DR. GIDEON MANTELL. [From the Athenœum Nov. 20.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 819, 8 June 1853, Page 4

DR. GIDEON MANTELL. [From the Athenœum Nov. 20.]

We last week announced the death of this distinguished geologist. Although he had been for some time suffering from ill health, such was bis energy and activity, that there ate few who knew him who will not be surprised at his decease. He is said to have been in the sixtythird or sixty-fourth year of his age. In him science has lost a devoted disciple, the medical profession an ornament, and the public an efficient teacher. Although a member of the madical profession, Dr. Mantell was not a graduate in Medicine, but derived his claim to the honorary appellation of Doctor from the degree conferred by a foreign University. He commenced his professional career as a general practitioner at Lewes, in Sussex ; and although better known to the public of Great Britain as a man of science and a lecturer, had good success in his own profession. Not only had Dr. Mantell a ilarge practice at Lewes, but in the midst of his scientific pursuits be found time to cultivate the literature of his profession and to contribute to its advancement. The medical journals contain many of his papers,— more especially one ou the use of tbe Ergot in Rye, published in the Lancet in 1834, — which bear testimony to his practical

sagacity and the earnestness with which he cultivated his profession. Whilst at Lewes his iuc* cess as an accoucheur was great, and the paper to which we have alluded excited attention on this account. During hii career in that town a circumstance occurred which ought to be told to his honour. He one day entered the Criminal Court during the County Assizes, and heard the trial of a married woman and a youth for the murder of the husband of the former. They were condemned to death, — and, according to the practice of that day. the lad was hanged within forty-eight hours of his conviction. The woman was respited, owing to a point of law raised by counsel in her favour. Dr. Mantell felt convinced from the evidence that (he parties were guiltless ; and by persevering in his inquiries, succeeded at the end of some months in establishing tbe inuocence of the poor woman ; who to this day, we believe, lives at Burwash, in Sussex, to testify to the benevolent exertions of the man who saved her from an ignominious death. In 1835 Dr. Mantell left Lewes, and commenced prrcice at Brighton. From this place he came to London, in 1839, — and resided first at Clapham, and afterwards in Chester Square. Whether he succeeded so well in practice in London as in Lewes we are not aware ; but the London public is not tolerant of science in a medical man, and although this is % most unfounded and unjust prejudice we suspect that Dr. Mantell experienced the neglect which is almost sure to be the lot of the medical practitioner who dares to claim for himself a position as a man of science. He had, however, his reward ; and all that an extensive metropolitan practice could have given him would have been but a poor compensation for the sacrifice of that scientific reputation which gave him io much pleasure in seeking, and so much pride in attaining. As a man of science Dr. Mantell did not take ! the position of a great generalizer, or of the discoverer of new laws. He was naturally an enthusiast, — and with quick observation, he would have distinguished himself in almost any branch of science. The accident of his position made him a 'geologist; the requirements of the science made him a great geologist. Lewes was in the neighbourhood of an unworked mine. Up to the time that Dr. Mantell commenced his labours little was known of tbe nature of the Wealden formation, or of the fossils which it contained. Seldom bas an observer had a richer field for tbe exerciae of his powers, and seldom has an opportunity been better seized. In the course of a few years Dr. Mantell collected together from the Wealden and the Chalk a museum of specimens, which is now the property of the nation in the British Museum, — ihe Trustees of ihs institution bating purchased it for £5,000. This collection contains some of the most perfect existing remains of the reptiles belonging to the genera Iguana(lon,Hylasosaurus, Megaiosaurus, Cetiosaurus, and others ; — as well as a fine collection of specimens of freshwater fishes, with Mollusca insects and plants from the Chalk of Wealden. This museum alone is sufficient to have given its collector a permanent position amongst the promoters of the science cf geology. But he did m^re — its contents afforded him the opportunity of addiug largely to the literature of tbe geology of the British islands. His first paper, published 1813, was on the organic remains discovered in tbe environs of Lewes. From this time to within a recent period of his death his literary labours, were almost unceasing. In the ' Bibliographia Zoologiae et Geologiee' published by the Ray Socaty, the names of sixty-seven papers and works are giveD, Some of these are of comparatively little importance ; but when it is remembered that during all this time he was pursuing the active practice of his profession, and writing on other subjects besides Geology, it affords abundant evidence of bis indefatigable industry. The most important of these works are as follows. — " On the Iguanadon a newly discovered fossil reptile fiom the strata of Tilgate Forest, in Sussex," Phil. Trans., cxv. The science of Geology is almost entirely indebted to Dr. Mantell for the discovery of the remains of this remarkable aniroal, the study of which has thrown so much light on the general structure of the family of reptiles. * Illustrations of the Geology of Sussex, containing a geneial view of tbe geological relations of tbe South-eastern part of England, with figures and descriptions of the Fossils of Tilgate Forest.' London, 4to. 1827. — 'On the discovery of the Hylaosaurus and other remains of reptiles in the strata of Tilgate Forest.' Proc. Geol. Soc. 1822.— 'The Geology of the South-east of England. London, 1838, Bvo.--*A sketch of the Geology of the County of Sussex.'* Horsfield's ' History of Sussex.' 4to. Lewes, 1 834. — ' The Wonders of Geology.' 2 vols. Bvo. 1838. This ' work consisted of & series of Lectures on the principles and facts of Geology. It bas gone through six editions, and been translated into German. — 'Toe Medals of Creation ; or, First Lessons in Geology.' 2 vols. Bvo. 1844. This bas gone to a second edition, and been translated into German. - It is an excellent introduction to the science of Geology. — * Petrifactions and their Teaching.' London, Bvo. This was one of the last of Dr. MantelPs works, and was Intended as an introduction to the organic remains in tbe British Museum. — ' Thoughts on Animalcules,' London, Bvo. 1846, and * Thoughts on a pebble,' were books intended as popular expositions on interesting scientific points. | Scientific Geology is also deeply indebted to | Dr. Mantell and his son for bringing to light the remains of the great extinct family of birds found in New Zealand. He possessed several | very fine specimens of the remains of those j birds, and wrote several papers on them. It was the good fortune of his son, Mr. W. Mantell, to light on a living specimen of one of these birds — the Notornis, — which was supposed to be extiuct, and tbe father was the first to record this interesting fact in the history of the extinct birds of New Zealand. We cannot here further particularize the discoveries and researches which vindicate for Dr. Mantell a high place amongst scientific geologists, — a higher place, we think, than some of his contemporaries were disposed to allow him. As a lecturer Dr. Mantell was eminently successful. His style was fluent, and singularly free from technicalities, — qualities which both render his works popular, and made him & favourite amongst our institutions for diffusing knowledge amongst the people.