubled with a violent cough. The rheumatism which 
 had so long affected him also became more painful and acute. 
 Lectures to working men and before the different Parish
 
 282 WILLIAM 'PENGELLY. [Cn. XIX. 
 
 Guilds, etc., which it had been such a pleasure to him to deliver, 
 had to be abandoned, and it was only once again that his voice 
 was heard in public. His final Lecture, entitled " Archaeological 
 Discoveries at Hele," was given on April 22, 1889, before the 
 Torquay Natural History Society, for which he had worked so 
 long, so ardently, and so unremittingly, without any other 
 remuneration than the pleasure he found in being of service to 
 those around him. 
 
 The Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing was a candidate this year for 
 Fellowship of the Royal Society, and has since been elected. 
 
 Pengdly to the Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, 8.30 p.m., February 9, 1889. 
 
 " I am glad to find your visit to Woodward * was a success ; 
 but then I knew it would be, for, so far as my knowledge of him goes 
 now of many years' standing he has never done an unkind thing, nor 
 declined to do a kind one when in his power. . . . 
 
 " I always intended that my name should be the last in the list of 
 signatories. 
 
 " Please excuse brevity as I am rather busy, but I will write Wood- 
 ward at once." 
 
 As the summer advanced Pengelly enjoyed spending a day 
 with his old friend, Mr. William Vicary, at Exeter ; his health 
 appeared to improve slightly, and his letters show that he still 
 retained much of his old vivacity. 
 
 Pengelly to his Wife. 
 
 " Lamorna, Torquay, June 10, 1889. 
 
 "... Yesterday was wet, so Lydia and I stayed at home all day, 
 and had the fires lighted. To-day is also wettish, but I was able to go 
 to the Museum as usual. At three I started for the Gladstone Meeting, 
 when I found the Hall very nearly full, but I had a very good seat on 
 the platform. Gladstone and wife arrived about 3.40. He spoke for 
 seventy-five minutes, as he only can speak ; he was very eloquent and very 
 consecutive, and very wonderful, and if I didn't know that wives are 
 never proud of their husbands, Mrs. Gladstone must be very proud of 
 him. Mr. Morton Spark was Chairman, and did his work modestly 
 and well. Coming out was a serious job, and made me glad that I had 
 no lady with me. The Hall was densely packed, and the means of 
 exit being so atrocious I was really thankful Lydia had been unable to 
 accompany me. . . ." 
 
 * Henry Woodward, LL.D.
 
 1888-1894-] ACCLIMATIZATION EXPLAINED. 283 
 
 Pengelly to his youngest daughter, Hester. 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, July, 1889. 
 
 "Whilst I received your kind interesting letter this morning 
 with great pleasure, I could not but feel that I had not recently written 
 you, and had not earned the pleasure your letter gave me. You know 
 I am always busy when preparing for a Monthly Meeting of the 
 Natural History Society, as was the case this week. Moreover the 
 preparation was more than usually heavy, on account of G. H. White's 
 handsome bequest. The meeting passed off satisfactorily, but my 
 cough was very troublesome after I got to bed that night. . . . Being 
 Sunday I refrained from kicking my best hat all the way down Union 
 Street, by way of expressing my joy on finding that we may look for 
 you this week. But as there is no law against it, I did say ' Hurrah,' 
 and I'll say it again. 
 
 "Your Mater and Pater took luncheon at Mrs. Ormerod's the 
 other day, and had a most pleasant time. Amongst the guests were 
 Mrs. and Miss Harley, wife and daughter of my old mathematical 
 British Association friend, Dr. Harley. I am glad that you and Miss 
 Langworthy were so much pleased with your day at Waltham Abbey. 
 All your London visits seem to have been, as we expected, most pleasant. 
 A green lizard was seen again on the Rock-Walk close to the spot 
 where it, or one of its relatives, was seen years ago. You will have 
 heard that these lizards are the descendants of some brought from 
 Jersey more than forty years ago, and placed on Waldon Hill as an 
 experiment, and that ever and anon a representative of them shows 
 itself. Now don't you rush to the conclusion that in this we have an 
 instance of Acclimatization , for it is nothing of the kind. Acclimatiza- 
 tion or, as the- word is now often written, Acclimatation understood 
 scientifically, denotes that treatment which (if such a thing be possible) 
 will change the character of organisms to such an extent as to enable 
 them to live where previously they could not live. It is clear that no 
 such change has occurred in, or was required in, the Torquay green 
 lizards. 
 
 " Monkeys, left to themselves, would die in England ; but if by 
 bringing a pair from Gibraltar to the Biscay shores it were found they 
 throve there, and fifty years after a pair descended from them were 
 brought to Brittany or the Stilly Isles, and they throve there ; and 
 fifty years after that a pair descended from them were taken to Torquay 
 and they throve, we should have a case of Acclimatation. Do you 
 follow?" 
 
 At the beginning of August he started with his wife and 
 daughters for a long change at Scarborough, taking the journey 
 by easy stages. The bracing air of the north, however, did 
 him little good, and he made no progress towards recovery. 
 In September he went to Newcastle, hoping to attend the 
 British Association, but was much fatigued by the meeting, 
 and could take but little part in the proceedings. Never again
 
 284 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIX. 
 
 was his well-known figure to be welcomed by his brother 
 scientists. The winter at Torquay was enlivened by the visits 
 of old friends ; but he was now only able to take short walks 
 and a few drives, generally to the Museum, and was compelled 
 to lead almost entirely the life of an invalid. 
 
 In the spring of 1890, the state of his health compelled him 
 to resign the Honorary Secretaryship of the Torquay Natural 
 History Society, the last scientific office which he had held. 
 Soon after his retirement he was presented, at his residence, 
 with an illuminated address by a few of his old friends, expres- 
 sing deep regret at his resignation. 
 
 The following letter, in which Pengelly congratulates Mr. 
 Isaac Roberts upon his election as a Fellow of the Royal 
 Society, is, I believe, the last he ever wrote : 
 
 Pengelly to Isaac Roberts ; 
 
 "Lamorna, Torquay, May 5, 1890. 
 
 "... As I see and read various scientific journals, I was 
 acquainted with the general character of your remarkable astronomical 
 discoveries as reported by the Astronomical Society from time to time ; 
 when your most valuable and acceptable present of six of your photo- 
 graphs reached me, I was more than delighted. Thank you many thousand 
 times. As I feel that single-handed I cannot thank you enough, I have 
 asked my wife and daughters to assist in the good work, and they have 
 most cordially responded. 
 
 " I am delighted to see that the Council of the Royal Society have 
 placed you among the fifteen who are to have the right to affix F.R.S. to 
 their names. (Sir F. Bramwell says the letters stand for ' Fees raised 
 suddenly.') Never were laurels more richly earned than in your case. 
 
 " And now, my very dear friend, I must conclude, as my fingers and 
 wrist are getting painfully angry." 
 
 Reading still continued to be his greatest pleasure, and, 
 though during the winter his drives had to be abandoned, the long 
 days were cheered for the invalid by visits from his many friends. 
 Amongst those who frequently came to see him were the Rev. 
 E. P. Gregg, Mr. F. S. Ellis, and General Chamberlayne, whose 
 kindness all through his illness was, as he expressed it, " like that 
 of a brother." 
 
 In the spring of 1891 Dr. Samuel Smiles was again at 
 Torquay, but as he unfortunately took cold there, he was unable 
 to visit Pengelly, to whom he wrote more than once during his 
 stay.
 
 1838-I894-] INCREASING INFIRMITIES. 28$ 
 
 Dr. Smiles to Pengelly. 
 "9, Beacon Terrace, Torquay, February 25, 1891. 
 
 " I thank you very much for the volumes you .have sent me 
 through Miss Pengelly ; and I accept the one inscribed by you to myself 
 with great pleasure. 
 
 " Some years ago I occupied myself a good deal, principally for 
 pleasure, in writing out an account of the origin of the various races of 
 men who occupy this country. I went to Friesland, the North Frisian 
 Islands (from which, no doubt, the Anglo-Saxons came), Jutland, the 
 Danish Islands, Sweden, and Norway, as far as Trondhjem. 
 
 " The first people Of all, however, were the Cave Men, and when I 
 saw that you had been making some extraordinary inquiries as to these 
 pre-historical people, I expressed my desire to my daughter to purchase 
 any treatise you had written on the subject. Now, you have supplied 
 me with as much as I can carry in my head ; and I will read your 
 treatises with the greatest pleasure. 
 
 " I am sorry that, since I came down here, I have been obliged to 
 keep within doors ; otherwise I would have called and paid my sincere 
 respects to you." 
 
 Dr. Smiles to Pengelly. 
 
 "9, Beacon Terrace, Torquay, March 20, 1891. 
 
 "I return your two volumes, with many thanks. I have read 
 them through, and taken many notes. What labour you must have had 
 in going through all the memoirs on the subject of Kent's Cavern, and 
 unfortunately, you must have martyred yourself in going into that damp 
 hole so often. You are entitled to take rank 'amongst Dr. Brewster's 
 Martyrs to Science. 
 
 " I wish I had been able to see you before I left. But my wife and 
 I have been suffering from very bad colds while here, and we return 
 home on Tuesday morning." 
 
 In August, 1891, Pengelly had the pleasure of a short visit 
 from the American geologist, Professor G. F. Wright, of Ohio. 
 
 Throughout the year 1892, he continued almost in the same 
 state, though his malady rendered him increasingly infirm. 
 The Meeting of the British Association at Edinburgh interested 
 him greatly, the President being the distinguished geologist, 
 Sir Archibald Geikie, whose address he read with the keenest 
 interest, as well as the reports which his daughters sent him 
 daily of the proceedings at Sections " C " and " H." 
 
 An old friend, a daughter of the late Robert Chambers, who 
 came south to see him this year, wrote afterwards to one of his 
 daughters : 
 
 " I am so glad, my dear Hettie, that I had such a pleasant time 
 with you at Torquay, and that I have, and will preserve, a most
 
 286 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIX. 
 
 delightful recollection of my last meeting with the dear gentle philosopher. 
 What an example he was of noble Christian resignation. Laid aside as 
 he was mentally as strong as ever only suffering from physical weak- 
 ness. May his example remain with us." 
 
 He was now entirely confined to the house, though able 
 to sit up and be wheeled into another room during the after- 
 noons. The death of his colleague, Mr. Vivian, who had been 
 associated with him in so many scientific undertakings, cast a 
 gloom over the opening of 1893. But the summer was much 
 brightened, as the Devonshire Association met at Torquay, and 
 many of the members visited Pengelly, including Dr. Brushfield 
 (the President), Lady Bowring, the Rev. W. Harpley, Mr. Amery, 
 Mr. Brooking Rowe, Canon Brownlow, and others. It greatly 
 cheered him to see so many of his old friends. In a letter 
 written to Mrs. Pengelly some time afterwards, Lady Bowring 
 says, in reference to this visit : 
 
 " I think much of the years gone by, when my own beloved husband 
 and Mr. Pengelly ever appeared to be so much pleased with each 
 other's companionship. I am so glad I had the pleasure of seeing 
 your invalid last summer, when he kindly received some of the old 
 members of the Devonshire Association for brief interviews. I was 
 gratified to be among the visitors." 
 
 Another old friend, whom he had not seen for many years, 
 Mrs. Vaughan, * also paid him a visit this autumn, 1893, 
 accompanied by Dr. and Mrs. Charles Vachell, of Cardiff. 
 
 All this time his mind continued as bright as ever. He 
 greatly enjoyed reading the recently published " Letters of Dr. 
 Asa Gray," the American botanist, and on March 6th, 1894, saw 
 for the last time his old friend Prebendary Wolfe. On the day 
 following he felt feverish and stayed in bed, and the progress 
 of the attack was very rapid, lasting only ten days. Through 
 this time of suffering, those who nursed him, never heard him say 
 an unkind thing, or utter an impatient word. On the morning 
 of Friday, the i6th of March, he appeared much weaker, but 
 was able to receive brief visits from his friends General Chamber- 
 layne and the Rev. E. P. Gregg. Both the medical men who 
 saw him that day, Dr. Huxley and Dr. Hamilton Gumming, 
 assured his family, that there was no pain, but considered that 
 the case was one of extreme gravity. Towards evening greater 
 
 * Wife of the Dean of Llandaff and sister of Dean Stanley.
 
 1888-1894.] DEATH AND FUNERAL. 287 
 
 difficulty of breathing and entire unconsciousness followed, and 
 the struggle with nature continued only a few hours longer. 
 Just before midnight the end came, and he passed peacefully 
 away in the presence of his wife and both his daughters, leaving 
 behind him the memory of one who was able " to bear good 
 fortune meekly ; to suffer evil with constancy ; and through 
 evil or good to maintain truth always." 
 
 On the following Thursday the funeral took place, a service 
 being held at the parish church of St. Mary Magdalene, Upton, 
 which was largely attended by people of every shade of religious 
 thought. The hymns sung were, " Jesu, lover of my soul," his 
 favourite hymn, and that commencing, " Now the labourer's task 
 is o'er," as being in this case especially appropriate. The 
 remains of the geologist were laid to rest in the presence of 
 his two surviving daughters and a large company of mourners, 
 with every token of regard, from the poor as well as the rich. 
 
 The respect shown to his memory on all sides gave eloquent 
 testimony to the esteem in which an honourable and upright 
 life, well spent in untiring devotion to study and research, was 
 held. 
 
 The news of Pengelly's death was received generally with 
 deep and intense feeling. Letters of sympathy from all parts 
 of this country, from the Continent, America, and even distant 
 Australia, reached his family. Many of them are of far too 
 sacred a character to be published, but all bore witness to the 
 strong affection he inspired, by his nobility of character, his 
 fearless love of truth, mingled with profound reverence for all 
 that is held most sacred. 
 
 Clergy and laymen of the Established Church, Presbyterians, 
 Members of the Society of Friends, Leaders of the various 
 Nonconformist Bodies, and Roman Catholics agreed with perfect 
 unanimity in their estimate of his simple though firm faith, 
 strong moral sense, kindliness and unselfish devotion to the 
 welfare of others, and freedom from ambition. 
 
 Among scientific men his loss was keenly felt, as will be 
 shown by the following extracts : 
 
 Rev. Professor Bonney, LL.D., F.R.S., to Mrs. Pengelly. 
 
 "23, Denning Road, N.W., March 21, 1894. 
 
 *' I have seen the sad news in the papers, and must write a few 
 lines to say how deeply I sympathize with you and your family in 
 this sorrow.
 
 288 WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIX. 
 
 " All who had the privilege of knowing your late husband must feel 
 as I do, that his departure leaves a gap which cannot be filled. 
 
 " Never have I met with a man who united such strong mental 
 powers, and no less strong sense of what was just, true, and right, to 
 such genuine humour and hearty enjoyment of wit. That was the 
 great charm in his personality. He was so kindly and pleasant a 
 companion, and yet so vigorous, mentally, and strong, morally. When 
 he was obliged to cease from coming to the British Association, we all 
 felt the difference his absence made. There was at once a sense of 
 something missing. He came everywhere like a ray of sunshine. I 
 trust his parting from earth was painless and peaceful, and that he fell 
 asleep. From bodily pain he might have suffered but, I feel sure he 
 would be held up in crossing the dark water by the Saviour in whom 
 he had long put his trust. He has left, as a legacy to all his friends, the 
 memory of a well-spent life, and a good example. Though I doubt 
 not that his life on earth must have been a happy one, yet I hope 
 and trust that now he has entered into a more perfect peace, and an 
 unchanging joy." 
 
 Sir Archibald Geikie * to Mrs. Pengelly. 
 
 "28, Jermyn St., London, S.W., March 31, 1894. 
 
 " On my return to London, after an absence of some weeks, I am 
 much grieved to hear of the great loss which has fallen upon you, 
 and I desire to offer you my sincere sympathy. Mr. Pengelly's death 
 has aroused so wide a feeling of regret, that it must be some slight 
 consolation to you to have proofs of how universally he was respected 
 and esteemed. I can remember him and his bright lectures at the 
 British Association for almost as many years as I have attended the 
 meetings. 
 
 " His genial, kindly, and helpful nature, and his invariably bright, 
 cheery, and witty talk, marked him out as a man by himself. 
 
 " His death must be a very sad blow to you and the family, and I 
 feel deep sympathy for you, and all the more because I know how 
 entirely he deserved to be loved and honoured." 
 
 Professor Rupert Jones, F.R.S., F.G.S., to Mrs. Pengelly. 
 
 " March 31, 1894. 
 
 " We are all very sorry to know of your great loss, and sympathize 
 with you all. I had been asked to give some information about 
 your dear husband's life and work, since I had known him for so 
 long, and had always appreciated and admired his mental and bodily 
 exertions in the pursuit of knowledge and so successful a pursuit too, 
 but I requested a younger geologist to undertake the work. . . . 
 
 " Mr. Pengelly will be remembered as a good example of a religious 
 man earnest, persevering, and exact in scientific research, highly 
 esteemed and appreciated in his own generation, especially by his 
 fellow workers, his work having been carried on in pleasant unison with 
 
 * Director-General of the Geological Surveys of the United Kingdom.
 
 1888-1894.] A WELL-SPENT LIFE. 289 
 
 others, and being too good to die away, as has happened with others, 
 and be forgotten for a while until subsequent discoveries had made it 
 important. . . . 
 
 " We shall always remember his cheery way and his genial 
 remarks. . . ." 
 
 Dr. Munro, F.R.S.E., to Mrs. Pengelly. 
 
 "48, Manor Place, Edinburgh, April 3, 1894. 
 
 " It is only a few days ago that a pang of regret and sorrow 
 passed through the heart of the scientific world with the death of your 
 husband. Knowing that during his active lifetime he had a wide circle 
 of scientific friends, and that letters of condolence would be pouring in 
 upon you from far and near, I did not think that my slight personal 
 acquaintance with him entitled me to trouble you with formal 
 expressions of sympathy in your sad bereavement. The receipt of a 
 paper containing such an appreciative notice of our late distinguished 
 anthropologist, affords me now a fitting occasion to do so, and to 
 express to you how highly I esteem and value his works. I am much 
 pleased to have this little biographical souvenir of Mr. Pengelly. . . . 
 I trust, however, it is but the prelude to a more extended biography 
 one that will be worthy of so conspicuous a leader among the founders 
 of the Science of Anthropology." 
 
 Rev. Robert Harley, M.A., F.X.S., F.R.A.S., to Miss Hester Pengelly. 
 
 " April 2, 1894. 
 
 " I heard of the death of your dear father with sincere regret. He 
 and I were admitted to the Royal Society at the same time, namely, 
 in June, 1863 ; the fifteen that year were : (i) E. W. Cooke, A.R.A. ; 
 (2) W. Crookes ; (3) J. Fergusson ; (4) F. Field ; (5) Rev. R. Harley ; 
 (6) J. R. Hind; (7) C. W. Merrifield; (8) Professor D. Oliver; (9) F. 
 W. Parry ; (10) W. Pengelly; (n) H. S. Roscoe; (12) Rev. G. Salmon 
 (now Provost of T.C.D.) ; (13) S. J. A. Salter ; (14) Rev. A. P. Stanley, 
 Dean of Westminster ; (15) Col. F. M. E. Wilmot. Of these, no fewer 
 than seven, namely, i, 3, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 15, have now passed away. 
 
 " As you are aware, I often met your father at the Meetings of the 
 British Association, and he was my guest on the occasion of his coming 
 to lecture before the Lit. and Phil. Soc. of Leicester, when I was 
 President. A charming guest we found him, as full of humour as of 
 scientific knowledge. 
 
 " I had no acquaintance with his special subject, but whenever we 
 met we found that we had many points of contact ; for Mr. Pengelly 
 was not a mere geologist. He did not obtrude his theological opinions, 
 but it was easy to perceive that he was a man of true religious character ; 
 this was shown in his exemplary and upright life. Many will mourn his 
 death, and to you and Mrs. Pengelly and your sister, the loss is 
 irreparable. Yet he had attained ' a good old age,' and you could not 
 be altogether unprepared for the event. His was a long, honoured, and 
 useful life. And now at length 
 
 U
 
 2pO WILLIAM PENGELLY. [Cn. XIX. 
 
 "He's free, 
 
 Leaving his outgrown shell 
 By life's unresting sea." 
 
 Sir Joseph Lister '"' to Miss Hester Pengelly. 
 
 '' 12, Park Crescent, Portland Place. 
 
 " In years gone by I had often the privilege of intercourse with 
 your father. 
 
 " Looking back to those times I recall vividly the impression of his 
 great intellectual powers, his genial benevolence, and his sparkling 
 humour. 
 
 " The importance of his contributions to geology and pre-eminently 
 of his acutely planned and perseveringly conducted cave explorations, is 
 recognized throughout the scientific world. 
 
 " I cherish his memory with affectionate admiration." 
 
 * President of the Royal Society. Now Lord Lister.
 
 THE SCIENTIFIC WORK OF 
 
 WILLIAM PENGELLY, F.R.S. 
 
 BY PROF. T. G. BONNEY, D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S. 
 
 THE scientific work of Pengelly's long and industrious life, though 
 it admits of sub-division, is connected by a common thread. 
 His duties, his occupations, perhaps also his inclination, prevented 
 him from ranging far afield, and his eminently practical mind 
 prompted him to take up the tasks which lay ready to hand. 
 Born in Cornwall, spending his life in Devon, he devoted him- 
 self to studying the geology of south-western Britain, so that his 
 scientific papers, almost without exception, deal with topics 
 which either form part of that subject or arise directly from it. 
 These papers, however, may be separated into three groups 
 each relating to a particular line of work. One describes the 
 investigation of the Bovey Tracey deposits ; another is con- 
 cerned with the examination of caves ; and the third includes a 
 number of miscellaneous geological studies of the south-western 
 district. A further link may be found between the first and the 
 second, for though the work was different in character and lay 
 in separate fields, yet it brings into strong relief that spirit of 
 conscientious investigation, and that patience in the accumula- 
 tion of facts, which especially characterized Pengelly as a man 
 of science. This it was which most impressed those who came 
 to know him, perhaps because it seemed almost abnormal. 
 One could hardly believe it possible that this witty, light-hearted, 
 almost jovial man, could be identical with the patient and un- 
 wearied explorer, who had been toiling hour after hour, day after 
 day, in the dark recesses of a cavern, systematically removing the
 
 292 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 debris layer by layer, sifting the earth, collecting the contents, 
 exactly labelling each specimen, recording every detail, leaving 
 nothing to chance and no loophole for mistake, as he accumulated 
 a mass of facts, which would be imperishable, whatever might 
 be the fate of the inductions framed either by himself or by 
 others. 
 
 So, in endeavouring to give, in accordance with the request 
 of his nearest relations, some idea of Pengelly's labours and 
 contributions to geological knowledge, I shall follow the order 
 already indicated, and deal successively with these three topics. 
 I take first the work at Bovey Tracey,* which was also the 
 first to be completed of Pengelly's larger tasks, and was thus 
 the earliest demonstration of his peculiar fitness for that ex- 
 ploratory work with which his name will be ever associated. 
 
 Bovey Tracey is a small Devonshire town, just at the foot 
 of Dartmoor and rather near its north-eastern end. It stands on 
 the left bank of the Bovey, about two and a half miles above the 
 spot where this river joins the Teign, at the head of an almost 
 level expanse which extends in a south-easterly direction to the 
 distance of about six miles, with a maximum breadth of about 
 four, not reckoning a narrow prolongation of about a mile and 
 a half towards the south. The aspect of this plain suggests that 
 it is the bed of an ancient lake, an idea which is confirmed by 
 an examination of its deposits. To the west and north-west of 
 this flat basin rises the lofty mass of Dartmoor with its granite 
 tors, on the north " the trappean elevations of Hennock," on the 
 north-east and east are the Haldon Hills, capped by outlying 
 patches of cretaceous rocks, and to the south the rolling uplands 
 which separate the district from the sea. The portion of the 
 plain adjacent to the town goes by the name of Bovey Heath- 
 field. It had been long known that the basin contained a series 
 of deposits very different from the solid rocks of the surrounding 
 hills. First came a few feet of coarse gravel, sand, and clay, 
 beneath which much thicker and considerably more ancient 
 were other sands and clays, very distinctly stratified, containing 
 saams of lignite. This material for many years past had been 
 worked t ; the most important of the excavations being that 
 
 * The account is condensed from Pengelly's paper, Philosophical Transactions, 
 1862, part ii. (separately published with a prefatory memoir), and Transactions of the 
 Devonshire Association, 1862, p. 29. 
 
 t At least a century and a half, according to the historical evidence collected in 
 the prefatory memoir already mentioned.
 
 THE LIGNITE-BEDS OF BOVEY. 293 
 
 known as the " Coal pit," situated on the " Heathfield," about a 
 mile from the town and from the western margin of the basin. 
 
 This, at the time of Pengelly's investigation, was an open 
 work, nearly 1000 feet long, about 340 feet wide, and 100 feet 
 deep, from which subterranean galleries were carried into the 
 mass, sometimes to a considerable distance, one of them being 
 not much less than 400 yards in length. The clay and the 
 lignite were used in the local potteries, the unpleasant odour 
 of the latter material making it unsuitable for domestic 
 purposes. 
 
 The pits had attracted some notice prior to 1860, and the 
 deposits had been more than once mentioned in scientific 
 literature ; but though a pine-cone and a few seeds had been 
 found, very little had been ascertained as to the geological age 
 of the lignitic group. On the whole, however, there was a dis- 
 position to regard it as later than the Pliocene period. So 
 matters stood in the year just named, when the late Dr. Falconer 
 brought the subject under the notice of Miss (now Baroness) 
 Burdett-Coutts, as one the investigation of which would be a 
 boon to science. She, " with characteristic liberality," provided 
 the means for Pengelly to undertake the task. He secured the 
 services of Mr. H. Keeping, then living in the Isle of Wight, 
 and known as a most experienced collector of fossils, and 
 the proprietor of the works (John Divett, Esq.) promptly and 
 cordially co-operated in carrying out the investigation. 
 
 The object was twofold, viz. to obtain a complete and 
 carefully measured section of the beds which formed the Bovey 
 deposit, and to collect as many fossils as possible, in the hope 
 of placing its geological age beyond all question. In order to 
 accomplish both these, " it was decided to make a fresh section ; 
 in fact, to cut out a series of steps, on a large scale, by which to 
 descend the face of the artificial cliff [of the 'coal pit'] from top 
 to bottom." This would disclose the exact nature, thickness, and 
 order of the successive beds, would afford good opportunities 
 for collecting fossils, and would determine the exact position 
 in which each specimen occurred. By this means it was clearly 
 demonstrated that the upper portion a mass generally a little 
 more than seven feet in thickness was very different and quite 
 distinct from the remaining and large part, the beds in which 
 did not lie horizontally, but dipped at an angle of 12^ to a 
 point 35 west of south (magnetic). The excavation was carried
 
 294 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 to a depth of full 125 feet, down to the bottom of a seam of 
 lignite four feet thick, the " last bed " of the workmen. This, 
 however, does not form the actual base of the Bovey deposit, 
 but is simply the lowest bed which was quarried in the great 
 excavation, and thus was accessible by the method of working 
 which the explorers had adopted. 
 
 Mr. Divett stated that he had once sunk a shaft to a depth 
 of about 13 feet below the bottom of the pit, and had cut two 
 tolerable beds of "coal." Moreover, the topmost bed in the 
 excavation was not the highest in the deposit, as was evident 
 from the direction in which the beds were dipping, so that, 
 altogether, Pengelly estimates the whole thickness as exceeding 
 210 feet. In order to confirm the succession of beds which had 
 been disclosed by the principal section, two others were made, 
 both of them in the south wall of the excavation, one about 
 460 feet, the other 680 feet eastward from it. The nature of the 
 ground prevented the explorers from carrying either of these 
 cuttings in a satisfactory manner to much more than half the 
 depth of the main section ; but, so far as they went, they failed 
 to reveal any differences of importance. No remains of animals, 
 whether vertebrate or invertebrate, were discovered, excepting 
 a few fragments of the elytra of beetles ; but a considerable 
 number of plants were obtained. These were sent to Professor 
 Oswald Heer, of Zurich, whose report is associated with Pengelly's 
 paper in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. 
 
 The upper part, or " Head," in the section of the Bovey Tracey 
 basin, differs much in character from the main or underlying 
 mass, which it covers unconformably. At the top usually come 
 a few inches of peat, which is succeeded by a fine white sand, and 
 this by a mass of sand with clay, rather irregularly interstratified. 
 At the bottom comes a sandy clay, containing rock fragments, 
 which are usually angular and subangular, and are sometimes 
 rather more than a foot in diameter. These evidently have been 
 derived from the neighbouring hills. On the western side of 
 the basin they are mostly granite, or fragments of the rocks 
 through which it has been extruded. On the eastern side, flint 
 and chert from the cretaceous strata, as might be expected, 
 become more common. This " Head " was generally unfossili- 
 ferous, but some leaves were found in one of the clays. Among 
 these Professor Heer recognized the willow perhaps three 
 species, one being Salix cinerea, another probably S. repens,
 
 FOSSIL PLANTS. 2Q5 
 
 and the dwarf birch Betula nana, which still lingers in the 
 Scottish Highlands, and is so common in more arctic regions. 
 These plants fully confirmed the idea which had been suggested 
 by the rock-fragments just mentioned, viz. that the "Head" 
 had been formed when the climate of Devonshire was much 
 colder than it is at the present day, and ought, therefore, to be 
 referred to some part of the so-called glacial epoch. This dis- 
 covery at Bovey Tracey is especially interesting, because traces 
 of that epoch are so rare in the south-west of England. 
 
 The underlying deposit, which, as already stated, is evidently 
 much the older of the two, yielded a far more ample series of 
 plant-remains, which, however, were not to be obtained from all 
 the beds. The mass consisted, for a thickness of about seventy- 
 two feet in descending, of beds of clay, lignite, and sand ; the 
 last, though one layer was thicker than any of the other deposits, 
 being the least common. The remainder of the mass was 
 formed of clay and lignite only, and the whole was free from 
 stones. Thirty-one beds of lignite were cut through in the 
 principal section, varying in thickness from a few inches to 
 rather more than six feet. Thirteen of these yielded distin- 
 guishable plant-remains, and these were also obtained from two 
 of the beds of clay. From the collection, which was sent to him, 
 Professor Heer determined fifty species ; among these were ferns, 
 conifers, figs, cinnamon trees, an oak and a laurel, with vines, 
 andromedas, a bilberry, a gardenia, a water-lily and sundry 
 leguminous plants the commonest specimens being a fern, 
 Pecopteris lignitum* and a conifer, Sequoia Couttsice. Professor 
 Heer, as the result of his examination, referred the lignitic group 
 of Bovey Tracey to the Lower Miocene period.'}' The flora 
 approximated most nearly, in his opinion, to those of Manosque 
 in Provence, and of Salzhausen in the Wetterau, and it had 
 eleven species in common with the Aquitanien of. Switzerland. 
 Of late years, however, the correctness of his inference has been 
 disputed, but with the result of adding to rather than taking 
 from the interest of the deposit, for Mr. J. Starkie Gardner, 
 whose investigations into fossil plants of Tertiary age are so 
 well known, regards the Bovey Tracey flora as contemporaneous 
 with that found at Bournemouth that is to say, of Middle 
 Bagshot age ; but he points out that when Professor Heer wrote, 
 
 * Referred afterwards by Gardner and Ettingshausen to the genus Osmunda. 
 t Or the upper part of the Oligocene period, according to the more modern 
 nomenclature.
 
 296 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 "no Eocene floras of any extent had been described and 
 scarcely any material existed for comparison, except what was 
 of Miocene age ... it appears to me that in the then state 
 of knowledge regarding these Tertiary floras he could hardly 
 avoid classing the Bovey beds with the Miocene."* 
 
 We proceed next to the second section of Pengelly's 
 scientific work, the exploration of ossiferous caves. The Brixham 
 cave was discovered in January, 1858, in extending a quarry on 
 the slope of the hill which rises on the southern shore of Torbay 
 above the small fishing town of the same name. The owner of 
 this quarry had carried the excavation far enough to show that 
 the cave had several branches, and that it contained bones, both 
 on the surface of the stalagmite with which the floor was 
 covered and in the red loam below it. Shortly afterwards, 
 Pengelly visited the place in company with Dr. Falconer ; and 
 the latter, on his return to London, addressed a letter to the 
 Geological Society, urging them to undertake the exploration 
 of this new and untouched ossiferous cavern. That Society, 
 however, did not possess any funds which were legally applicable 
 to such a purpose ; but its Council brought the matter under 
 the notice of the Royal Society (which was more fortunately 
 situated), and received from it a grant of ;ioo in aid of the 
 exploration. A second grant to the same amount was after- 
 wards made, ^50 was given by Miss Burdett-Coutts, and 5 
 each by Sir J. Kay Shuttleworth and Mr. R. Arthlington. For 
 the purpose of directing the investigation, a committee of the 
 Geological Society was formed, consisting of Dr. Falconer (as 
 Chairman and Secretary), Mr. J. Prestwich, Mr. Pengelly, Prof. 
 A. Ramsay, Sir C. Lyell, Mr. Godwin-Austen, Mr. G. Busk, 
 Dr. Percy, Prof. R. Owen, Rev. R. Everest, Mr. Beccles, and 
 the President and Secretaries of the Society, while a Torquay 
 sub-committee, composed of Mr. Pengelly, Mr. E. Vivian, Mr. 
 Stewart, Colonel Thoresby, Mr. Sheppard, and Mr. Hogg, was 
 deputed by the London committee to co-operate with them 
 and to superintend the actual investigation of the cave. But 
 as the report on the exploration says, " It is to Mr. Pengelly 
 that the Committee are indebted for the active and constant 
 superintendence of the work and for the record of each day's 
 proceedings. [He] in fact, saw personally to the execution of 
 
 * " British Eocene Flora," p. 19, Memoirs of the Paheontographical Society, 
 vol. xxiii. (1879).
 
 THE BRIXHAM CAVE. 297 
 
 the whole work, noted all the physical features, and arranged 
 and tabulated all the specimens found in the cave, devoting to 
 the investigation an amount of care and time without which it 
 would have been impossible for the London Committee to have 
 obtained the exact record," which was presented and read to 
 the Royal Society.* 
 
 Windmill Hill, on the north-western angle of which the cave 
 is situated, rises to a height of 175 feet above the ordnance- 
 datum. The entrance of the cave is about 94 feet above this 
 level, or about 66 feet above the floor of the valley in front of 
 it. The rock is an impure, thin-bedded limestone, belonging 
 to the middle part of the Devonian System ; the district around 
 is generally free from all superficial deposits, except occasionally 
 small depressed patches of sand and gravel, which also some- 
 times fill narrow fissures in the limestone and extend to con- 
 siderable depths. A red loam also caps most of the limestone 
 hills. A raised beach on a neighbouring hill, about 30 feet 
 above the sea, is an indication that at a comparatively recent 
 epoch the land was at a distinctly lower level than it is at the 
 present day. 
 
 The cave is really a group of enlarged fissures, which cross 
 one another roughly at right angles. The principal entrance 
 faces almost magnetic north, and leads into a long gallery, 
 running southwards, on the eastern side of which (near the 
 entrance) is a narrow nearly parallel corridor, some few yards 
 long. Close to the junction of this another gallery extends 
 eastward for about the same distance, and then, in about a dozen 
 yards farther, the main gallery throws off a larger branch towards 
 the west. On the southern side of the latter come two short 
 fissures, followed by one of considerable size and length, which 
 leads into an irregular shaped chamber, communicating by two 
 apertures with the outer air. The aforesaid branch gallery termi- 
 nates in a kind of chamber, in which also are two openings, and is 
 crossed by the fissure just named, which is prolonged towards 
 the north, till it* joins another one leading back into the western 
 branch, opposite to the second of the small fissures mentioned 
 above. All these, as Pengelly points out, resolve themselves 
 into two sets or systems, which strictly agree with corresponding 
 bearings of the joints in the Devonian rocks of the district. 
 
 * Philosophical Transactions, clxiii. (1875), p. 483. A view of the entrance and 
 n. plan of the cave, with sections and other figures, are given in this paper.
 
 298 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 The galleries are usually from 6 to 8 feet in greatest width 
 and from 10 to 14 feet in height, and they lie within a space 
 measuring 135 feet from north to south and 100 feet from east 
 to west. The large gallery, leading from the northern entrance, 
 over almost its whole extent, and a part of the great western 
 branch-gallery, were floored with a mass of stalagmite, extending 
 horizontally from wall to wall, the thickness of which varied 
 from about a foot downwards. Beneath this came the detrital 
 accumulations. These, in other parts of the cave, were not 
 covered by stalagmite, and they sometimes filled a fissure up to 
 the level of its roof. They proved on examination to be separable 
 into four beds. The first and second, a breccia of small angular 
 fragments of limestone and an underlying layer of blackish 
 matter, were restricted to the neighbourhood of the northern 
 entrance, and were found to be of minor importance ; but the 
 third and fourth extended practically thoughout the cave. Of 
 these two, the former (commonly from two to four feet in thick- 
 ness) was a reddish-brown tenacious clayey loam, containing 
 many angular fragments of limestone, of all sizes from very 
 small bits to masses even a ton in weight, together with 
 occasional fragments of stalagmite, nodules of brown iron-stone, 
 and (more frequently) pebbles of various rocks. The latter 
 (fourth) bed was a gravel, mainly consisting "of pebbles of 
 different kinds of rock, quartz, greenstone, grit, and limestone 
 mixed with small fragments of shale common in the Brixham 
 district." The depth of this gravel varied ; it was seldom less 
 than six feet, often more, and the bottom frequently was not 
 reached, owing to the contraction of the sides of the fissure. 
 
 The floor of the cavern was excavated in successive stages or 
 layers, starting from the entrance, so as to avoid the risk of 
 confounding together the remains which occurred at different 
 levels in the deposit ; a risk against which due precaution had 
 not been taken in some previous explorations of caves. Bones 
 were found both in the stalagmite and in the first, third, and 
 fourth beds, and worked flints in the third and fourth beds only ; 
 but where the third bed filled the cavern up to the roof, its upper 
 portion contained neither bones nor flints. It yielded, however, 
 in the three principal branches of the cavern, 17 flints and 998 
 bones. "Two of the former, or about 12 per cent, were nine 
 inches deep in the bed, while the remainder were at lower levels. 
 Of the latter, on the contrary, as many as 372, or 37 per cent.,
 
 BONES IN BRIXHAM CAVE. 299 
 
 were above the level of the highest flint, and were covered by the 
 overlying stalagmite, in which were found remains of the cave- 
 bear and reindeer. Of the 1621 bones and 36 flints found in 
 the cavern, 7 of the former and 16 of the latter were met with 
 in the fourth or gravel bed." 
 
 The cavern was less rich in articles of human workmanship 
 than in the bones of animals. The former were examined and 
 reported upon by Mr. (now Sir) J. Evans. Most of them are 
 flakes, some of which possibly might not be artificial ; but there 
 are three fairly well-made implements of Palaeolithic type. It 
 is therefore certain that man either frequented, or at any rate 
 sometimes entered, the Brixham cave while Devonshire was 
 inhabited by various mammals which are now extinct. The 
 following is a summary of the bones and fragments which were 
 identified by the late Mr. G. Busk : 
 
 Mammoth (Elephas primigenius} ... ... n specimens. 
 
 Rhinoceros (ft. tichorhinus) ... ... 67 
 
 Horse (Equus caballus) ... ... ... 30 
 
 Urus (Bos primigenius)* ... ... 28 
 
 Red deer (Cervus elaphus} ... ... 12 
 
 Reindeer (C. tarandus) ... ... 72 
 
 Roebuck (Capreolus capreolus) ... ... 13 
 
 Cave-lion (Felis spelcea) ... ... 9 
 
 Hyaena (H. crocuta) ... ... ... 57 
 
 Cave-bear (Ursus spdceus) \ 
 
 Brown bear (U. arctos) ... ', ... 354 ,, 
 
 Grizzly bear (U.ferox) 
 
 Fox (Cams vulpes) ... ... 15 
 
 Besides these, some bones of birds and small mammals were 
 found, among which were identified the hare (Lepus timidus), 
 the rabbit (L. cuniculus), the lemming (Lagomys spelceus), the 
 water-vole (Arvicola amphibius), and the shrew (Sorex vulgaris). 
 The bones of the following animals mammoth, rhinoceros, ox, 
 red deer, reindeer, roe deer and bear, in some instances had been 
 gnawed, almost certainly by hyaenas. 
 
 Mr. Busk remarks that the remains of the rhinoceros were 
 far more numerous and increased in number in proportion to 
 the distance from the entrance, so that they probably had been 
 dragged into the deeper recesses of the cavern to be devoured 
 by hyaenas or by some other carnivora. It appeared also that, 
 in more than one case, the limbs of the horse had been carried 
 in, while the bones were still held together by the soft parts. 
 
 * Including probably some bones of Bos longifrons.
 
 30O WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 In the case of the hyaenas, teeth preponderated ; and like the 
 remains of the lion, a large proportion of the specimens were 
 buried deep in the cave-earth, and became more rare near the 
 surface ; the remains of bears were frequent at some depth, 
 but they were also numerous on its surface and in the stalagmite. 
 The deposits in the cavern evidently indicate the occurrence 
 of changes in its physical history. The gravel must have been 
 brought in by a stream which had flowed over the slates, grits, 
 and shales, on the western side of Brixham, entering by the 
 aperture on that side and passing out by the northern entrance. 
 The bone-earth indicates a change in the hydrographical condi- 
 tion of the district, and it was apparently introduced, not by the 
 western, but by the northern entrance. Prior to this, however, 
 the cave probably was undisturbed for a considerable period, 
 during which a bed of stalagmite was formed, and this afterwards 
 was broken up by the new irruption of water. Professor 
 Prestwich considered it probable that at this epoch the cave was 
 generally dry, but was sometimes flooded by a swollen stream 
 which usually flowed at a level rather below that of the entrance ; 
 and that during the dry intervals the cave was frequented by 
 carnivora, while, during the flooding, the relics of their meals 
 were covered up and imbedded in the sediment with which the 
 waters were charged. As the deposit of cave-earth is examined 
 upwards from its lowest part, the remains of elephant, rhinoceros, 
 and lion gradually disappear ; those of the hyaena become less 
 common, while those of the bear increase largely in number. At 
 this time the common brown bear seems to have made the cave 
 a place of habitual resort, and as numbers of bones, including 
 those of very young cubs, are found together, and are not gnawed, 
 it may be inferred that the hyaena had by that time ceased to 
 frequent its recesses. 
 
 Such, then, was the history of the excavation of Brixham 
 Cave. The results proved that in Devonshire a race of men, in 
 a low stage of civilization, had been contemporaneous with a fauna 
 which has now disappeared from Britain, and, in some cases, is 
 actually extinct. 
 
 We proceed next to the most laborious scientific under- 
 taking of Pengelly's life the exploration of Kent's Cavern or 
 Kent's Hole.* This cave, about a mile due east from Torquay 
 
 * The Reports of the Committee appointed for this purpose by the Britis 
 Association are published in the annual volumes of that Association from 1865 '
 
 KENT'S CAVERN. 301 
 
 Harbour, occurs in a small wooded limestone hill on the western 
 side of a valley, which terminates, about half a mile southward, 
 on the northern shore of Torbay ; this limestone belonging to the 
 middle of the Devonian system. The cavern has two entrances, 
 about fifty-four feet apart, in the face of one and the same 
 low, vertical, natural cliff, running nearly north and south, on 
 the eastern side of the hill. Each of these entrances is about 
 six feet in height, and rather more in width, so as to afford an 
 easy access to the cavern. The base of the northern entrance, 
 which, however, is formed by debris, not by live rock, is 
 about 189 feet above mean-tide level, and the base of the 
 southern one is nearly four feet lower. 
 
 The existence of Kent's Hole has been known from time 
 immemorial ; but the first exploration, of which any record has 
 been preserved, was made in 1824. This was undertaken by a 
 Mr. Northmore, of Cleve, near Exeter, who visited the cavern 
 with the double object, as he stated, " of discovering organic 
 remains, and of ascertaining the existence of a Temple of 
 Mithras," with the result that, as he was "happy to say," he 
 was " successful in both objects." * He was speedily followed 
 by Mr. (afterwards Sir) W. C. Trevelyan, who is said to have 
 been the first to obtain any results of value to science.f The 
 Rev. J. MacEnery, whose name will be always inseparably 
 associated with the cavern, first entered it in the summer of 
 1825. It was also his first visit to any such place ; nevertheless, 
 he made an examination in what he conjectured to be a favour- 
 able spot, and to his great joy discovered several teeth and 
 bones. For about four years he prosecuted his researches 
 with much energy ; his last visit apparently being on August 
 14, 1829. During this time he was in communication with 
 Dr. Buckland and other geologists, and he intended to publish 
 a narrative of his investigations, going so far as to arrange for 
 the necessary illustrations ; but his intention was ultimately 
 abandoned, and for some years after his death it was feared 
 that his manuscript had been lost. At last, however, it was 
 recovered, and has been printed entire in the Transactions 
 
 1880, and are reprinted with prefatory remarks by Pengelly in Transactions of the 
 Devonshire Association, vol. xvi. pp. 189-434 ("The Literature of Kent's Cavern," 
 part v.). The account given above is condensed from the latter source. 
 
 * Of this gentleman's published researches, an account is given by Pengelly in 
 the Transactions of the Devonshire Association, vol. ii. pp. 479495. 
 
 t Ibid., vol. iii. p. 207 ; vol. vi. p. 52 ; vol. x. p. 145.
 
 302 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 of the Devonshire Association.* For this work also, which 
 obviously must have been one of very considerable and some- 
 times rather tedious labour, we are indebted to Pengelly. 
 MacEnery clearly proved that the cavern had been inhabited, 
 practically at the same time, by man and by various extinct 
 mammals ; but his discovery passed unnoticed, for the recent 
 origin of man was at that time almost universally accepted as 
 an article of belief, and geologists do not always rise superior 
 to the weaknesses of human nature, one of which is a tendency 
 to ignore unwelcome facts. 
 
 Some investigations were made in 1840, by Mr. R. A. C. 
 Austen (afterwards Godwin-Austen), and the results were 
 described in a paper on the " Bone Caves of Devonshire," read 
 to the Geological Society of London, f Again, in 1846, a 
 committee, consisting of Mr. Pengelly, Mr. Vivian, and Dr. 
 Battersby, was appointed by the Torquay Natural History 
 Society to explore a small portion of the cave. The results of 
 their investigations were communicated t;o their own society,:}: 
 and to the Geological Society of London. An account of all 
 these earlier investigations the literature, in fact, of Kent's 
 Cavern anterior to 1865 has been given by Pengelly, with his 
 usual patient care, in the pages of the Transactions of the 
 Devonshire Association.^ 
 
 These investigations, though perhaps none of them were con- 
 ducted with that strict observance of method which is now 
 regarded as necessary, proved that the flint "implements" and 
 the remains of extinct animals did occur together in the same 
 deposits. Then, "in 1858, the results of the systematic and 
 careful exploration of Brixham Cavern on the opposite shore of 
 Torbay, induced the scientific world to suspect that the alleged 
 discoveries which, from time to time during a quarter of a 
 century, had been reported from Kent's Hole, might, after all, 
 be entitled to a place among the verities of science." From 
 that time various proposals were made for the further investigation 
 of Kent's Hole. Communications passed between Pengelly and 
 Sir C. Lyell, and finally, at the meeting of the British Association 
 at Bath, a Committee was appointed for the systematic exploration 
 
 * Vol. iii. pp. 196-482, where also the history of the manuscript is given. 
 
 t Proc. Geol. Soc., vol. iii. p. 286. 
 
 j Printed in Transactions of the Devonshire Association, vol. x. p. 162. 
 
 Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc., vol. iii. p. 353. 
 
 || "The Literature of Kent's Cavern, 1 ' parts i.-iv., in vols. ii. iii. iv. and x.
 
 KENT'S CAVERN EXPLORED. 303 
 
 of the cavern, and a sum of ;ioo was granted for that purpose 
 by the Association. That Committee consisted of Sir C. Lyell, 
 Mr. (now Sir) J. Evans, Mr. (now Sir) J. Lubbock, Professor 
 Phillips, Mr. E. Vivian, and Mr. W. Pengelly (as Secretary and 
 Reporter). To it the following were afterwards added : Mr. G. 
 Busk in 1866, Mr. W. Boyd Dawkins in 1868, Mr. W. A. Sanford 
 in 1869, and Mr. J. E. Lee in 1873. The proprietor of the cave, 
 Sir L. Palk (afterwards Lord Haldon), most kindly placed it in 
 the exclusive custody of the Committee, and afforded them every 
 facility in carrying on the work, which was commenced on 
 March 28, 1865. 
 
 The cavern consists of a number of chambers or galleries, to 
 which names had been given by earlier visitors, or were assigned 
 by the Committee for purposes of reference. These chambers 
 may be regarded as forming two divisions, an eastern and 
 a western, with two external entrances, a northern and a 
 southern, each leading into the eastern division. " The northern 
 entrance opens, through a short narrow passage, into a somewhat 
 spacious chamber termed the Vestibule, measuring about 30 feet 
 from north to south and 35 from east to west. From the north- 
 western angle of the Vestibule, a gallery about 32 feet long and 
 ranging from 6 to 14 feet broad, extends north-easterly, and is 
 known as the North-East Gallery. The Vestibule opens on its 
 southern side into what is appropriately termed the Sloping 
 Chamber, about 70 feet in extreme length from east to west, and 
 34 in greatest breadth." * From the south-east angle of the 
 Sloping Chamber, a passage, about 22 feet long and from 19 to 27 
 feet broad, called the " Passage of Urns," leads southward into the 
 " Great Chamber " of the eastern division, and a second passage 
 was found at a later stage of the work connecting this with the 
 western division. The Great Chamber leads southward into 
 another, measuring about 40 feet from north to south and 26 
 from east to west. This was named the Lecture Hall, since a 
 member of the Committee had occasionally delivered addresses 
 in it. From each of those chambers, narrow branches, apparently 
 parallel, lead in a south-easterly direction, and a passage opens 
 southwards from the Lecture Hall, which is about 17 feet wide 
 and 50 feet long. 
 
 Though large portions of the deposits in Kent's Hole had 
 been broken up by Mr. MacEnery and other investigators, very 
 
 * Trans. Dev. Assoc., vol. xvi. p. 215.
 
 304 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 much ground still remained intact. The Committee selected 
 for their first attempt a part of the cavern the Great Chamber 
 which not only was in this condition, but also seemed likely 
 to present no very serious difficulties in exploration. The 
 material which had been dug up by their predecessors had not 
 been removed from the cavern, but had been simply thrown on 
 one side ; thus it added considerably to the difficulties of the 
 task, and tended to mix remains from more than one level. 
 All this material was now removed and subjected to a careful 
 examination, with the result that several interesting mammalian 
 remains were discovered. That which occupied the floor of the 
 cave was found generally to exhibit the following succession 
 (i) Blocks of limestone, sometimes large, clearly fallen from the 
 roof; (2) a layer of mould of an almost black colour, ranging 
 from a few inches to upwards of a foot in depth, called the Black 
 Mould. (3) Beneath this came a floor of granular stalagmite, 
 firmly attached to the walls, seldom less, and generally more, 
 than a foot in thickness, no doubt formed by the drip of water 
 from the roof. (4) A red loam, containing a number of lime- 
 stone fragments, ranging in size from bits not larger than 
 sixpence to masses hardly less than those which lay on the 
 surface of the mould ; it exhibited no signs of stratification, and 
 contained, as will be described, various remains. Beneath this 
 came (5) a breccia of angular fragments of limestone and pebbles 
 of sandstone, imbedded in a reddish sandy calcareous paste. 
 
 These two deposits varied in thickness, and in this respect 
 seemingly stood one to another in an inverse ratio. The 
 excavation in the cave-earth, and sometimes in the underlying 
 breccia, was at first carried to a depth of four feet below the 
 bottom of the granular stalagmite ; but in the last year of their 
 work, the Committee, when they had excavated every part of 
 the cavern to the above-named depth, opened a trench in the 
 vestibule to a further depth of five feet, along a total length 
 of 132 feet. By this the limestone floor of the cavern was 
 actually laid bare for a short distance ; in the rest it was 
 practically reached, for the workmen came down to a fissure 
 which was too narrow to admit of their working any lower. 
 In this excavation the material everywhere, except for one or 
 two pockets of cave-earth, was the above-named breccia. 
 
 The following was the system adopted in the process of 
 excavation. The accessible portion of the Black Mould was
 
 CONTENTS OF KENT'S CAVERN. 305 
 
 first removed ; then, after the limestone blocks on its surface had 
 been broken up, by blasting if necessary, the remainder was 
 taken away for examination. Then the floor of granular 
 stalagmite was next stripped off, so as to lay bare the cave- 
 earth, and this was dug out ultimately to a depth of four feet 
 in a series of prismatic blocks, a yard long and a foot square in 
 section, layer by layer. "This material, after being carefully 
 examined in situ by candlelight, was taken to the door and 
 re-examined by daylight, after which it was at once removed 
 without the cavern. A box was appropriated to each 'yard' 
 exclusively, and in it were placed all the objects of interest 
 which the prism or ' yard ' yielded. The boxes, each having a 
 label containing the data necessary for defining the situation of 
 its contents, were daily sent to the Honorary Secretary of the 
 Committee (Pengelly), by whom the specimens were at once 
 cleaned and packed in fresh boxes. The labels were numbered 
 and packed with the specimens to which they severally be- 
 longed, and a record of the day's work was entered in a journal. 
 The same method was followed in the examination of the Black 
 Mould, and also of the granular stalagmite," with the exception 
 that in these cases, for obvious reasons, the material was not 
 divided into prismatic blocks, or removed layer by layer. 
 
 Of a considerable number of objects found in the Black 
 Mould, some probably, others certainly, indicated the hand of 
 man. Among the former were sundry well-rounded stones, 
 some of them pierced by boring molluscs, and thus evidently 
 brought from the sea beach, others fragments of slate, which 
 might have been artificially fashioned. Among the latter were 
 articles in bronze and in bone, a lump of smelted copper, an 
 amber bead, pottery, spindle whorls, and flint flakes. The 
 articles in bronze and bone were neither numerous nor remark- 
 able ; the pottery (except one fragment of Samian ware) was 
 extremely coarse, and in most cases unglazed ; the spindle 
 whorls and other " holed " stones were partly of local rocks, 
 Devonian grit, and Triassic sandstone, partly of a coarse 
 greenish schist and of " Kimeridge coal," neither of which occurs 
 in situ in the district. The flint flakes were only four in number, 
 and much bleached. Bones were numerous ; they were generally 
 discoloured, and had lost a considerable portion of their weight ; 
 some also appeared to have been exposed to the action of fire. 
 Among them were relics of pig, deer, sheep, fox, wolf or dog, 
 
 X
 
 306 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 with various smaller mammals ; also of birds and of fish. The 
 mould also contained the shells of molluscs, marine as well as 
 terrestrial. Among the former were the oyster, cockle, limpet, 
 whelk, mussel, and other edible species, together with the 
 internal shell of a cuttle-fish, the unrubbed appearance of which 
 suggested that it had not been picked up on the beach, but had 
 been directly taken from the animal. 
 
 The granular stalagmite was broken up and carefully 
 searched, but did not prove productive. It yielded, however, 
 charred wood, marine and land shells, and bones of various 
 mammals, including some extinct species. 
 
 Of the four distinct levels in which the cave-earth was 
 removed, the uppermost was the poorest, and the third perhaps 
 the richest, in organic remains ; the lowest contained a large 
 amount of comminuted bone, which was very rare in the three 
 levels above it. In many cases it appeared to be associated 
 with faecal matter. Large portions of the osseous remains, it 
 should be said, occurred as mere splinters, and teeth were 
 extremely numerous. 
 
 The work was carried on from chamber to chamber on the 
 same plan, till at last the cave-earth or underlying breccia had 
 been removed to a depth of four feet from all ramifications of 
 the cavern which were of any importance. The results are 
 detailed in the annual reports, of which the following is a very 
 brief summary. During the first year's work (1865),* in the 
 Great Chamber of the eastern division were discovered bones 
 or teeth of " bear, lion, hyaena, fox, horse, ox, several species of 
 deer, rhinoceros, and mammoth. Remains of hyaena were pro- 
 bably the most abundant, after which came those of rhinoceros 
 and horse. The relics of mammoth included molar teeth and 
 tusks of very young individuals." Several implements were 
 found, the majority of flint, but some of chert, besides a piece 
 of a whetstone of grit and a "hammer-stone." Thus the very 
 first year's excavation fully confirmed the statements made by 
 previous explorers that articles of human workmanship and the 
 bones of extinct mammals occurred in the same deposit, in 
 situations where any subsequent disturbance was impossible. 
 In the second year (1866) the excavation of the Great Chamber 
 was completed, together with a gallery leading from it, and 
 
 * The date, as a matter of convenience, is that of the presentation of the report, 
 the work having been done in the earlier part of that year and the later part of the 
 preceding one.
 
 HUMAN REMAINS. 307 
 
 much progress made in that of the Passage of Urns. Bones 
 and implements were found as before, but nothing specially 
 novel. By the third year (1867) this passage, the Vestibule, 
 the north-east gallery, and most of the eastern division had 
 been cleared out, and in the western one the workmen had 
 made progress with the Lecture Hall. 
 
 In the Vestibule a layer of black soil, consisting largely of 
 charred wood, had occurred over an area of about 100 square 
 feet, either immediately beneath the granular stalagmite, or 
 separated from it by a thin layer of ordinary cave earth. It 
 " was extremely rich in objects, many of them of great interest, 
 and including bones and teeth of Rhinoceros tichorhinus, horse, 
 Hycena spel<za t fox, bear and badger ; as well as human tools of 
 various kinds . . . implements, flakes and cores of flint, bone 
 tools and burnt bones." The flint specimens were 366 in 
 number, "though many of them were mere chips, and the 
 majority of them simply flakes, no inconsiderable number were 
 more or less perfect lanceolate implements. . . . The bone 
 tools included an awl about 375 inches long, cut at one end to 
 a sharp point," and a portion of a harpoon. The granular 
 stalagmite enclosed a human tooth and four others in a portion 
 of an upper jaw.* This Report states that blocks of an older, 
 sometimes ossiferous, stalagmite occurred in the cave- earth, 
 which indicated the existence of a still earlier floor, a fragment 
 of which afterwards was found in situ. Bones and flint tools, 
 as before, continued to be found during the year, but nothing of 
 importance was added to the list. In the fourth year (1868) 
 the exploration of the Lecture Hall was completed, together 
 with that of an unnamed chamber opening out of it, but no 
 novelties were discovered. But in the workings of this year 
 the breccia beneath the cave-earth appears to have been cut 
 into more frequently than in previous explorations. It was 
 often so hard that it had to be split up with chisels, to the 
 injury of the bones which it contained. "These were some- 
 times so abundant as to form fully fifty per cent, of the entire 
 accumulation." With a few exceptions they belonged to bears ; 
 so that the cavern appears to have been, " during the era of the 
 breccia, almost exclusively a mausoleum, and perhaps a home, 
 for bears." 
 
 * Nothing of the kind was afterwards found either in or beneath the stalagmite. 
 The discoverers, from the condition of the relic, were disposed to assign it to a date 
 more recent than that of the palaeolithic implements.
 
 308 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 The fifth Report (1869) narrates the clearing out of the south- 
 west chamber and the investigation of one of the most important 
 branches (called the Bears' Den) belonging to the western 
 division of the cavern, in a ramification of which forming a 
 kind of cul de sac was a pool of water about twenty feet long 
 and eight wide, but of no great depth. This was proved, on ex- 
 amination, to communicate with the south-west chamber, and 
 in the gallery thus formed a number of "initials and dates, 
 amounting probably to upwards of a hundred," were discovered, 
 inscribed on a mass of stalagmite, which blocked the opening into 
 that chamber. Among the dates were 1744, 1728, 1702, and 
 1618. These are remarkable, for they occurred in a locality 
 where the drip is unusually copious, and yet the deposits had not 
 been sufficient to obliterate them.* The lake was drained, and 
 its floor was found to consist of a pulpy mass of stalagmite, 
 beneath which was cave-earth, and under this more stalagmite 
 to a considerable thickness. In the first-named material were a 
 number of objects odds and ends of various kinds, obviously 
 thrown into the water by visitors. All were comparatively 
 modern, none being mediaeval or ancient, " nor any such as might 
 have been cast in as votive offerings." Bones were found in the 
 cave-earth below, among them a fragment of an elephant's jaw, 
 containing a perfect molar tooth. A flint flake was found in the 
 breccia in this gallery, which was pronounced by Mr. John Evans 
 to be undoubtedly the work of man. 
 
 In the sixth year (1870), the excavation of a rather long and 
 irregular shaped fissure, called the South Sally-port, which opens 
 out of the Lecture Hall, was completed and another one (the 
 North Sally-port) was investigated. It was discovered that 
 this differed from the ordinary ramifications of the cave by leading 
 to an external opening in the eastern slope of the hall.f Both 
 contained bones and worked flints. Another ramifying passage 
 was also partly explored (Smerdon's Passage). The excavation 
 of this occupied much of the seventh year (1871), and the cave- 
 earth was proved to be richer than usual in organic remains, no 
 less than 2900 teeth having been discovered, besides bones (many 
 of them mere fragments), and pieces of antlers, together with 
 some flint flakes and chips and a lance-shaped bone tool. In these 
 side-branches the excavations were carried to a depth, sometimes 
 
 * Several interesting remarks about the rate of growth of stalagmite appear in 
 these reports. This, in Kent's Hole, appears to have been rather unusually slow, 
 t Two other apertures were discovered in these ramifying fissures.
 
 THE SABRE-TOOTHED TIGER. 309 
 
 of five feet, and occasionally of six feet. On the completion of 
 this rather tedious and difficult work one or two minor recesses 
 were investigated, and the excavation of the Sloping Passage, 
 which had been abandoned for a time, was resumed. 
 
 In the eighth year (1872), a branch of the cavern leading to 
 the Sloping Passage, called by Mr. MacEnery the Wolf's Cave, 
 which had been begun late in the preceding year, was finished, 
 together with a branch leading from it, in which that explorer 
 had found a large number of teeth of small rodents (the Cave 
 of Rodentia), as well as another recess. This, which was one of 
 a group of fissures, approached by a passage from the Sloping 
 Chamber, was called the Charcoal Cave, from a layer of that 
 material above the granular stalagmite. In this charcoal, which 
 seemed to indicate a place where fires had been lighted, were 
 some bits of very coarse pottery, and a number of bones. 
 Several of them, and two teeth, were human, and were probably 
 the remains of the same individual. In the cave-earth bones 
 and occasional worked pieces of flint or chert were found, as 
 usual, and two more flint implements in the underlying breccia, 
 which was again cut into. The explorers also began work upon 
 the Long Arcade, and were rewarded by a discovery of great 
 interest. Mr. MacEnery had recorded the finding of seven 
 teeth (five canines and two incisors), which were referred to the 
 great sabre-toothed tiger (Machcsrodus latidens)* As this genus 
 previously had occurred only in Pliocene deposits, its association 
 with a Pleistocene fauna was most interesting, so that the 
 committee had been watching carefully for its remains in the 
 hope of placing Mr. MacEnery's discovery beyond all question 
 and of determining the exact horizon at which the remains were 
 lying. Hitherto they had been unsuccessful. Though a large 
 mass of material had been removed, not a trace of Machcerodus 
 had been found. Now at last they were rewarded. On July 29, 
 1872, after searching for seven years and four months, the 
 workmen came upon a " well-marked incisor," lying " with the 
 left lower jaw of bear, containing one molar, in the first or 
 uppermost foot-level of cave-earth, having over it the granular 
 stalagmite floor 2*5 feet thick." This, it is strange to say, was 
 the only relic of Macharodns discovered in the course of this 
 excavation, so that Mr. MacEnery had been singularly fortunate. 
 
 * The history of these specimens, as far as known, with a wood-cut and a 
 lithographic plate in illustration, is given by Messrs. Dawkins and Sanford in 
 "Pleistocene Mammalia," pp. 184-192 {Pahtontographical Society, 1862).
 
 3IO WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 In the following year (1873), the excavation of the Long 
 Arcade was continued, with the usual results, but some farther 
 investigation of the breccia suggested inferences which will be 
 presently noticed. In 1874, the work was completed in this 
 Arcade, and two or three other galleries were investigated, 
 during which some other inscriptions were examined. These 
 were on a boss of stalagmite, the earliest of them being dated in 
 1615. The remains of animals, extinct and living, continued 
 to be found, together with flakes or more highly finished 
 implements of flint or chert. The Report of 1875 records the 
 continuance of similar work in various passages and branches 
 of the cavern with the usual discoveries ; and the same may 
 be said of the following year (1876). The Bear's Den next 
 engaged attention. In this Mr. MacEnery had dug, and had 
 regarded it as a very productive locality. The task of clearing 
 it out occupied upwards of nine months, but the results (as 
 described in the Report of 1877) hardly fulfilled the anticipations 
 which the earlier accounts had excited, though, of course, the 
 usual "finds" were made in it and in an adjacent passage. 
 Many inscriptions were found on a boss of stalagmite, one of 
 which, dated 1571, is the earliest known to occur in the cavern. 
 The next year's Report (1878) completes the exploration of the 
 above-named passage, and describes the investigation of one of 
 the chambers which were connected with it, but there was no 
 new discovery. The Report of 1879 continues the account of 
 the exploration of minor branches of the cavern, without, how- 
 ever, doing more than augmenting the store of bones and teeth 
 of the cave-animals, and obtaining more objects wrought by 
 the hand of man. The greater part of the cavern, had now 
 been emptied, a sum of more than 1800 had been expended 
 by the British Association, and the results of the last two or 
 three years rendered it highly probable that the continuance of 
 the excavation would do nothing more than supply additional 
 evidence in favour of conclusions which were already sufficiently 
 established ; so it was decided to bring the work to an end in 
 the course of the coming year. Accordingly, the Report of 1880 
 (the sixteenth) records the completion of some work which was 
 in progress on the last occasion, and gives an account of a 
 second and deeper excavation in the Long Arcade. This was 
 carried to an additional depth of four feet, as already stated, or of 
 nine feet in all below the floor of granular stalagmite, and was 

 
 COMPLETION OF THE EXCAVATIONS. 311 
 
 thus made almost exclusively in the well-known breccia. Only 
 eighteen finds rewarded the explorers. Three good " nodule " 
 tools were discovered in the eighth foot-level, and several flint 
 chips in the ninth or lowest. Of the animal remains, fewer in 
 number than the others, two were bears' teeth and one the crown 
 of a rhinoceros' tooth. No animal relic was found beneath the 
 seventh foot-level. 
 
 Thus, on June 19, 1880, the exploration of Kent's Hole was 
 brought to an end. It was the most complete and systematic 
 investigation of a cavern which had ever been undertaken, and 
 on a much greater scale than that at Brixham. A task of this 
 kind is peculiarly exacting. It cannot be entrusted to workmen, 
 however steady and honest they may be ; it cannot be left to a 
 committee, whose members will be uncertain and intermittent in 
 their visits : it demands the constant oversight of one man, who 
 so thoroughly understands the subject, as to know both what 
 should be done at a crisis, and when special precautions must be 
 taken in order to place some discovery of exceptional interest 
 beyond the risk of dispute, by recognizing at once the defects 
 in a chain of evidence, which might afford an opportunity to the 
 critic and an excuse to the sceptic. This superintendence was 
 given by Pengelly. He was indeed occasionally aided or 
 relieved by some of the other members of the Committee, 
 resident at Torquay, for no one man could have sustained single- 
 handed such a continuous and protracted task ; but he made 
 himself primarily responsible for the direction of the investigation. 
 All the specimens discovered passed through his hands, were 
 washed and cleaned, labelled and recorded by him. The labour 
 of this must have been very great, and oftentimes not a little 
 tedious. The number of the specimens was really enormous. It 
 is stated in the fifth Report that on Dec. 31, 1868 (when the study 
 of the bones which had been collected was undertaken by Prof. 
 Boyd Dawkins and Mr. A. Sanford), the number of boxes 
 awaiting examination amounted to 3948, " and though it is true 
 that some of the boxes contained no more than a single bone, 
 it is also true that in many cases there were upwards of a 
 hundred in a box. . . When Prof. Dawkins began his examina- 
 tion there must have been in store for him more than 50,000 
 bones ; and though many were unidentifiable chips merely, 
 every one had to be passed under review." Judging from the 
 figures which are used in the last Report of the Committee, the
 
 312 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 number of " finds," that is of the prisms of material, which not 
 only had been broken up but also had proved productive, 
 amounted to over 7300. Pengelly states in one of his papers * 
 that in the fifteen and a quarter years, during which the ex- 
 cavation was in progress, he visited Kent's Hole almost daily, 
 and spent over the work, including the time occupied by wash- 
 ing and labelling specimens, in arranging materials and writing 
 reports, on an average five hours daily. This is a remarkable 
 instance of self-devotion on the part of a man, who was not in 
 independent circumstances and had to earn an income by other 
 work, for it must be remembered that, in accordance with the 
 rules of the British Association, no part of the funds could be 
 devoted to the payment of the secretary of the committee. 
 
 The following summary indicates the results of the explora- 
 tion. In the first place a lower limit was obtained for the age 
 of the stalagmite, which, as is stated in the following passage, 
 could not be less than about two thousand years old. 
 
 "Above the stalagmite, and principally in the black mould, have 
 been found a number of relics belonging to different periods, such as 
 socketed celts, and a socketed knife of bronze, and some small 
 fragments of roughly smelted copper, about 400 flint flakes, cores, and 
 chips, a polishing stone, a ring [made of Kimeridge clay], numerous 
 spindle-whorls, bone instruments terminating in comb-like ends, 
 pottery, marine shells, numerous mammalian bones of existing species, 
 and some human bones, on which it has been thought there are traces 
 indicative of cannibalism. Some of the pottery is distinctly Roman in 
 character; but many of the objects belong, no doubt, to pre-Roman 
 times." f 
 
 Thus whatever was discovered beneath the stalagmite must 
 have been sealed up by it for, at the very least, two thousand 
 years ; probably for a much longer time. In the cave-earth 
 were found a large number of chips, flakes, and implements, 
 generally of flint, but sometimes of chert, together with scrapers 
 and cores of the same, stones which have been used as hammers 
 or pounders, and a few pins, needles, and harpoons of bone. 
 Even if it be granted that some of the chips, flakes, cores and 
 supposed scrapers, be the results of natural fractures a thing 
 which is often possible and that they have been washed into 
 
 * Transactions of the Devonshire Association, 1881, p. 637. 
 
 t J. Evans, "Ancient Stone Implements of Great Britain," chap, xxiii. The 
 passage quoted was written in 1871-72, but the main statements in it were not affected 
 by the subsequent work in Kent's Hole.
 
 RUDE STONE INSTRUMENTS. 313 
 
 the cave after exceptionally heavy rain or by streams which 
 have now disappeared, still, there can be no question that not 
 a few of the more elaborate implements,* and all the instruments 
 of bone are the work of man ; and these, it may be added, 
 resemble similar objects found both in river-gravels and in 
 other caves, in England and in Western Europe, associated 
 with a fauna, which is either extinct or is living only in distant 
 parts of the world and under different conditions of climate. 
 
 Pengelly also calls attention f to another matter of great 
 interest. 
 
 "A glance at the implements from the two deposits shows that they 
 are very dissimilar. Those from the breccia are much more rudely 
 formed, more massive, have less symmetry of outline, and were made 
 by operating, not on flakes purposely struck off from nodules of flint 
 or chert, as is the case of those from the cave-earth, but directly on the 
 nodules themselves, all of which appear to have been obtained from 
 accumulations of supracretaceous gravel, such as occur about four miles 
 north-westerly from the cavern. There seems to be no doubt, then, that 
 the Breccia men were ruder than those of the cave-earth ; and this is 
 borne out by the fact that, whilst the men represented by the less 
 ancient deposit made bone tools and ornaments harpoons for spearing 
 fish, eyed-needles or bodkins, probably for joining skins together, awls 
 perhaps to facilitate the passage of the slender needle or bodkin through 
 the tough thick hides, pins for fastening the skins they wore, and per- 
 forated teeth for necklaces or armlets nothing of the kind has been 
 found in the breccia. In short, the stone tools, though both sets were 
 unpolished and coeval with extinct mammals, represent two distinct 
 civilizations. It is equally clear that the ruder men were the more 
 ancient, for their tools were lodged in a deposit, which, whenever the 
 two occurred in the same vertical section, was invariably the undermost. 
 In fact the breccia in which each of the implements was found had 
 cave-earth actually lying on it." 
 
 As the deposits differed so greatly in character, as they 
 were often separated by stalagmite, and as a breaking up of 
 this and a partial clearing out of the breccia had preceded the 
 deposition of the cave-earth, Pengelly came to the conclusion 
 that the interval between the two must have been very con- 
 siderable. 
 
 The following list \ comprises the more important mammals 
 
 * Fourteen of these are figured in the work last cited, with six of the bone 
 instalments. 
 
 t Ninth Report (1873). Ibid. vol. xvi. p. 346. 
 
 \ J. Evans, tit supra. The remains found in the black mould above the stalagmite 
 belong to such animals as the dog, sheep, goat, pig, rabbit, roe-deer, and short-horn 
 ox (Bos longifrons). These do not occur in the cave-earth.
 
 314 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 found in the cave-earth of Kent's Hole, omitting those species 
 which cannot be determined with certainty, as well as birds 
 and fishes : 
 
 Felis leo, var. spelce.a, cave lion ... ... Abundant. 
 
 Machcerodus latidens, sabre-toothed tiger Very rare. 
 Hyeena crocuta, var. spelcsa, cave hyaena . . . Very abundant. 
 
 Canis lupus, wolf ... ... ... Rare. 
 
 Cants vulpes, var. spelaus, large fox ... Rare. 
 
 Gulo luscus, glutton ... ... Very rare. 
 
 Ursus spelceus, cave bear ... ... Abundant. 
 
 Ursus ferox, grizzly bear ... ... Abundant. 
 
 Ursus arctos, brown bear ... ... Scarce. 
 
 Elephas primigenius, mammoth ... Not very common. 
 Rhinoceros tichorhinus, woolly rhinoceros ... Abundant. 
 
 Equus cabalhis, horse ... ... Very abundant. 
 
 Bos primigenius, urus ... ... ... Scarce. 
 
 Bison priscus, bison ... ... Abundant. 
 
 Cervus megaceros, Irish elk ... ... Not uncommon. 
 
 Cervus elaphus, stag ... ... Abundant. 
 
 Cervus tarandus, reindeer ... ... Abundant. 
 
 Lepus timidus, hare ... ... Rare. 
 
 Lagomys spelceus, cave pika ... ... Very rare. 
 
 Arvicola amphibius, water vole ... Rare. 
 
 Arvicola agrestis, field vole ... ... Rare. 
 
 Arvicola pratensis, bank vole ... ... Very rare. 
 
 Castor fiber, beaver ... ... ... Scarce. 
 
 Brixham Cave and Kent's Hole, though far the most im- 
 portant explorations of this nature, were not Pengelly's only 
 researches in caverns. In the month of October, 1862, during 
 some work on the flank of Happaway Hill, an eminence rising 
 to an elevation of 271 feet above the sea, and north-east of the 
 valley in which lies the principal street of Torquay, a cave was 
 discovered at a height of about 196 feet above ordnance-datum. 
 It was a gallery about 46 feet long, by 10 to 15 feet wide, and 
 about 10 feet high, and the examination of it was entrusted to 
 Pengelly. In order to avert any possibility of malpractices he 
 determined not to employ any labourers but to do the work 
 himself, aided only by his son. It did not, however, prove very 
 remunerative. They found a good many rough flint chips, and 
 one which might be regarded as an implement ; some charred 
 wood, a fragment of the skull of a child, and part of a jaw of a 
 man, whose age apparently was between twenty and thirty years, 
 a tooth of a hyaena, two or three bear's molars, and one or two 
 teeth of rhinoceros, with bones of living mammals. Most of the
 
 THE MENTONE SKELETON. 31$ 
 
 discoveries indicated a recent fauna, but as there was no stalag- 
 mite-floor the deposits were not separable. Pengelly thought it 
 probable that the cavern had been partly filled in the palaeolithic 
 age, but afterwards had been nearly emptied and then refilled 
 in more recent times.* 
 
 Pengelly also visited the famous fissure at Cavillon, near 
 Mentone, in which a human skeleton had been found. When 
 this discovery was announced, in the spring of 1872, Sir W. Tite 
 wrote to him expressing a strong desire that he should investigate 
 the matter, at the same time generously providing the necessary 
 funds for the journey. Pengelly arrived at Paris on April 30, 
 and had an interview with the British Ambassador, Lord Lyons, 
 in order to secure his good offices, in case any obstacle should 
 be interposed, after which he visited Professor Milne Edwards 
 at the Jardin des Plantes, and then examined the skeleton, which 
 by that time had been forwarded to Paris. It had been very 
 carefully packed, together with a piece of breccia on which it 
 was lying, when it was discovered. Pengelly then proceeded to 
 Mentone, and examined the cave itself. This is a fissure or 
 triangular slit in the cliff, about 80 feet high, 30 feet wide and 
 45 feet deep, the threshold being at an elevation of about 103 
 feet above the sea-level. The skeleton was found at a depth of 
 seven feet below the surface,! and about nine feet from the 
 entrance. Other fissures exist in the neighbourhood, which 
 already had received attention. 
 
 " The floor [of the cave in question] is composed of dark earth, full 
 of charcoal and fragments of bones, mingled with blocks of stone 
 which have dropped from the roof. Below it ... a skeleton was met 
 with, as well as flint flakes, rude instruments of bone, and a number of 
 shells perforated for suspension. The skull was covered with a head- 
 dress of more than 200 perforated sea-shells. It rested in an attitude 
 of repose, with the legs and arms bent. . . . The teeth and bones of 
 hyaena, lion, woolly rhinoceros, mammoth, and other pleistocene animals 
 occurred both in the soil above and below." J 
 
 That this and the other fissures were inhabited in the palaeo- 
 lithic age seems beyond doubt, but it is not so certain whether 
 the skeleton is of that age, or whether it indicates a subsequent 
 interment in neolithic times. The discoverer, M. Riviere, stoutly 
 
 \ * Transactions of the Devonshire Association, 1886, p. 161. 
 
 t Other authorities make the depth about seven yards. 
 \ Boyd Dawkins, "Cave Hunting," chap. vii.
 
 316 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 maintained it to be a relic of palaeolithic man, and to this view 
 Pengelly inclined ; * though he observed that the work of exca- 
 vation, which was still in process at the time of his visit, was 
 not conducted in a properly systematic way. Professor Boyd 
 Dawkins, however, considers this to be, like more than one other 
 instance in France, a neolithic interment in a cave which had 
 been previously inhabited by palaeolithic man, since remains of 
 the former occur in the upper floors of these fissures, and his 
 opinion has found favour with the majority of experts, at any 
 rate in this country.f 
 
 We pass over several short papers on points which arose 
 out of these investigations, but we must not forget that, in 
 addition to his work as an explorer, Pengelly did much as the 
 historian of caverns, by collecting the accounts of earlier re- 
 searches, and by critical notices of those which from time to 
 time were published. These essays occupy many pages of 
 the Transactions of tJie Devonshire Association. They appear 
 under various titles ; sometimes the literature of a single cavern 
 is the subject of a special communication ; sometimes a passing 
 notice of a question relating to cave exploration occurs in a 
 paper which deals with several geological topics. Among the 
 former group we may enumerate the papers on the Literature 
 of the caves at Oreston, at Yealhampton, at Anstey Cove, and 
 at Buckfastleigh, and on the caverns and fissures near Chudleigh. 
 But of these communciations none is so lengthy or so important 
 as that which is devoted to the literature of Kent's Cavern. 
 This is divided into five parts which, if collected together, would 
 form a fair-sized octavo volume. In the second of them Mac- 
 Enery's original manuscript is printed in full ; in the fifth the 
 whole series of reports submitted to the British Association is 
 collected. Caverns also receive notice from time to time in 
 another group of critical and historical papers, entitled " Notes 
 on recent notices of the Geology and Palaeontology of Devon- 
 shire," from which title after a time the word "recent" was 
 dropped. Of this thirteen parts appeared between 1874 and 
 1886, and they also would form a goodly volume. In these 
 
 * "The Cave-man of Mentone." Trans. Dev. Assoc., vol. vi. p. 293. 
 
 t It is, however, right to say that, since this paragraph was written, other 
 ossiferous fissures on this part of the Mediterranean coast have been described which, 
 in the opinion of competent judges, have strengthened the evidence in favour of the 
 view held by Pengelly. See "Address to Section 'H,'" by Mr. A. J. Evans, 
 Reports of British Association, 1896.
 
 CRITICAL PAPERS. 317 
 
 Pengelly dealt more especially with such accounts of or com- 
 ments on the work in the Devonshire caves as had appeared 
 from time to time in contemporary literature. Hence the 
 papers are mainly critical, and are largely occupied by the 
 corrections of errors.* These are sometimes of no great impor- 
 tance, being merely those little slips, which an author, not 
 personally familiar with a locality, can hardly avoid, however 
 careful he may be ; slips, which the present writer fears might 
 be detected in these pages by the keen eyes of his friend, were 
 he still alive ; but certain of them were grave errors as to matters 
 of fact, the correction of which was a matter of great import- 
 ance. Not a few of the more serious of these errors belong 
 to a special category, misstatements by critics to whom the 
 results of researches in caverns and in the older river gravels 
 were especially unwelcome, as demonstrating that the human 
 race must have existed on the globe for a much longer period 
 than six thousand years. Many men of science still living 
 can remember the excitement which was aroused in certain 
 theological circles by the assertion of this unwelcome conclusion, 
 and how self-appointed champions of orthodoxy rushed into 
 print to discuss, with all the confidence of ignorance, subjects 
 which they did not understand and evidence which they could 
 not appreciate, thus injuring the great cause which they deemed 
 themselves to be aiding. 
 
 Pengelly's papers at this interval of time teach a valuable 
 if a somewhat saddening lesson, by showing the weapons which 
 would-be defenders of truth sometimes venture to employ in its 
 service. The misstatements are occasionally so gross and so 
 palpable, that, assuming them to have been made in good faith, 
 they indicate either an extraordinary amount of stupidity or a 
 singular form of mental perversity. Some of the worst 
 offenders launched their misrepresentations from behind the 
 aegis of a Society (then newly founded) called the Victoria 
 Institute, which had devoted itself to the task of propping up 
 dubious theology by unsound science. This brings it within 
 the swing of Pengelly's hammer, from which it does not escape 
 without damage to reputation ; for on one occasion he convicts 
 it of continuing to give currency to statements the untruth of 
 which had been demonstrated. A painful chapter truly in the 
 
 * Somewhat similar to these is another series of papers published in the same 
 Transactions (1878-1885), entitled "Notes on Slips connected with Devonshire. "
 
 318 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 history of the " conflict of science," and perchance it may be not 
 the last ! 
 
 The third section of Pengelly's scientific work yet remains to 
 be noticed the miscellaneous papers on geology and kindred 
 subjects. These relate almost exclusively to the south-west of 
 England, and not a few to that part of Devonshire which lies 
 within easy reach of Torquay. One might have thought that 
 the work already described, in addition to his duties as a teacher 
 and lecturer, would have left him no leisure for any other 
 investigations ; but it was not so. As a rule, however, these 
 papers are comparatively short, being the fruits of researches 
 which either did not demand a long time, or could be carried on 
 at intervals as circumstances allowed. They are, in fact, " chips 
 from a workshop," which in many cases are only of local interest ; 
 but still, in not a few, such as were well worth preservation. On 
 this account the majority of them were published in the proceed- 
 ings of local societies, for Pengelly was not a frequent contributor 
 to the Journal of the Geological Society of London. But the 
 variety of subjects covered by these papers so well indicates 
 the energy, many-sidedness, and versatility of the man, that we 
 must endeavour to give some slight notice of their general scope. 
 
 One group, among which are some of his earliest contri- 
 butions to science, deals with questions relating to the Devonian 
 system, its stratigraphy, and its relation to the Old Red Sand- 
 stone of other parts of Britain, and to certain of its fossils.* 
 Another group deals with the " New Red Sandstone of 
 Devonshire," in connection with which we may mention an 
 important paper on the " Age of the Devonshire Granites." On 
 this point Pengelly came to the following conclusions : that the 
 granites of Dartmoor are not older than the close of the Carboni- 
 ferous Period, that they had been stripped bare by denudation 
 when the materials of the red conglomerate were being brought 
 together, and that this conglomerate (or breccia) and the 
 associated sandstone were not of higher antiquity than the 
 lower Trias. There is no very direct evidence for or against 
 the last of these conclusions ; but at the present time, several 
 of the most competent judges are in favour of assigning these 
 deposits to the Permian system, and of regarding the Devon- 
 shire conglomerates (or breccia) as the equivalents, speaking in 
 
 * His first formal paper appears to be that on "The Ichthyolites of East Corn- 
 wall," Trans. Roy. Geol. Soc. Corn., vol. vii. (1849), p. 106.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 319 
 
 general terms, of the Rothliegende of the Continent. As to the 
 general accuracy of the other two conclusions, no reasonable 
 doubt can be entertained. In other papers, Pengelly discusses 
 the probable physical geography of the region which is now 
 Devonshire, during the age of the " New Red," and he records 
 several interesting facts concerning the well-known Triassic 
 conglomerate of Budleigh Salterton, and the way in which the 
 pebbles derived from it travel eastward along the coast ; besides 
 considering the origin of that curious deposit of chalcedonic 
 silica, called beekite, so frequently met with on the limestone 
 fragments in the lower New Red Sandstone of Devonshire. 
 
 One of the most important of these papers is devoted to the 
 discussion of a very difficult question the relation between the 
 crystalline schists which occupy the most southern part of 
 Devonshire, and the slaty rocks to the north of them. In this 
 paper, entitled " The Metamorphosis of the Rocks extending 
 from Hope Cove to Start Point, South Devon," Pengelly gives 
 a general description of the geology of the district, and discusses 
 the age of the schists. On this question two views have been 
 entertained : one, that the schists represent a portion of the 
 Devonian rocks, which have undergone very considerable altera- 
 tion ; the other, that they belong to a much more ancient series, 
 which had assumed a crystalline condition long before the 
 Devonian period, though they were affected by the mechanical 
 disturbances which produced the cleavage in the slates and 
 gritty rocks of that age. One result of this disturbance has 
 been the production of a considerable fault, running across the 
 country from a point a little distance south of Torcross to Hope 
 Cove, which has thrown down the newer against the older series, 
 and has modified the latter by severe pressure. Pengelly shows 
 that beyond question the alteration was anterior to the period of 
 the " New Red," for not only in Bigbury Bay does the outlier, 
 known as Thurlestone Rock, belonging to that period (regarded 
 by him as Trias) rest upon the edges of highly inclined Devonian 
 slates, but also at the Garrets, a cliff in the same neighbourhood, 
 a patch of conglomerate, of like age, is full of pebbles of quartz 
 and of schist. He gives his reasons for thinking it highly 
 probable that, to the south of the Start Point and the Bolt 
 Head, a mass of granite is concealed beneath the waters of the 
 Channel ; and he is of opinion that, by the intrusion of this rock 
 into the Devonian slates, the latter were converted into crystalline
 
 320 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 schists. The question, however, at that time, was not even ripe 
 for discussion ; it required careful study with the microscope, 
 and a rather unusually wide experience of rock-structures. His 
 view still finds some advocates ; but, at any rate, the meta- 
 morphosis of the schists certainly differs from that usually caused 
 by intrusive action, while both they and the slaty Palaeozoic 
 rocks to the north have been indubitably affected by mechanical 
 movements which took place at one and the same date. 
 
 A third group of papers deals with the question whether 
 any signs of ice-action or, in other words, of the Glacial Epoch 
 can be detected in Devonshire. These papers contain a number 
 of interesting observations concerning boulders, which, though 
 they do not prove the former existence of glaciers, certainly 
 strengthen the evidence of the " Head " at Bovey Tracey, and 
 make it highly probable that there was a time when the 
 climate of this part of England was much colder than it is at 
 present. 
 
 A fourth group of papers deals with the "raised beaches," 
 which are rather common features on our south-western coasts, 
 and adds materially to the evidence in favour of a moderate 
 depression of the land rather after the Glacial Epoch. One of 
 these papers describes a number of curious " burrows " in the 
 limestone rock of southern Devon. These rather clean-cut 
 holes, generally cylindrical in form, sometimes two or three 
 inches in depth, and nearly an inch wide occur at considerable 
 heights above the sea level. They are found at elevations of 
 from 95 to 165 feet near Sharkham, at about 200 feet near the 
 entrance of Kent's Hole and near Brixham, and near Petitor at 
 about 235 feet Pengelly was of opinion that they had been 
 made by a Pholas or some other marine boring-mollusc, and 
 indicated a submergence corresponding in amount with their 
 present altitude. In this matter, however, the present writer is 
 unable to agree with his friend, for he believes these holes to 
 be the work of snails, for reasons generally similar to those of 
 which he has already given an account.* 
 
 Lastly, there are several papers relating to subjects on the 
 border-land in which Pengelly worked so ably between 
 geology and archaeology. These include notices of more than 
 one "fossil" forest, of which perhaps the most interesting was 
 in Torquay. This deposit begins in the Tor Abbey valley, at 
 
 * Geol. Mag., 1869, p. 483 ; 1870, p. 267 ; 1872, p. 315.
 
 BONES OF WHALES. 321 
 
 a distance of about three-quarters of a mile from the sea, and a 
 height of about forty feet above it, and extends below low- 
 water mark, probably rather beyond the five-fathom line. It 
 consists of a dark, peaty material, containing the trunks and 
 branches of trees, with the bones of the stag (Cervus elaphus), 
 wild-boar (Sus scrofa), and Celtic short-horned ox (Bos longi- 
 frons). Antlers of the first-named were marked with notches, 
 indicative of the work of man. A single tooth, also, of the 
 mammoth, was dredged up, the general appearance of which 
 suggested that it came from the same bed, though this is later 
 in date than the raised beaches. 
 
 Other papers record the occurrence of the remains of whales, 
 which had been washed up on the Devonshire coast or dredged 
 up in its immediate neighbourhood. The bones were identified 
 with Eschrichtius robustus (or Balcenoptera robusta), a rorqual 
 not now known on the British coasts. Beside these subjects 
 we find discussions on the insulation of St. Michael's Mount 
 in Cornwall, on stone-cists and cairns, on bronze celts, on old 
 coins, and on folk-lore, provincialisms, and other subjects, 
 distinctly antiquarian. A number of observations on the 
 Torquay rain-fall must not be forgotten ; these are contained 
 in no less than seventeen short papers, all subsequent to 1863. 
 The list printed at the end of this volume will give some idea 
 of Pengelly's industry, and of his varied interests. It is truly a 
 wonderful record, especially when we remember that Pengelly 
 could not be counted among the " men of fortune and of leisure." 
 Such a number of papers, such diverse subjects, and such 
 careful work in all of them! Here and there, perhaps, some 
 inference ultimately may have to be modified or set aside ; 
 from this fate no student of a progressive science, where the 
 evidence itself is liable to imperfections, can hope to escape, 
 but we venture to affirm that Pengelly will rarely be found 
 wrong in any statement of facts, and it is this characteristic 
 its careful and scrupulous accuracy which gives such a high 
 value to his work.* 
 
 Full of years, much beloved, and with his scientific work 
 widely recognized, he has gone to his rest. It will be long 
 before this work is forgotten, for his name is inseparably linked 
 
 * The manuscript diary of his geological excursions from 1855-1866, which has 
 been placed in my hands by Mrs. Pengelly, is very indicative of the man ; for it shows 
 how careful and exact his observations were, while its pages are here and there 
 enlivened by some amusing little incidents and experiences. 
 
 Y
 
 322 
 
 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 to the history of caves and the annals of primaeval man. We, 
 his friends, in our turn must cease from labour and pass within 
 the veil, but till that hour comes, one memory will remain ever 
 quick in our minds. It is that of the genial presence, the 
 kindly spirit and the playful wit, which could brighten every 
 gathering, and give a zest even to the driest subject.
 
 LIST OF PAPERS 
 BY THE LATE MR. WILLIAM PENGELLY, F.R.S., 
 
 In the " Catalogue of Scientific Papers " of the Royal Society. 
 (FROM VOL. IV.) 
 
 1. On the ichthy elites of East Cornwall. [1849.] Cornwall, Geol. 
 Soc. Trans. VII., 1847-60, pp. 106-108, 115-120. 
 
 2. Remarks on the geology of the south coast of Cornwall. [1852.] 
 Cornwall, Geol. Soc. Trans. VII., 1847-60, pp. 211-215. 
 
 3. Observations on the geology of the south-western coast of Devon- 
 shire. [1856.] Cornwall, Geol. Soc. Trans. VII., 1847-60, pp. 291- 
 297. 
 
 4. On the Beekites found in the red conglomerates of Torbay. 
 [1856.] Cornwall, Geol. Soc. Trans. VII., 1847-60, pp. 309-315; 
 Brit. Assoc. Rep. 1856 (pt. 2), pp. 74-75. 
 
 5. The geographical and chronological distribution of the Devonian 
 fossils of Devon and Cornwall. Cornwall, Geol. Soc. Trans. VII., 
 1847-60, pp< 388-417 ; Geologist, V., 1862, pp. 10-31. 
 
 6. On the ossiferous caverns and fissures of Devonshire. Roy. 
 Inst. Proc. III., 1858-62, pp. 149-151. 
 
 7. On the Devonian fossils of Devon and Cornwall, with special 
 reference to the Collection presented to the Oxford University Museum, 
 in connexion with the BURDETT-COUTTS Geological Scholarship. Roy. 
 Inst. Proc. III., 1858-62, pp. 263-268. 
 
 8. On the ossiferous fissures at Oreston, near Plymouth. Brit. 
 Assoc. Rep. 1859 (//. 2), pp. 121-123; Geologist, II., 1859, pp. 434- 
 444. 
 
 9. On the chronological and geographical distribution of the 
 Devonian fossils of Devon and Cornwall. Brit. Assoc. Rep. 1860 
 (pt. 2), pp. 91-101. 
 
 10. The Lignites and Clays of Bovey Tracey, Devonshire. Roy. 
 Soc. Proc. XL, 1860-62, pp. 449-453; Phil. Trans. 1862, pp. 1019- 
 1038. 
 
 11. On a new Bone-cave at Brixham. Brit. Assoc. Rep. 1861 
 (pt. 2), pp. 123-124; Geologist, IV., 1861, pp. 456-460. 
 
 12. Recent encroachments of the sea on the shores of Torbay. Brit. 
 Assoc. Rep. 1861 (pt. 2), p. 124; Geologist, IV., 1861, pp. 447-453.
 
 324 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 13. On the relative age of the Petherwin and Barnstaple beds. 
 Brit. Assoc. Rep. 1861 (//. 2), pp. 124-127. 
 
 14. On the age of the Granites of Dartmoor. Brit. Assoc. Rep. 
 
 1861 (pt. 2), pp. 127-129; Cornwall, Geol. Soc. Trans. VII., pp. 
 414-432; Geologist, VI., 1862, pp. 11-20. 
 
 15. Deer's horns in Brixham Cavern. Geologist, IV., 1861, pp. 
 288-289. 
 
 1 6. On the Devonian age of the world. Geologist, IV., 1861, pp. 
 332-347. 
 
 17. Geological evidences of the deluge of Noah. Geologist, IV., 
 
 1861, pp. 355-356. 
 
 18. The lunar seas. Geologist, IV., 1861, pp. 490-492. 
 
 19. On the correlation of the slates and limestones of Devon and 
 Cornwall, with the old red sandstones of Scotland. Brit. Assoc. Rep. 
 
 1862 (J>t. 2), pp. 85-87; Geologist, V., 1862, pp. 456-459; Cornwall, 
 Geol. Soc. Trans. VII., pp. 441-445. 
 
 20. On the supposed uniform height of contemporary " Raised 
 Beaches." Cornwall, Geol. Soc. Trans. VII., 1862, pp. 446-448. 
 
 21. The accumulation of cave deposits. [1861.] Geologist, V. 
 
 1862, pp. 65-66. 
 
 22. Introduction to O. HEER'S paper on certain fossil plants from 
 the Hempstead Beds of the Isle of Wight. Geol. Soc. Journ. XVIII., 
 1862, pp. 369-377. 
 
 23. On the age of the Dartmoor granites. Geologist, VI., 1863, 
 pp. ii 20. 
 
 (FROM VOL. VIII.) 
 
 24. The lignites and clays of Bovey Tracey. [1862.] Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. I. (//. i), 1863, pp. 29-39. 
 
 25. On the age of the Dartmoor granites. [1862.] Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. 1. (pt. i), 1863, pp. 48-54. 
 
 26. On the chronological value of the new red sandstone system 
 of Devonshire. [1863.] Devon. Assoc. Trans. I. {pt. 2), 1864, pp. 
 
 3!-43- 
 
 27. The red sandstones, conglomerates and marls of Devonshire. 
 Plymouth Instit. Trans. I. (pt. 1864-65), pp. 15-50. 
 
 28. Reports (1-9) of the committee for exploring Kent's Cavern, 
 Devonshire. Brit. Assoc. Rep. XXXV., 1865, pp. 16-25 ; 'XXX VI., 
 1866, pp. i-n; XXXVIL, 1867, pp. 24-34; XXXVIII., 1868, pp. 
 45-58; XXXIX., 1869, pp. 189-208; XL., 1870, pp. 16-29; XLI -> 
 1871, pp. 1-14; XLIL, 1872, pp. 28-47; XLIII., 1873, pp. 198-209. 
 
 29. The introduction of cavern accumulations. [1864.] Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. I. (pt. 3), 1865, pp. 31-42. 
 
 30. The denudation of rocks in Devonshire. [1864.] Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. I. (pt. 3), 1865, pp. 42-59. 
 
 31. On changes of the relative level of land and sea in South- 
 eastern Devonshire, in connexion with the antiquity of man. Geol. 
 Mag. II., 1865, pp. 348-350; Brit. Assoc. Rep. XXXIV., 1864 (Sect.}, 
 p. 63.
 
 LIST OF PAPERS. 325 
 
 32. The Sahara and the North-east Trade Wind. Quarterly Journ. 
 Sci. II., 1865, pp. 565-566. 
 
 33. The submerged forests of Torbay. [1865.] Devon. Assoc. 
 Trans. I. (pt. 4), 1866, pp. 30-42. 
 
 34. On an accumulation of shells with human industrial remains, 
 found on a hill near the river Teign, Devonshire. [1865.] Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. I. (pt. 4), 1866, pp. 50-56; Brit. Assoc. Rep. XXXIV., 
 1864 (Serf.), p. 63. 
 
 35. On cetacean remains washed ashore at Babbacombe, South 
 Devon. [1865.] Devon. Assoc. Trans. I. (pt. 4), 1866, pp. 86-89. 
 
 36. On the correlation of the lignite formation of Bovey Tracey, 
 Devonshire, with the Hempstead beds of the Isle of Wight. [1865.] 
 Devon. Assoc. Trans. I. (pt. 4), 1866, pp. 90-94. 
 
 37. On certain joints and dikes in the Devonian limestones on the 
 Southern shore of Torbay. [1865.] Geol. Mag. III., 1866, pp. 
 19-22. 
 
 38. Glaciation in Devon and its borders. Geol. Mag. III., 1866, 
 
 PP. 573-574- 
 
 39. On Kent's Cavern, Torquay. Roy. Instit. Proc. IV., 1866, 
 PP- 534-543J London Instit. Journ. III., 1873, PP 2 ~%- 
 
 40. The triassic outliers of Devonshire. [1866.] Devon. Assoc. 
 Trans. I. (//. 5), 1867, pp. 49~59- 
 
 41. On a newly discovered submerged forest in Bigbury Bay, South 
 Devon. [1866.] Devon. Assoc. Trans. I. (pt. 5), 1867, pp. 77-79. 
 
 42. On the lithodomous perforations above the sea level in the 
 limestone rocks of south-eastern Devonshire. [1866.] Devon. Assoc. 
 Trans. I. (pt. 5), 1867, pp. 82-93. 
 
 43. Raised beaches. [1866.] Devon. Assoc. Trans. I. (pt. 5), 
 1867, pp. 103-109; Brit. Assoc. Rep. XXXVI., 1866 (Sect.), p. 66. 
 
 44. Presidential address on the Geology of Devonshire. Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. II. (pt. i), 1867, pp. 1-37. 
 
 45. The raised beaches in Barnstaple Bay, North Devon. Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. II. (//. i), 1867, pp. 43-56. 
 
 46. The antiquity of man in the south-west of England. Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. II. (//. i), 1867, pp. 129-161. 
 
 47. On the deposits occupying the valley between the Braddons 
 and Waldon hills, Torquay. Devon. Assoc. Trans. II. (//. i), 1867, 
 pp. 164-169. 
 
 48. The distribution of the Devonian Brachiopoda of Devonshire 
 and Cornwall. Devon. Assoc. Trans. II. (pt. i), 1867, pp. 170-186. 
 
 49. Notes on the meteoric shower of November, 1866, with specu- 
 lations suggested by it. Devon. Assoc. Trans. II. (//. i), 1867, pp. 
 
 247- 2 55. 
 
 50. On the flotation of clouds, and the fall of rain. Devon. Assoc. 
 Trans. II. (//. i), 1867, pp. 263-266. 
 
 51. Fish in Devonian rocks. Geol. Mag. IV., 1867, pp. 284-285. 
 
 52. On the condition of some of the bones found in Kent's Cavern, 
 near Torquay, Devonshire. Devon. Assoc. Trans. II. (//. 2), 1868, 
 pp. 407-414; Brit. Assoc. Rep. XXXVIII., 1868 (Sect.), pp. 76, 77. 
 
 53. The submerged forest and the pebble ridge of Barnstaple Bay. 
 Devon. Assoc. Trans. II. (//. 2), 1868, pp. 415-422.
 
 326 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 54. The history of the discovery of fossil fish in the Devonian rocks 
 of Devon and Cornwall. Devon. Assoc. Trans. II. (pt. 2), 1868, pp. 
 423-442. 
 
 55. The literature of Kent's Cavern. Devon. Assoc. Trans. II., 
 
 1868, pp. 469-522; III., 1869, pp. 191-482; IV., 1871, pp. 467-490. 
 
 56. The rainfall in Devonshire during 1866 and 1867. Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. II. (pt. 2), 1868, pp. 560-577. 
 
 57. On whale remains (Eschrichtius robustus, grey) washed ashore 
 at Babbacombe, South Devon. Brit. Assoc. Rep. XXXIX., 1869 
 (Serf.), p. 1 1 6. 
 
 .58. On the insulation of St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall. Roy. 
 Institut. Proc. V., 1869, pp. 128-137 > Nature, III., 1871, pp. 206, 207. 
 
 59. The rainfall on the St. Mary Church Road, Torquay, during 
 the five years ending December 3151, 1868. Devon. Assoc. Trans. III., 
 
 1869, pp. 113-126. 
 
 60. On the submerged forest at Blackpool, near Dartmouth, South 
 Devon. Devon. Assoc. Trans. III., 1869, pp. 127-129; Geol. Mag. 
 VII., 1870, pp. 164167. 
 
 6 1. The rainfall in Devonshire during 1868. Devon. Assoc. Trans. 
 III., 1869, pp. 153-165. 
 
 62. On the alleged occurrence of Hippopotamus major and 
 Machairodus latidens in Kent's Cavern, Torquay. Devon. Assoc. 
 Trans. III., 1869, pp. 483-494; Brit. Assoc. Rep. XXXIX., 1869 
 (Sect.), p. 99; Geol. Mag. III., 1871, pp. 42, 43. 
 
 63. The modern and ancient beaches of Portland. Brit. Assoc. 
 Rep. XL., 1870 (Sea.), p. 84; Devon. Assoc. Trans. IV., 1871, pp. 
 195-205 ; Geol. Mag. VIII., 1871, pp. 78-80. 
 
 64. Prismatic ice. Sandstone boulder in granite. Nature, I., 1870, 
 p. 627. 
 
 65. Rainfall in England. Quarterly Journ. Sci. VII., 1870, pp. 
 467-477. 
 
 66. On rain. Plymouth Instit. Trans. IV. (pt. 2), 1870-71, pp. 
 115-119. 
 
 67. The rainfall on the St. Mary Church Road, Torquay, during 
 the six years ending with December 3131, 1869. Devon. Assoc. Trans. 
 IV., 1871, pp. 42-58. 
 
 68. The rainfall in Devonshire in 1869, and in the four years ending 
 with December 3151, 1869. Devon. Assoc. Trans. IV., 1871, pp. 
 
 69. The Ash Hole and Bench bone-caverns at Brixham, South 
 Devon. [1870.] Devon. Assoc. Trans. IV., 1871, pp. 7380. 
 
 70. The literature of the caverns near Yealmpton, South Devon. 
 [1870.] Devon. Assoc. Trans. IV., 1871, pp. 81-105. 
 
 71. Notes on vessels made of Bovey lignite and of Kimmeridge 
 coal. Devon. Assoc. Trans. IV., 1871, pp. 105-108. 
 
 72. On the rainfall received at the same station by gauges at 
 different heights above the ground. Devon. Assoc. Trans. IV., 1871, 
 pp. 109-132. 
 
 73. The supposed influence of the moon on the rainfall. [1870.] 
 Devon. Assoc. Trans. IV., 1871, pp. 257-290; Brit. Assoc. Rep. 
 XLL, 1871 (Sea.), p. 55.
 
 LIST OF PAPERS. 327 
 
 74. Notes on the existence of precretaceous sponges. Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. IV., 1871, pp. 536-539. 
 
 75. Further considerations on the influence of the moon on the 
 rainfall. Devon. Assoc. Trans. IV., 1871, pp. 625-640. 
 
 76. The rainfall in Devonshire in 1870, and in the five years ending 
 with December 3ist, 1870. Devon. Assoc. Trans. IV., 1871, pp. 
 654-670. 
 
 77. The rainfall on the St. Mary Church Road, Torquay, during 
 the seven years ending with December 3ist, 1870. Devon. Assoc. 
 Trans. IV., 1871, pp. 671-693. 
 
 78. Notes on the Machairodus latidens found by the Rev. J. 
 MACENERY in Kent's Cavern, Torquay. Brit. Assoc. Rep. XLII., 
 1872 (Sect,), pp. 119, 120; Devon. Assoc. Trans. V., 1872, pp. 
 165-179. 
 
 79. The rainfall on the St. Mary Church Road during the eight 
 years ending with December 3131, 1871. Devon. Assoc. Trans. V., 
 
 1872, pp. 139-161. 
 
 80. Note on an experiment to predict the annual rainfall. Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. V., 1872, pp. 162-164. 
 
 81. The literature of the Oreston Caverns, near Plymouth. Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. V., 1872, pp. 249-316. 
 
 82. The rainfall in Devonshire in 1871, and in the six years ending 
 with December 3151, 1871. Devon. Assoc. Trans. V., 1872, pp. 
 
 37i-39i- 
 
 83. The flint and chert implements found in Kent's Cavern, Torquay, 
 Devonshire. Brit. Assoc. Rep. XLIII., 1837, pp. 209-214. 
 
 84. The ossiferous caverns and fissures in the neighbourhood of 
 Chudleigh, Devonshire. Devon. Assoc. Trans. VI. (ft. i), 1873, pp. 
 46-60. 
 
 85. The literature of the cavern at Ansty's Cove, near Torquay, 
 Devonshire. Devon. Assoc. Trans. VI. (pt. i), 1873, pp. 61-69. 
 
 86. The literature of the caverns at Buckfastleigh, Devonshire. 
 Devon. Assoc. Trans. VI. (pt. i), 1873, PP 70-72. 
 
 87. The rainfall on the St. Mary Church Road, Torquay, during the 
 nine years ending with December 3ist, 1872. Devon. Assoc. Trans. 
 VI. (pt. i), 1873, pp. 117-138. 
 
 88. The rainfall in Devonshire in 1872, and in seven years ending 
 with December 3151, 1872. Devon. Assoc. Trans. VI. (pt. i), 1873, 
 
 PP. i39-!5 8 - 
 
 89. The granite boulder on the shore of Barnstaple Bay, North 
 Devon. Assoc. Trans. VI. (//. i), 1873, pp. 211-222. 
 
 90. The cave-man of Mentone. Devon. Assoc. Trans. VI. (//. i), 
 
 1873, pp. 293-330; London Instit. Jour. III., 1873, pp. 8-14. 
 
 91. Report on the structure and contents of Brixham Cave. Phil. 
 Trans. CLXIIL, 1873, pp. 483-495. 
 
 92. The Kent's Hole Machairodus. Quarterly Jour. Sci. III., 1873, 
 pp. 204-223. 
 
 (FROM VOL. X.) 
 
 93. The red sandstones and conglomerates of Devonshire. Part i. 
 Plymouth Instit. Trans., 1861-62, pp. 15-39.
 
 328 WILLIAM PENGELLY. 
 
 94. The red sandstones, conglomerates, and marls of Devonshire. 
 Part II., Plymouth Instit. Trans., 1862-63, pp. 15-33. 
 
 95. The rainfall on the St. Mary Church road, Torquay, during the 
 ten years ending with December 3ist, 1873. [1874.] Devon. Assoc. 
 Trans. VI. (1873-74), pp. 425-446. 
 
 96. The rainfall in Devonshire in 1873, and in the eight years 
 ending with December 3 ist, 1873. [1874.] Devon Assoc. Trans. VI. 
 
 ( J 873-74)rPP- 447-465. 
 
 97. Notes on Dr. RIVIERE'S discovery of three new human 
 skeletons in the Mentone caverns, in 1873-74. [1874.] Devon. Assoc. 
 Trans. VI. (1873-74), pp. 560-566. 
 
 98. Notes on recent notices of the geology and paleontology of 
 Devonshire. [1874-83.] Devon. Assoc. Trans. VI. (1873-74), pp. 646- 
 685 ; VII., 1875, PP- 279-3 2 4 J VII., 1876, pp. 148-244; IX., 1877, pp. 
 409-448; X., 1878, pp. 618-629; XL, 1879, pp. 525-548; XII., 1880, 
 pp. 591-661 ; XIIL, 1881, pp. 359-402 ; XIV., 1882, pp. 637-694 ; XV., 
 1883, pp. 476-486. 
 
 99. The cavern discovered in 1858 in Windmill Hill, Brixham, 
 South Devon. [1874.] Devon. Assoc. Trans. VI. (1873-74, pp. 775- 
 856. 
 
 100. Reports (10-14) f *he committee for exploring Kent's Cavern, 
 Devonshire. Brit. Assoc. Rep., 1874, pp. 1-17; 1875, pp. 1-13; 
 1876, pp. 1-8; 1877, PP- J -8; 1878, pp. 124-129. 
 
 lor. On the flint and chert implements found in Kent's Cavern, 
 near Torquay, Devonshire. Journ. of Sci., IV., 1874, pp. 141-155 ; 
 Plymouth Instit. Trans. V., 1876, pp. 341-375 \With additions}. 
 
 102. Notes on boulders and scratched stones in South Devon. 
 Devon. Assoc. Trans. VIL, 1875, PP- I 54~ I 6i ', IX., 1877, pp. 177-183 ; 
 XII., 1880, pp. 304-311. 
 
 103. Notes on a tooth of Machairodus latidens in the Albert 
 Memorial Museum, Exeter. Devon. Assoc. Trans. IIV., 1875, PP- 2 47~ 
 260. 
 
 104. [Reports (1-5)] of the committee on scientific memoranda. 
 Devon. Assoc. Trans. VII., 1876, pp. 434-441 ; IX., 1877, pp. 72-87 ; 
 X., 1878, pp. 74-98 ; XI., 1879, pp. 78-102 ; X1L, 1880, pp. 70-98. 
 
 105. [Presidential address to the Geol. Sect, of the Brit. Assoc., 
 Aug. 1 6th. History of cavern-exploration in Devonshire.] Brit. Assoc. 
 Rep., 1877 (Sect.}, pp. 54-66 ; Amer. Journ. Sci. XIV., 1877, pp. 299- 
 308, 387-394; Nature, XVI., 1877, pp. 318-323 ; Zoologist, I. 1877, pp. 
 
 36i-379- 
 
 106. The relative ages of the raised beaches and submerged forests 
 of Torbay. Brit. Assoc. Rep., 1878, pp. 531, 532. 
 
 107. The literature of Kent's Cavern. Part IV., Devon. Assoc. 
 Trans. X., (J>t. 4), 1878, pp. 141-181. 
 
 108. The geology of the north-eastern coast of Paignton. Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. X., 1878, pp. 196-202. 
 
 109. Remains of whales found on the coast of Devonshire. Devon. 
 Assoc. Trans. X. (pf. 2), 1878, pp. 630-635. 
 
 no. The metamorphosis of the rocks extending from Hope Cove 
 to Start Bay, South Devon. Devon. Assoc. Trans., XL, 1879, pp. 
 319-342.
 
 LIST OF PAPERS. 329 
 
 in. On the post-miocene deposits of the Bovey Basin, South Devon. 
 Brit. Assoc. Rep., 1882, pp. 532-533; Devon. Assoc. Trans. XV., 1883, 
 pp. 368-395. 
 
 112. [Presidental address to the Anthropol. Sect, of the Bnt. Assoc., 
 Southport, Sep. 2oth. The antiquity of man.] Brit. Assoc. Rep., 1883, 
 PP- 549-5 61 ; Nature, XXVIII., 1883, pp. 524-529. 
 
 113. The literature of Kent's Cavern. Part V. Devon. Assoc. 
 Trans. XVI., 1884, pp. 189-434. 
 
 114. Kent's Cavern and glacial or pre-glacial man. Devon. Assoc. 
 Trans. XVI., 1884, pp. 480-488. 
 
 115. Notes on notices of the geology and palaeontology of Devon- 
 shire. (Continuation.} Devon. Assoc. Trans. XVI., 1884, pp. 775-824 ; 
 XVIL, 1885, pp. 425-449; XVIII., 1886, pp. 488-509. 
 
 1 1 6. Happaway Cavern, Torquay. Brit. Assoc. Rep., 1885, pp. 
 1219-1220; Devon. Assoc. Trans. XVIII., 1886, pp. 161-170. 
 
 117. On a scrobicularia bed containing human bones, at Newton 
 Abbot, Devonshire. Brit. Assoc. Rep., 1886, p. 841 ; Nature, XXXIV., 
 1886, p. 513. 
 
 1 1 8. The extinct lake of Bovey Tracey. Abstract of Lecture. 
 [1885.] Plymouth Instit. Trans. IX., 1887, pp. 188-196. 
 
 119. Recent researches in Bench Cavern, Brixham. Devon. Brit. 
 Assoc. Rep., 1887, pp. 710, 711; Geol. Mag. IV., 1887, pp. 514-515. 
 
 For biography and works, see Devon. Assoc. Trans. XXVI., 1894, 
 pp. 44-49; Geol. Mag. I., 1894, pp. 192, 238, 239; Geol. Soc. Quart. 
 Journ. LI., 1895, pp. liii-lvii.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Abbeville jaw, the, 139, 140, 141 
 
 Abbey Road Schools, opening of, 62 
 
 Aberdeen, British Association at, 89 
 
 Acclimatization, 283 
 
 Ackworth School, 49 
 
 Acland, Ur. (afterwards Sir Henry), 258, 
 
 261 
 Adams, J. C., 29, 196, 215, 252, 264, 
 
 277 
 
 Adams, Leith, 261, 266 
 Adams, W., 254, 264, 275 
 Agassiz, 41 
 Albert, H.R.H. Prince, 89, 98 
 Alexander II., nephews of the Tzar, 85 
 Amery, Mr., 286 
 Anca, Baron, 102 
 Anderson, Rev. Dr., 90 
 Ansted, Mr., 81, 97 
 Anstey's Cove, cave at, 87, 228 
 Antiquity of Man, the, 74, 76, 77, 89, ; 
 
 135, 160, 176, 177, 225, 245, 251, 317 
 Argyll, Duke of, 96, 159, 205, 238, 248 
 Armstrong, Lady, 185 
 Armstrong, Sir Wm. (now Lord), 143, j 
 
 185, 238, 261 
 Arnold, life of Dr., 43 
 Arthlington, K., 296 
 Ashley, Mr., 252 
 Aspidium, the, 109 
 Asterolepis, the, 39, 40 
 Astley, Mr., 185 
 Athenaeum, the, 86, 87 
 Atlantic cable, lecture on the, 70 
 Aumale, Due d', 127 
 
 Babbacombe whale, the, 187 
 
 Babbage, Charles, 57, 63, 64, 83, 97, 
 
 103, 104, 106, 125, 139, 196,221,222 ; 
 
 his calculating machine, 18 
 Bailey, Mr., 64, 70 
 Baker, Sir Samuel, 22, 249, 253 
 Baker Pits, 82 
 
 Balfour, Mr., 196 
 
 Bally Castle, 68 
 
 Balmat, Mons., 83 
 
 Barham, Dr., 151 
 
 Barham, Rev. Richard and Mrs., 260 
 
 Barlow, Mr., 64, 65, 83, 97, 256 
 
 Barnes, Rev. Mr., 109, 197 
 
 Barnstaple, Devonshire Association at, 
 
 179 
 
 Barnstaple, pebble ridge at, 194, 195 
 Barton, fossils at, 85 
 Bastard, Mr., 84 
 Bate, Mr. Spence, 129, 131, 134, 143, 
 
 195, 268 
 
 Bath, British Association at, 160, 281 
 
 Battersby, Dr , 21, 26, 56, 95, 302 
 
 Bauer, Professor, 87 
 
 Beale, Dr. Lionel, 99, 100 
 
 Beasley, Mr., 94 
 
 Beaver, discovery of remains of, 190, 191 
 
 Beccles, S. H., 75, 296 
 
 Becker, Miss, 196 
 
 Beddoe, Dr., 252 
 
 Beecher, Lady, 141 
 
 Beekites, 42, 57, 58, 61, 72,84, 110, 195, 
 
 196, 319 
 
 Behrens, Sir Jacob and Miss, 279, 280 
 
 Belfast, British Association at, 241 
 
 Bellamy, Mr., 216 
 
 Berry Head, 56, 8l, 82, 94 
 
 Betula Nana, the, 295 
 
 Beverley, Earl of, 36 
 
 Bidder, George, 255 
 
 Bigbury Bay, 319 
 
 Bigsby, Dr., 97, 99, 108 
 
 Birch, Mr., 124 
 
 Bird, Miss H., 52 
 
 Bird, Mrs., 54 
 
 Birmingham, British Association at, 276 
 
 Blakiston's granddaughter, Lady, 99 
 
 Bolitho, T., 155, 272 
 
 Bone needle, discovery of a, 182, 189 
 
 Bonney, Rev. Prof. T. G., 251, 268 ; on 
 
 Pengelly, 291 
 Booth. Dr., 114 
 Bosanquet, Mrs., 53 
 Boucher de Perthes, M., 76
 
 332 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Bovey Heathfield, 245, 292 
 
 Bovey Tracey, deposits at, 94, 95, 96, 97, 
 103, 105, 106, 108, 109, no, 112, 114, 
 115, 152, 154, 159, 291-295, 320 
 
 Bowerbank, Dr., 34, 35, 70 
 
 Bowman, Sir William, 261, 273 
 
 Bowring, Sir John, 94, 128, 129, 130, 
 131, 177, 218 
 
 Bowring, Lewin, 278 
 
 Bowring, Lady, 130, 286 
 
 Boycott, Dr., 255, 261 
 
 Boycott, Mrs., 255 
 
 Brachiopoda, 156, 157 
 
 Bradley woods, a picnic in, 88, 89 
 
 Brady, H. Bowman, 49, 185 
 
 Bramwell, Sir F., 284 
 
 Breccia, 87, 168, 169, 227, 248, 298, 304, 
 
 307 
 
 Brice, Andrew, 280 
 
 Brigg, Mr., 214 
 
 Bright, John, 49, 53, 191 
 
 Brighton, British Association at, 226 
 
 Bristol, British Association at, 246 
 
 British Association, Boulder Committee 
 of the, 245 
 
 British Association Meetings, 58, 80, 89, 
 98, 112, 134, 143, 159, 160, 181, 188, 
 196, 206, 226, 241, 246, 248, 251, 254, 
 258, 259, 261, 264, 268, 270, 272, 276, 
 277, 281, 283, 285 
 
 British Medical Association Meeting, 102 
 
 Brittany, prehistoric monuments in, 271 
 
 Brixham Cavern, 74-76, 81, 82-87, 9> 
 94, III, 124, 135, 136, 162, 163, 165, 
 186, 215, 248, 280, 297, 298, 299, 300, 
 302, 320 ; method of exploring, 75 ; 
 discoveries in, "j6, 80, 299 ; close of 
 the exploration, 88 ; discovery of, 296 ; 
 grants for exploration of, 296 
 
 Brockendon, Mr., 73 
 
 Brodie, Rev. B. P., 59 
 
 Brooke, Rajah, 93, 96, 153, 160, 239 
 
 Brown, Mrs., 81, 93 
 
 Brown, Sir G., 54 
 
 Browne, Miss, 135 
 
 Browne, Mrs., 139, 141 
 
 Brownlow, Canon, 276, 286 
 
 Brownlow, Lady, 82, 198 
 
 Bruce-Clark, Mr., 266 
 
 Brunnow, Baron von, 141 
 
 Brushfield, Dr., 279, 280, 286 
 
 Bryant, Wilberforce, 261 
 
 Buckfastleigh Cave, 82, 228 
 
 Buckland, Frank, 189 
 
 Buckland, Rev. Dr., 216, 247, 301 
 
 Buckland, Mrs., 247 
 
 Buckman, Prof. J., 59 
 
 Budleigh Salterton, fossils at, no, 151, 
 152, 155 
 
 Bulwer, Sir E. Lytton, 163 
 
 Bunbury, Edward, 166 
 
 Bunbury, Sir Charles, 102, 113, 139 
 
 Bunsen's " Sign of the Times," 85 
 
 Burr Island, 57 
 
 Busk, George, 75, 77, 174, 196, 198, 216, 
 
 296, 299, 303 
 Butcher Oak, the, 66 
 
 Caistor Castle, 121 
 
 Callaway, Mr., 214 
 
 Cambridge, British Association at, 134 
 
 Cambridge, H.R.H. Duchess of, 140 
 
 Cambridge, H.R.H. Duke of, 141 
 
 Canada, British Association in, 270, 272 
 
 Capellini, Prof., 281 
 
 Cape Town, Bishop (Gray) of, 128 
 
 Carboniferous system, the,- 145, 146 
 
 Carlisle, Lord, 69 
 
 Carnarvon, Lord, 83 
 
 Carpenter, Dr., 261 
 
 Carr, Bishop, 51 
 
 Carrol, Mr., 84 
 
 Carter, Mr., 156 
 
 Gary, Sir George, 222 
 
 Cave bones, 142, 299, 305, 307, 314 
 
 Cavendish, Mrs., 139 
 
 Cecil, Lord R., 138 
 
 Chamberlayne, General, 284, 286 
 
 Chambers, Robert, 60, 80, 98, 107, 108, 
 183, 280, 285 
 
 Champernowne, Mr., 157, 270 
 
 Charcoal Cavern, the, 309 
 
 Cheltenham, British Association at, 58 
 
 Chester, Bishop of, 210 
 
 Chewton, Lady, 212 
 
 Christy, Mr., 77, 107 
 
 Chudleigh Cave, 228 
 
 Churston, Lord, 82 
 
 Chysawster, 257 
 
 Cissbury flint mines, 247 
 
 Clapham, R. C., 185 
 
 Clark, Audus, 279 
 
 Clark, Sir Andrew, 38 
 
 Clarkson, Thomas, 50 
 
 Cochrane, Sir Thomas, 106 
 
 Colebrook-Dale coal, fossil plants of, 102 
 
 Colenso, Dr., 32, 153, 160 
 
 Coleridge, Lord, 179 
 
 Collier, Sir Robert (now Lord Monks- 
 well), 258 
 
 Colman, Mrs., 269 
 
 Compton, Mr., 120 
 
 Conglomerates, 87, 196 
 
 Conneau, Dr., 211 
 
 Cooke, R.A., E. W., 107, 128, 139, 140, 
 252, 289 
 
 Coomhola grits, 183 
 
 Cooper, Sir Henry, 260 
 
 Cope, Arthur S., 261, 262 
 
 Cornish fossils and rocks, 56, 71, 72 
 
 Cornwall and Devonshire, bishoprics of, 
 
 234 
 Corrie, Mr., 266
 
 INDEX. 
 
 333 
 
 Cosway, Mrs., 148 
 
 Couch, A. T. Quiller, 274 
 
 Couch, Jonathan, 55 
 
 Coutts, Miss (now Baroness) Burdett-, 
 63, 64, 65, 79, 82, 93-97, 103, 105, 1 06, 
 109, 111-113, 127, 128, 134-136, 138- 
 141, 160, 176, 178, 190, 198, 199, 201, 
 
 202, 205, 239, 241, 293, 296 
 
 Cove, W. G., 233 
 
 Cowan, Mr., 207 
 
 Crawfurd, Mr., 106, 136, 138, 143, 160 
 
 Crimean War, the, 53, 54 
 
 Critchett, Mr., 261 
 
 Croker, Dillon, 147 
 
 Cromer, forest bed of, 269 
 
 Crompton, Mr., 122, 214 
 
 Crookes, Prof. Wm., 140, 289 
 
 Croome, Miss, 162 
 
 Crosskey, Rev. H. W., 245, 246, 251 
 
 Crowther, Mr. and Mrs., 120, 121 
 
 Gumming, Dr. Hamilton, 286 
 
 Cushendall, Mr., 69 
 
 Cuvier, Baron, 205, 206 
 
 D 
 
 Dalton, Rev. Canon, 257, 258 
 
 Daniel, Dr., 108 
 
 Danish Minister, The, 83 
 
 Dart River, 56 
 
 Dartmoor, 56 ; granites of, no, 318 
 
 Darwin, Charles, 99, 101, 107, 229, 230, 
 
 238 
 
 Darwinism, 100, 135 
 Dates and pines, ripening of, 69 
 Daubeney, Dr., 54. 58, 69, 97, 99, 103, 
 
 104, 1 06, 108, 152 
 Davidson, Dr., 145, 146, 156, 157, 163, 
 
 183, 184, 188 
 Davies, W., 135, 161 
 Davy, Dr. and Miss, 108 
 Dawkins, Prof. Boyd, 42, 77, 160, 174, 
 
 188-191, 196, 216, 253, 256, 264, 
 
 266,269, 303, 311,316 
 Uawson, George, 122 
 Dawson, Dr. J. W., 91, 207, 248 
 Day, Dr., 147, 161, 228 
 Dedan, Baroness de, 202 
 De la Beche, 173 
 De Morgan, Mr., 118 * 
 Derby, Lord, 98 
 Deny, Bishop of, 93 
 Uesnoyer's ice-theory, 142 
 Devonian brachiopoda, 145 
 Devonian fossils, 93, 97, 102, 103, 145, 
 
 146 
 
 Devonian system, 156-158, 297, 301 
 Devonshire Association, first meeting 
 
 of, 129 ; objects of, 131 ; meeting at 
 
 Plymouth, 134 ; Canon Kingsley 
 
 elected President, 202 ; meetings at 
 
 Ilfracombe and Totnes, 258 
 
 Devonshire caves, 82 
 
 Devonshire dialects, 177 
 
 Devonshire, Duke of, 238 
 
 Devonshire, fossils of, 139 
 
 Devonshire, geological formation of, 
 
 I45-I4.7 
 
 Devonshire, Glaciation in, 163, 164 
 Dick, Robert, 92 
 Dickens, Charles, 65 ; reads his 
 
 "Chimes," 79 
 Dickson, General, 193 
 D'Israeli, 147, 148 
 Divett, John, 293, 294 
 Dogs, sagacity in, 229 
 Doom, Mademoiselle Von, 95, 162 
 Dost Mohammed, 73 
 Drake, the memory of Sir Francis, 
 
 252 
 
 Dublin, British Association at, 254 
 Dudley, Charles, 50 
 Dundas, Miss, 207 
 Dundee, British Association at, 181 
 Dunluce Castle, ruins of, 67 
 Dupont, Mons., 198 
 Durness, fossils from, 72 
 Dyniond, R., 109 
 Dyott, Miss, 242 
 
 Eardley, Sir Culling and Lady, 24, 
 
 36 
 
 Earle, Archdeacon (now Bishop), 250 
 Earle, Rev. John, 113, 114, 177 
 Earnshaw, Prof., 100 
 East Looe, I, 32, 156 
 Economic geology, museum of, 19 
 Edersheim, Dr., 127 
 Edgeworth, Mr., 196 
 Edgeworth, Maria, 197 
 Edinburgh, British Association at, 206, 
 
 285 
 
 Edmondson, Mrs., 70 
 Edward, H.R.H. Prince, 257, 258 
 Edwards, Prof., 18, 19 
 Edwards, Prof. Milne, 35, 318 
 Egerton, Lady, 108 
 Egerton, Sir Philip, 34, 70, 80, 139 
 Eifel, gravel beds of the, 196 
 Elgin, Lord and Lady, 106 
 Ellis, F.S., 270, 278, 284 
 Else, Mr., 268 
 Enniskillen, Lord, 70 
 Enys, J., 176 
 Erme River, 56 
 Ermington, 56 
 Erskine, Lady, 242 
 Escher, Prof., 114 
 "Essays and Reviews," 107 
 Esterhazy, Princess, 51 
 Etheridge, Mr., 59, 142, 160, 187 
 Eugenie of Russia, Princess, 88, 89
 
 334 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Evans, John (now Sir), 87, 121, 160, 
 203, 204, 215, 252, 264, 299, 303, 308 
 
 Evanson, Dr., 70, 71 
 
 Everest, Rev. R., 75, 296 
 
 Exeter, Archaeological Association -at, 
 no, in 
 
 Exeter, British Association at, 196 
 
 Exeter, deposit at, 109 
 
 Exeter, Devonshire Association at, 129 
 
 Exhibition of 1862, 128 
 
 Falconer, Dr. Hugh, 74-77, 79, 81, 83, 
 86, 87, 93, 95-100, 102, 104, 105, 
 
 121, 127, 128, 135, 136, 143, 215, 293, 
 
 296 
 
 Fanes of Clovelly, the, 203 
 Faraday, Prof. 84, 97, 99, 103 
 Farrer, Mr., 83 
 Favre, Monsieur, 100 
 Fearon, Captain, 54 
 Fechter, 106, 108 
 Fergusson, J., 289 
 Field, F., 121, 124, 125, 289 
 Firth, Dr., 123, 124 
 Fison, Mrs., 136 
 Flint implements, 83, 84, 85, 87, 91, 
 
 121, 124, 162, 163, 165, 176, 306-308, 
 
 3o, 313 
 
 Flower, Prof, (now Sir) W., 161 
 Forbes, Prof. E., 41, 147, 228 
 Forbes, J ames, 1 1 1 
 
 Forests, submerged, 164, 165, 195, 250 
 Forman, H. Buxton, 278 
 Forster, Miss, 127 
 Forster, W. E., 205 
 Fortescue, Mr. and Mrs., 242 
 Fossils, 81, 85, 88, 96, 98, 100, 102, 
 
 109, no, 112, 114, 117, 125, 145, 151, 
 
 152, 154, 156, 157, 163, 172, 174, 183- 
 
 187, 197, 205, 231, 232, 237-239, 295 
 Fossils, Great Peraver, 151 
 Fossil fishes of Cornwall, 38, 40, 41, 42, 
 
 56, 71, 72 
 
 Foster, Dr. Michael, 261 
 Fowey, 72 
 
 Fowler, C., 127, 128, 247 
 Fox, Alfred Lloyd, 155 
 Fox, Miss A. M., 272 
 Fox, Howard, 42 
 Fox, Colonel Lane, 247 
 Fox, the Misses, 49 
 Fox, R. Were, F.R.S , 49, 70, 71, 84, 
 
 85, 94, 107, 136, 155, 252 
 Fraas, Mr., 210 
 
 Franks, Mr. (now Sir) A. W., 161 
 Fraser's Magazine, disappearance of, 265 
 Froude, J. A., 192, 196, 213 
 Froude, Richard Hurrell, 192 
 Froude, W., 22, 192, 193, 194, 201, 212, 
 
 240, 249, 250, 253 
 
 Fry, Elizabeth, 50 
 Fry, R., 229 
 
 Gallon, Captain (now Sir) Douglas, 178 
 
 Galton, Francis, 269 
 
 Gamgee, Professor, 264 
 
 Gardner, Starkie, 94, 295 
 
 Garrets, the, 319 
 
 Gascoigne, General and Mrs., 210 
 
 Gassiot, Mr., 100 
 
 Gaudin, Monsieur, 109, 113 
 
 Gaudry, Professor, 281 
 
 Geikie, F.R.S. , Professor (now Sir) 
 
 Archibald, 207, 225, 285, 287 
 Geological Congress, International, 281 
 Geological Problems, 181 
 Geology, interest of miners in, 230 
 George, H.R.H. Prince, 257, 258 
 Giants' Causeway, the, 67, 68 
 Gibraltar Cave, 144 
 Glacial Period, the, 101, 167, 295, 320 
 Glaciation, signs of, 163, 164, 172, 173, 
 
 320 
 
 Gladstone, Dr., 108, 128, 261 
 Gladstone, Miss, 160 
 Gladstone, W. E., 138, 160, 205/282 
 Glasgow, British Association at, 248 
 Glenelg, Lord, 42 
 Glynne, Sir Stephen, 160 
 Godlee, R., 135 
 Godwin- Austen, R., 26, 54, 75, 98, 99, 
 
 139, 144, 168, 169, 178, 296, 302 
 Goldvvin-Smith, Mr., 22 
 Goran Haven Cairn, 154 
 Gordon, Captain, 65, 139 
 Gosse, Philip, F.R.S., 22, 73, Si, 88, 
 
 139 
 
 Gosse, Edmund, 8 1 
 Granites of Dartmoor, 318 
 Grant, Captain, 141 
 Grant, Sir Hope, 106 
 Granville, Lord, 205 
 Graptolites, 41 
 Gray, Asa, 261, 277 
 Gray, Mrs. Asa, 261 
 Gray, J. E., 187 
 Gray's Elegy, parody of, 197 
 Great Peraver Qairn, 154 
 Great Peraver fossils, 151 
 Greenbank, Mr. 105 
 Greenwell, Rev. Canon, 253, 257 
 Gregg, Rev. E. P., 284, 286 
 Griffith, George, 269 
 Griffiths, Mrs., 134, 135 
 Grove, Sir R. W., 60, 97, 103 
 Gulf Stream, the, 101, 167, 168, 194 
 Gull, Sir Wm., 275 
 Gunn, Rev. John, 123, 124, 162 
 Gurney, J. H., 120 
 Gurney, Samuel, 98, 107 
 Guyer, Mr., 236
 
 INDEX. 
 
 335 
 
 II 
 
 Haarlem Lake, 91 
 
 Haldon, fossils at, no 
 
 Halle, Charles, 279 
 
 Halliwell, Mr., 147 
 
 Hamilton, Sir W., 69 
 
 Hanbury, C., 54. 64 
 
 Hanover, Lord, 108 
 
 Happaway Hill, 314 
 
 Harcourt, Rev. W. V., 205, 206 
 
 Harding, Sir John and Lady, 148 
 
 Hardy, Gathorne, 205 
 
 Harkness, Prof., 59, 69, 98, 143, 160, 
 
 172-174, 207, 249, 251 
 Harley, Rev. Robert, 140, 283, 289 
 Harley, Mrs. and Miss, 283 
 Harness, Mr., 138 
 Harper, Dick, 13 
 Harpley, Rev. W , 129, 130, 131, 177, 
 
 202, 227, 264, 286 
 Harrowby, Lord, 161 
 Hatherton, Lord, 35, 36 
 Haughton, Rev. Prof., 254, 255 
 Hawker, Stephen, 257 
 Hawkshaw, Sir John, 238 
 Heaton, Dr., 136 
 Hector, Dr., 106 
 Heer, Dr., Oswald, 94, 96, 105, 106, 108- 
 
 115, 120, 124, 127, 128, 294, 295 
 Hemy, Napier, 273 
 Hennessy, Mr., 59, 69 
 Henwood, Mr., 155 
 
 Herschel, Sir John, 29, 30, 33, 126, 169 
 Hicks, Mr., 173, 174 
 Higgs, Junr., Samuel, 151 
 Hincks, Mr., 69 
 Hind, J. R., 289 
 Hippisley, Mr., 42 
 Hodge, Mr., 84, 217 
 Hoenick, Uaroness, 96 
 Hogg, Mr., 296 
 Holdsworth, J., 212 
 
 Holland, the Queen of, 190, 198, 201, 202 
 Home, Milne, 225 
 Hooker, Dr. (afterwards Sir) Joseph, 80, 
 
 100, 101, 102, 112, 113, 114, 134, 
 
 26l, 275 
 
 Hooker, Lady, 162, 275 
 Hooker, Sir William, 114, 135, 162 
 Hope, Beresford, 205, 
 Hope's Nose, 82, 94, 95, 114, 162, 165, 
 
 270 
 
 Hopkins, Mr., 91, 100, 101 
 Hopperton, Miss, 127 
 Homer, Mr., 90, 98, 106 
 Howorth, Henry (now Sir), 265, 266 
 Ihul.llestone, W. H., 270 
 Hughes, Miss, 279 
 Hughes, Prof. Me Kenny, 228, 280 
 Hullah, Mr., 19 
 Hume, D. Milne, 245 
 Hunt, A. R., 21 
 
 Hunt, Robert, 57, 64, 266 
 
 Hunter, Sir Paul, 53 
 
 Hunton, T., 127 
 
 Hutchinson, Mr., 260 
 
 Huxley, Prof., 39, 57, 91, 99, 100, 144, 
 
 185, 186, 196, 261, 266 
 Huxley, Dr., 286 
 Hyaenas in caverns, 188 
 Hyaena's teeth, 269 
 Hybodus, the, 72 
 Hyperion, discovery of, 29 
 
 Ichthyodorulites, 154 
 Imperial, the Prince, 210, 211, 258 
 Ingleborough Cave, 269 
 Ivybridge River, 56 
 
 James, Sir Henry, 164, 165, 166 
 Jardine, Sir W., 89 
 
 effreys, Gwyn, 154, 178, 187, 254, 261 
 
 enkins, Rev. Ebenezer, 16, 263 
 
 ermyn Street Museum, the, 64, 79 
 
 ervoise, Mr., 2IO 
 
 essopp, Rev. Augustus, 120, 123, 124 
 
 ohnson, Mr., 128, 261 
 
 ones, Dr. Bence, 171 
 
 ukes, Prof. Beete, 60, 69, 70, 99, 145, 
 146, 163, 172, 173, 183, 186 
 
 Keeping, H., 293 
 
 Kennaway, Sir John, 94 
 
 Kenrick, Mr., 205 
 
 Kent's Cavern, 26. 42, 60. 95, 137, 144, 
 159, 160-163, 165, 169, 174, 175, 177, 
 181, 186, 188-191, 193, 196, 198, 199, 
 203, 205, 207, 208-213, 215, 216, 226, 
 227, 233, 235-238, 240, 242, 243, 246- 
 248, 252, 254-258, 263, 268 ; contents 
 of> 305 ; exploration of, 300-312 ; 
 mammals found in, 314; origin of 
 name, 221 ; visitors to, 273, 280 
 
 Key, Mr., 109, 113 
 
 Kinahan, G. H., 248 
 
 King, Captain, 124 
 
 King, Mr., 34, 107, 123, 124, 125, 144 
 
 King, Mrs., 125, 228 
 
 Kingsley, Rev. Charles, 53, 192, 194, 
 195, 202, 203, 206, 244, 254 
 
 Kirkpatrick, Joseph, 230 
 
 Kirkpatrick, Mr., 229 
 
 Kirkstall Abbey, 80 
 
 Kmety, General, 138 
 
 Knowles, Sheridan, 115 
 
 Krupp, Colonel, 211
 
 336 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Lake dwellings, 114 
 
 Lamb, Charles, 50 
 
 Landsborough, Mr., 4 1 
 
 Landseer, Charles, 80, 8l, 107, 128 
 
 Langworthy, Miss, 283 
 
 Lankester, Dr., 107, 127 
 
 Lansdowne, Lord, 1 08 
 
 Lartet, Mons., 77, 142 
 
 Lavers, Mr., 262 
 
 Lawrence, Sir James C., 280 
 
 Lee, J. E., 236, 238, 269, 278, 303 
 
 Leeds, British Association at, 80 
 
 Lefroy, General, 199 
 
 Lewis, Sir G. Cornewall, 165 
 
 Liege caverns, 198 
 
 Lightbody, Mr., 174 
 
 Lindsay, Mr., 138 
 
 Liskeard, 32, 2l6 
 
 Liskeard cheese-ring, Il8 
 
 Lister, Arthur, 8l 
 
 Lister, J. J., 54, 7, 87, 97, 107 
 
 Lister, Joseph (now Lord), 54, 70, Si, 
 
 85, 87, 97, 107, 174, 261, 290 
 Livermead Head, 84 
 Livingstone, Dr., 70 
 Lloyd, Dr., 69, 71 
 London, Bishop of, 104 
 Looe, I, 12, 15, 32, 42, 55, 105, 156, 
 
 186, 216 
 
 Looe Island, 34, 40 
 Looe pillory, 252 
 Lostwithiel, 272 
 Loughrun, William, 187, 216 
 Low, Sir John and Lady, 274 
 Lubbock, Lady, 163 
 Lubbock, Sir John, Bart., 98, 100, 163, 
 
 178, 179, 205, 238, 303 
 
 Lyell, Lady, 90, 106, 107, 139, 143, 159, 
 1 60, 244 
 
 Lyell, Sir Charles, 26, 28, 54, 57, 75, 
 76, 77, 80, 89, 90, 9i, 94-io6, 1 10, 
 m, 114, 115, 135, J 37, 3, MO, H2, 
 143, 153, 158-161, 164-171, 174, 170, 
 
 179, 185, 186, 190, 198, 217, 218, 225, 
 238, 239, 244, 296, 302 ; his work on 
 the "Antiquity of Man," 77, 145, 22 5 
 
 Lyell, Mr. (now Sir) Leonard, 185, 186 
 Lyons, Lord, 315 
 
 Lysons, Major (now General Sir D.), 54 
 Lytton, Lord, 182 
 
 M 
 
 MacAlister, Mr., 261 
 
 M'Call, Mrs., 97, 137 
 
 M'Coy, Prof., 38, 39, 70, 7 2 , IS 1 . *5 2 : 
 156, 1 88 
 
 Macdonald, Prof., 59, 69, 91, 98 
 
 MacEnery, Rev. J., 26, 189, 196, 201. 
 205, 206, 207, 209, 213, 222, 226, 227 
 301, 302, 303, 309, 310, 316 
 
 Macgregor, Sir George, 242 
 Machairodus, the, 95, 196, 207, 209, 
 
 226, 227, 237, 309 
 Mackenzie, Archdeacon, 93 
 Macmillans, the, 197, 198 
 Macmillan, Alexander, 199 
 Magdalen, the President of, 104, 106 
 Maidencombe conglomerates, 87 
 Maker, I 
 
 Malaise, Mr., 198 
 Malet, Sir Edward and Lady, 198 
 Mallock, Mrs., 86 
 Malmesbury, Lord, 205 
 Malvern Naturalists' Club, 58 
 Mammalian remains, 125, 200, 299, 314 
 Manchester, British Association at, 112, 
 
 277 
 
 Manchester, Duchess of, 24, 30, 53 
 Manners, Lord John, 138, 205 
 Marsh, Prof. O. C., 281 
 Marsh, Sir Henry, 70 
 Mathematical recreation, 25 
 
 Mauna Loa Mountain, 54 
 rick I 
 Maury, Lieut., 169 
 
 Maurice, Rev. Frederick Denison, 199 
 
 Max Miiller, Prof., 279 
 Medhurst, Sir Walter, 274 
 Medical congress, the, 261 
 Mentone cavern, 217-219, 253, 315 
 Mentone skeleton, 217-219, 252, 315 
 Merian, Prof., 114 
 Merivale, Dean, 267 
 Merrifield, C. W., 289 
 Meteor showers, 175, 176, 180 
 Millbrook Creek, I 
 Miller, Hugh, 39, 40, 41, 83, 121 
 Miller, Mrs. Hugh, 28, 89 
 
 Milman, Dean and Mrs., 138 
 
 Milne, Miss, 97 
 
 Milnes, R. Monckton, 148 
 
 Milton Sands, 250 
 
 Moel Tryfan, Arctic shells from, 143 
 
 Moggridge, Mr., 60 
 
 Montague, Lieut., 53 
 
 Moon's influence on the Earth, 201 
 
 Moore, Charles, 59, 91, 98, loo 
 
 Moore, John Carrick, 57, 167 
 
 Moore, Miss, 138 
 
 Moorhouse, Bishop, 277 
 
 Morley, Samuel, 173 
 
 Morrender, Sir John, 36 
 
 Morris, Prof., 54, 63, 102 
 
 Mosaic deluge, the, 201 
 
 Mosely, Prof., 264 
 
 Mothecombe, 56 
 
 Mount-Edgcumbe, Earl of, 272, 275 
 
 Mount-Edgcumbe, Countess of, 198 
 
 Mount-Edgcumbe, Lady Ernestine, 198 
 
 Mount's Bay, submerged forest of, 166 
 
 Mudstone, fossils at, 88 
 
 Munro, Dr., 289 
 
 Murat, Prince Achille, 211 
 
 Murchison, Lady, 43, 82
 
 INDEX. 
 
 337 
 
 Murchison, Sir Roderick, 42, 43, 54, 57, 
 58, 59, 60,72, 81, 82, 83, 90, 91, 96- 
 
 98, IO3, IO4, IO6-IO8, 112, 126, 127, 
 
 138, 139, 145, 156, 158, 160, 188, 198 
 Murray, John, 162 
 Myers, Frederick, 73 
 
 N 
 
 Napoleon III., ex-Emperor, 210, 211 
 Nasmyth, J., 69 
 Nassau, Princess of, 198 
 Neave, Lord, 207 
 Neptune, discovery of, 29 
 Neruda, Madame Norman, 279 
 Netherlands, Prince of the, 94, 95 
 Netherlands, Princess Mary of the, 89, 
 
 93. 94. 95. l62 
 Newark, Viscount, 36, 37 
 Newcastle, British Association at, 143, 
 
 283 
 
 Newcastle, dynamite explosion at, 53 
 Newlyn submarine forest, 171 
 Newton, pre-historic remains at, 276 
 Newton, Prof. A., 240, 251 
 Nicholas, Prince, 85 
 Nicholas I., the Emperor, 83 
 Nicholson, John, 72 
 Nicol, Prof., 91 
 Nilsson, Prof., 165 
 Noble, Captain, 193 
 Northcote, Sir Stafford, 1 10 
 Northmore, Mr., 301 
 North Tawton Beekites, 1 10 
 Norton, Mrs., 249 
 Norwich, British Association at, 188 
 Norwich Crag, 122 
 Norwich, hospitality at, 123, 125 
 Nova Scotia, discoveries in, 91 
 
 Ojibbeway Indian woman, 98 
 Oliver, Prof. Daniel, 140, 289 
 Oreston bones, the, 84, 85, 216, 217, 
 
 227 
 
 Orford, the Earl of, 125 
 Ormerod, G. W., 216, 245 
 Ormerod, Mrs., 283 
 Orthides, 154 
 Osborn, Sherard, 100 
 Ossiferous caves, Pengelly's work in, 
 
 296 
 
 Otte, Miss, 147, 175 
 Owen, Prof, (afterwards Sir) Richard, 
 
 59. 60. 75. 84, 91, 95, 99, i8, i35> 
 
 143, 144, 200, 213, 216, 226, 227, 261, 
 
 Oxford, Bishop of, 99, 129 
 Oxford, British Association at, 98 
 Oxford, presentation of fossils to, 93 
 
 Paget, Mr. (now Sir) James, 64 
 
 Paignton, Devonshire Association at, 253, 
 254 
 
 Pakington, Sir John, 83, 205 
 
 Palermian caves, 83, 87 
 
 Palk, Sir L. (afterwards Lord Haldon), 
 159. 33 
 
 Parad oxides, discovery of, 71 
 
 Parker, C., 51, 243 
 
 Parliament Oak, the, 66 
 
 Parry, F. W., 289 
 
 Pasley, Sir T., 83 
 
 Pattison, Mr., 139 
 
 Paull, Mr., 162 
 
 Peach, C. W., 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 71, 
 89, 9i, 153. 155, 187, 254 
 
 Pease, J. W., 205 
 
 Pease, Mrs., 155 
 
 Pebble Ridges, 194, 195 
 
 Pechell, Sir Edward, 100 
 
 Pecopteris lignitum, the, 295 
 
 Pengelly, meaning of the name, I 
 
 Pengelly, Alfred, 134, 162, 245, 259 
 
 Pengelly, John, 5 
 
 Pengelly, Richard, I, 4 
 
 Pengelly, Richard, jun., death of, n 
 
 Pengelly, Sir Thomas, I, 2 
 
 Pengelly, Mrs., 50, 51, 52 
 
 Pengelly, William, ancestry, birth, and 
 christening, I ; education, 2, 3 ; goes 
 to sea, 3 ; conversational powers, 5 ; 
 his shipmates, 5-10 ; death of his 
 brother, 1 1 ; sense of humour, 1 1 ; 
 self-education, 12, 13; early geological 
 experiences, 14 ; settles at Torquay, 
 15 ; opens a small day-school, 16 ; 
 scientific studies, 16 ; first marriage, 
 16; first railway journey, 17; reor- 
 ganizes Torquay Mechanics' Institute, 
 17 ; first visit to British Museum, 17 ; 
 visits Southampton and Scotland, 20 ; 
 founds the Torquay Natural History 
 Society, 21 ; love of astronomy, 22, 36 ; 
 his generosity in controversy, 23 ; gives 
 up his school and becomes tutor of 
 Natural Science, 24; kindness of heart, 
 26, 43 ; has a ramble in South Wales, 
 31 ; in North Wales, 33 ; presentation 
 to, 36 ; friendship with men of science, 
 38; elected Fellow of the Geological 
 Society, 38 ; Dr. Henry Woodward's 
 biographical notice of, 39 ; death of his 
 first wife, 43 ; his large circle of friends, 
 48 ; joins the Quakers, 50 ; his second 
 marriage, 50; his politics, 50; honey- 
 moon of second marriage, 51 ; attends 
 Geological Society's Meetings, 54 : 
 visits Lope, 55 ; Burr Island, 57 ; speaks 
 at opening of Abbey Road School, 
 Torquay, 62 ; views on education and 
 instruction, 62 ; President of Torquay 
 
 Z
 
 338 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Mechanics' Institute, 62 ; testimonial 
 to, 62, 63 ; lecture on physical geo- 
 graphy, 63 ; visits York and Mansfield, 
 65 ; visits Manchester and Ireland, 66 ; 
 prepares to explore Brixham Cavern, 
 74 ; testimony to his work at Brixham, 
 77 ; his geological discoveries, 78 ; his 
 faith as a Christian, 78 ; work at the 
 Torquay Natural History Society, 79 ; 
 testimonial to, 79 ; work in the Devon- 
 shire caves, 82 j visits London, 83 ; 
 lectures at Royal Institution, 83, 97, 
 105 ; purchases the Oreston bones, 
 84 ; tutor to the Russian princes, 85 ; 
 concludes exploration of Brixham 
 Cavern, 88 ; in Scotland, 89, 248 ; 
 invited to Balmoral, 91 ; death of a 
 daughter, 92 ; advocates a County 
 Museum of Natural History in 
 Torquay, 92 ; completes his collection 
 of Devonian fossils, 93 ; examines the 
 deposits at Bovey, 94; completes his 
 notes for fifth edition of Sir C. Lyell's 
 manual, 100; correspondence with his 
 son, 103 ; arranges the " Pengelly " 
 fossils at Oxford, 104 ; lectures at 
 Oxford, 105 ; asked to make a survey 
 in India, 105 ; attends British Associa- 
 tion at Manchester, 112; his geological 
 rambles, 116-119; lectures at Norwich, 
 1 20 ; at Norfolk Archaeological Society, 
 124 ; his large correspondence, 126 ; 
 his love of fun, 127 ; visits the Inter- 
 national Exhibition of 1862, 128; his 
 connection with the Devonshire Asso- 
 ciation, 129-133 ; elected F.R.S., 134, 
 140 ; visits the House of Commons, 
 I 38> 139; geological rambles, 148, 
 149, 155 ; begins exploration of Kent's 
 Hole, 159; views on the Gulf Stream, 
 168, 169, 1 70 ; declines to be a candidate 
 for the Chair of Geology at Glasgow, 
 1 74 ; lectures at Royal Institution, 
 178 ; President of the Devonshire 
 Association, 179 ; lectures at New- 
 castle-on-Tyne, 184 ; presents Fourth 
 Report on Kent's Cavern at British 
 Association at Norwich, 188 ; writes 
 his own epitaph, 197 ; reports on Kent's 
 Cavern at British Association at Edin- 
 burgh, 207 ; his interest in rainfall, 
 208 ; lectures in the North, 214, 228 ; 
 astronomical pursuits, 215 ; visits the 
 Mentone Cavern, 217 ; his accuracy, 
 219 ; assists Sir C. Lyell with new 
 edition of "Antiquity of Man," 225 ; 
 his correspondence with working men, 
 233 ; lectures at Manchester, 234 ; 
 presented with a testimonial for work 
 in Kent's Cavern, 235 ; visits Ireland, 
 241, 254 ; loss of his friends, 244 ; re- 
 ceives the Lyell Fund, 244, 245 ; reads 
 a paper at the Anthropological Sec- 
 
 tion of British Association at Bristol, 
 246 ; attends Devonshire Association 
 Meeting at Torrington, 247 ; presides 
 over Geological Section of British 
 Association at Plymouth, 251 ; his 
 interest in folk-lore, 253 ; attends 
 British Association at Dublin, 254 ; 
 finishes the exploration of Kent's 
 Cavern, 256 ; his final Report on 
 Kent's Cavern, 258 ; death of his last 
 surviving son, 259 ; sits for his portrait, 
 261, 262 ; his interviewers, 267 ; 
 President of the Anthropological De- 
 partment of the British Association at 
 Southport, 268 ; his tour in Cornwall, 
 271 ; declines to lecture on Kent's 
 Cavern, 273 ; gives up all professional 
 work, 274 ; invited to become President 
 of the Falmouth Polytechnic, 275 ; 
 awarded the Lyell medal, 275 ; attends 
 the British Association at Manchester, 
 277 ; his failing strength, 280 ; illness, 
 281 ; his last lecture, 282 ; visits north 
 of England, 283 ; resigns Honorary 
 Secretaryship of Torquay Natural His- 
 tory Society, 284 ; his death, 287 ; 
 Rev. Prof. Bonney on his scientific 
 work, 291 ; critical and miscellaneous 
 papers, 316, 323; accuracy of his 
 work, 323 
 
 Percy, Dr. J., 54, 75, 76, 80, 83, 98, loS, 
 
 160, 273, 296 
 Percy, Mrs., Si, 83, 108 
 Percy, Lady Louisa, 53 
 Petitor, 320 
 Pettigrew, Mr., no 
 Phillips, J. March, 242 
 Phillips, Miss, 84, IO3 
 Phillips, Prof., 58, 59, 60, 69, 70, 90, 91, 
 
 98, 99, 108, 152, 159, 160 179, 195, 
 
 196, 198, 235, 236, 237, 303 
 Phillpotts, Rev. Dr., funeral of, 197 
 Phillpotts, Archdeacon, 272 
 P/iolas, the, 320 
 Phyllopeles coiicentriciis, 135 
 Pirn, Mr., 70 
 
 Pitcairn, Mr. and Mrs., 127 
 Pleurodictyum problematicum, 156 
 Plymouth, British Association at, 251 
 Poitou, implements from, 204 
 Pollicipes, a new species of, 59 
 Polperro, 55, 72 
 Polperro sponges and fish beds, the, 
 
 88, 156, 185, 216, 217 
 Portlock, Colonel, 54, 57, 69, 91 
 Portrush, 67, 68 
 Potts, Mrs., 136 
 Prestwich, Prof, (now Sir) J., 54, 75, 
 
 76, 77, 81, 86 87, 88, 98, 99, 102, 137, 
 
 178, 205, 264, 296, 303
 
 INDEX. 
 
 339 
 
 Prestwich, Mrs., 207 
 
 Prout, Samuel, I 
 
 Prussia, Crown Princess of, 198 
 
 Pteraspis, discovery of, 185, 186, 191 
 
 Quaker body, member of the, 49 
 
 R 
 
 Railway travelling, 17, 47 
 
 Raised beaches, 194, 195 
 
 Rame Head, 56 
 
 Ramsay, Prof, (now Sir) A. C., 59, 64, 
 
 75, So, go, 91, 135, 242, 261, 296 
 Ramsay, Prof., views on glaciers, 64 
 Rankine, Prof., 100 
 Rawlinson, Sir H., 59 
 Rayleioh, Lord, 249, 250 
 Rayleigh, Lady, 249, 250 
 Red Lions, the, 91, 196 
 Rehbinder, Colonel, 85, 87 
 Restormel Castle, 272 
 Riviere, Dr., 217, 218, 252, 315 
 Richtolen, Baron P. von, 281 
 Rice, Mrs. Spring, 83 
 Richards, Mr., 175 
 Richardson, Miss, 185 
 Richardson, D., 185 
 Richardson, Sir B. W , 197 
 Ripon, the Earl of, 83 
 Roberts, Isaac, 284 
 Robertson, Mr., 84 
 Rodriguez transit expedition, 240 
 Robinson, Dr., 69, 91, 197 
 Roemer, Ferdinand, 30, 210, 269 
 Rogers, H. D., 70, 91, 107 
 Rogers, W. B., 60, 71 
 Rolleston, Dr., 108, 246, 247, 251, 252, 
 
 253 
 
 Roscoe, Sir Henry, 140, 254, 289 
 Ross, Sir James, 83 
 Rosse's telescope, Lord, 70 
 Rowe, J. Brooking, 131, 286 
 Romanes, Prof., 254 
 Koyal Irish Academy, soiree at, 71 
 Royal Irish Society, soiree at, 70 
 Royal Society, admission of Fellows to, 
 
 140, 289 
 
 Roraima, Mount, 274 
 Rundle, Mr., 2 
 
 Rupert-Jones, Thomas, 63, 77, 83, 288 
 Ruskin, Mr., 63 
 Russia, the Grand Duchess Marie of, 88, 
 
 89 
 
 Russia, Princess Eugenie of, 88, 89 
 Russian Princes, 85, 86, 87, 94, 141 
 Russell, Lord John, 179 
 Rustic audience, a, 44 
 Ryan, Bishop, 214 
 
 Sahara, Sir C. Lyell on the, 167 
 
 Sabine, General, 69, 83 
 
 St. Germans, cathedral of, 46 
 
 St. John, Mr. (now Sir Spencer), 128 
 
 St. John, Mrs., 96 
 
 St. Keyne, well of, 55 
 
 St. Michael's Mount, Sir C. Lyell on, 
 
 164, 165, 1 66, 176, 225 
 St. Prest, 142 
 St. Piran, legend of, 272 
 Salix cinerea and repens, 294 
 Salisbury, Lord, 83, 250 
 Salmon, Rev. Dr., 140, 289 
 Sanford, W. A., 174, 179, 190, 237, 303, 
 
 3" 
 
 Salter, J. W., 57, 59, 64, 80, 88, 98, 99, 
 128, 138, 139, 145, 150, 154, 158, 173, 
 174, 187, 239 
 
 Savage, Miss, 135 
 
 Savory, Hester, 50 
 
 Sayce, Prof., 277, 281 
 
 Scharf, Mr., 189 
 
 Schists, crystalline, 319 
 
 Scoresby, Dr., funeral of, 63 
 
 Scotch caves, 266 
 
 Scott, Principal, 65, 155, 173, 205 
 
 Senechal, Dr., 218 
 
 Sequoia Couttsia:, 295 
 
 Sedgwick, Prof., 40, 58, 59, 70, 72, 91, 
 98, 99, 100, 123, 156, 161, 251 
 
 Settle caves, the, 199 
 
 Sepida, 42 
 
 Serpentines and granites of Cornwall, 251 
 
 Shelley, Sir John, 43 
 
 Shelley, Lady, 33, 36 
 
 Shelley's " Mask of Anarchy," 278 
 
 Shambles Oak, the, 66 
 
 Sharkham, 320 
 
 Sharpe, Mr., 54 
 
 Sharpey, Dr., 113 
 
 Sheppard, Mr., 57, 79, 296 
 
 Shakespeare, Sir Richmond, 275 
 
 Shuttleworth, Mr., 207 
 
 Shuttleworth, Sir J. K., 96, 98, 106, 
 
 199, 205, 296 
 
 Sicilian caves, discoveries in, 102 
 Silurian fossils, 72, 154, 155, 251 
 Silurian system, 146, 147 
 Simonshaven, Baron de, 202 
 Simpson, Sir James, 163 
 Sinclair, Archdeacon, 97 
 Sinclair, Sir George, 92 
 Sinclair, Lady, 36 
 Skeat, Prof., 253 
 Skey, Dr., 96, 97, 104, 106, 128 
 Slater, Mr., 240 
 Smiles, Dr. Samuel, and wife, 279, 280, 
 
 284, 285 
 
 Smith, John Abel, 138, 160, 161 
 Smith, Miss, 138 
 Smith, Rev. Sydney, 50
 
 340 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Smith, Prof., 108 
 
 Smith, Dr. George, 165 
 
 Smyth, Warington, 54, 98, 160, 272 
 
 Smerdon, George, fund for, 259 
 
 Society of Friends, the, 49 
 
 Somerset, Duke of, 238, 249 
 
 Somerset, Duchess of, 249 
 
 Sorby, Prof., 60, 63, 65, 91, 143 
 
 Southampton, British Association at, 264 
 
 Southport, British Association at, 268 
 
 Speke, Captain, 141, 160 
 
 Spratt, Admiral, 228 
 
 Spriggs, Mr. and Mrs., 50 
 
 Spriggs, Miss Lydia, 50 
 
 Stanley, Dean, 140, 289 
 
 Stanley, Lord, 58 
 
 Stebbing, Rev. T. R. R., 250, 279, 282 
 
 Stephenson, 57 
 
 Stewart, Dr., 86 
 
 Stewart, Balfour, 269, 296 
 
 Stokes, Mr. (now Sir G. G.), 65, 114, 
 
 197 
 
 Statham, Mr., 276 
 Stanton Drew, remains at, 281 
 Strelezski, Count, 138 
 Stone instruments, 313 
 Strickland, M. G., 205 
 Strickland, Hugh, 205 
 Stefanescu, Prof., 281 
 Sturge, Joseph, 49 
 Sutherland, Dr., 36 
 
 Swansea, British Association at, 258, 259 
 Swansea, caverns at, 104 
 Symonds, Rev. W. S., 58, 89, 142, 143, 
 
 160, 185, 191, 215, 216, 217 
 Symonds, Mrs., 217 
 Szabo, Dr., 281 
 
 Tait, Rev. Dr., 177, 178 
 
 Tait, Mrs., 177, 178 
 
 Talbot de Malahide, Lord, 199, 205 
 
 Taylor, Peter, M.P., 2, 214 
 
 Teck, Princess Mary of, 140 
 
 Teign, Naturalist Field Club, 269 
 
 Teignmouth Conglomerates, 87 
 
 Temple, Bishop, 218, 219 
 
 Tennant, Mr., 61, 97, 106, 134, 135, 
 
 138, 178 
 
 Tennyson, Mrs. (now Lady), 198 
 Thackeray, Mr., 275 
 Thompson, Dr. (now Sir Henry), 108, 
 
 2 73 
 
 Thomson, Dr. Allen, 114, 249, 252, 261 
 Thomson, Sir Wm. (now Lord Kelvin), 
 
 70, 249, 264 
 Thoresby, Colonel, 296 
 Thurlstone Rock, the, 250, 319 
 Thurm, Mr. im, 274 
 Tiger, sabre-toothed, 309 
 Tillner, Dr., 87 
 
 Tite, Sir Wm., 198, 205, 217, 239, 315 
 
 Tolstoi, Countess, 88, 89 
 
 Tomlinson, Mr., 261 
 
 Toogood, Mr., 52 
 
 Topham, Sir \V., 212 
 
 Torbay elephant, the, 164, 165, 170 
 
 Torbay, submerged forest of, 164, 165 
 
 Torell, Dr. Otto, 245, 281 
 
 Torquay, Pengelly settles at, 15 
 
 Torquay Mechanics' Institute, 17, 36 
 
 Torquay, British Association at, 102 
 
 Torquay, Temperance Mission at, 265 
 
 Torquay Natural History Society, 26, 31, 
 35. 36, 74, 79, 131, 137, 277, 282,284, 
 302 ; foundation of, 2 1 
 
 Torquay, fossil forest in, 320 
 
 Torquay rainfall, 321 
 
 Torrington, meeting of Devonshire Asso- 
 ciation at, 247 
 
 Trade winds, 167, 168, 169, 170 
 
 Tregelles, Miss, 55 
 
 Trevelyan, Sir Walter, 196, 301 
 
 Trilobites, 150, 152, 187, 240 
 
 Tristram, Rev. Canon H. B., 81, 99, 188 
 
 Truro, Bishopric of, 46 
 
 Tulloch, Principal, 275 
 
 Tuke, Miss, 81 
 
 Tupper, Martin Farquhar, 175 
 
 Tylor, Alfred, 22, 63, 64, 107 
 
 Tylor, E. B., 219 
 
 Tyndall, Professor, 57, 97, 103, 104, 106, 
 191, 193, 201, 276, 277 
 
 U 
 
 Ussher, Mr., 281 
 
 Vachell, Dr. and Mrs. Chas., 286 
 
 Valpy, Mr., 151 
 
 Vaughan, Bishop (now Cardinal), 277 
 
 Vaughan, Mrs., 286 
 
 Verney, Lady, 53 
 
 Verney, Sir Harry, 53, 161, 198, 199 
 
 Verney, Miss, 198 
 
 Veryan Bay, 251 
 
 Vicary, W., 109, no, 131, 137, 141, 
 142, 151, 152, 155, 173, 178, 282 
 
 Victoria Institute, the, 317 
 
 Vincent, Mr., 86 
 
 Vivian, Edward, 21, 26, 42, 60, 63, 73, 
 94, 161, 162, 175, 189, 196, 211, 218, 
 236, 242, 286, 296, 302, 303 
 
 Vivian, Mrs., death of, 48 
 
 Volcanic rocks, 173 
 
 W 
 
 W T agner, H., 160 
 Wake, Staniland, 228
 
 INDEX. 
 
 341 
 
 Wakefield, T. C., 72 
 
 Waklegrave, Mr., 212 
 
 Wales, sons of H.R.H. Prince of, 251, 
 
 258 
 
 Walker, Prof., 99, 100, 181 
 Walker, Mrs., 181 
 
 Wallace, A. R., 73, 153, 197, 198, 261 
 Walpole, Mr., 125, 138 
 Ward, Dr. .Nathaniel, 128 
 Ward, Rev. T. H., 167 
 Watson, Sir James, 249, 260, 268, 279 
 Webster, Prof., 18, 19 
 Wellesley, Lady Charles, 93, 106 
 Wellington, Duke of, 83 
 West Looe, 32, 156 
 Westwood, Prof., 108 
 Whale, remains of a, 187, 321 
 Whalley Abbey, 269 
 Wheatstone, Mr., 18, 65, 97, 103, 106, 
 
 108, 196 
 
 Whitaker, W., 259 
 Whewell, Prof., 98, 141 
 White, G. H., 283 
 Whiteside, Mr., 138 
 Wicklow, Earl of, 35 
 Wilberforce, Canon, 265 
 Williams, Mrs., 55 
 Williams, Mrs. Bridges, 148 
 Wilmot, Col. F. M. E., 289 
 Wilson, G., 64 
 Wilson, William, 17, 6$ 
 Windmill Hill Cave, 83, 297 
 Wolfe, Rev. Prebendary, 109, 286 
 
 Wolff, Joseph, 51 
 
 Wollaston, Mr., 175 
 
 Wood, Colonel, 142 
 
 Woodward, Dr. Henry, 39, 138, 150, 
 
 197, 282 
 
 Woodward, S. P., 135, 160 
 Wookey Hole, 257 
 Woolner, Mr., 273 
 Worthington, Mr., 214 
 Wright, Dr. Thomas, 59 
 Wright, Prof. G. F., 285 
 Wright (F.S. A.), T., no, in 
 Wren, Mr., 247 
 
 Wrottesley, Lord, 58, 69, 98, 100 
 Wyndham, Captain, 124 
 Wyndham, General, 105, 106 
 
 Yates, Mr., 108 
 
 Yealm River, the, 56 
 
 Yealmton Cave, 84 
 
 York, British Association at, 261 
 
 York Museum, fossils in, 205 
 
 Yorke, Mrs., 64, 86, loo, 162 
 
 Young, John, 108 
 
 Zitter, Miss, 198 
 
 THE END. 
 
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