TO-DAY'S ANNIVERSARIES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 13999, 23 March 1911, Page 6

TO-DAY'S ANNIVERSARIES.

- ♦ - ■ MAKCH 28. . V^ William Smith, "ThiTFatlier of English 'Sw Geology," bora ~ .. .." tfW&K Richard A. Proctor, uAtranoiner, born Battle of Novaia .. ... ~ ■JMKSjb*; ' William Smith.—The great ' was born of a family of small though in the little village of Smith's' father had obtained '"* We a mechanician. On tho death .a father, William was left very mueE%fejfc the care.of his uncle, who was of help to him in his search for : ledge. He had received a very different education at the village but with his uncle's help ho taught him«|& self some geometry, and became ficient in such subjects an would assisfc.||j! him in his chosen profession, . ing. At.eighteen he had so far w?-Vljl seeded as to make a competent to a surveyor named Webb. With thi* -'Mi man ho further prosecuted his studies, for even as a small sn ardent collector of fossils and to roaming the country in search ifijMi new specimens for his collection. -Ix^^| 1798, ' Smith was entrusted with- th<*{||| survey of a canal through the set coal fields, the'appointment ing to many more of a similar His geological investigations had, infill 1799, so far progressed that he was AWs&i to advance many new theories subject of stratigraphy- In Kientififtjfe circles, both as an engineer and gist, his efforts were being widely *#$&& predated. About .1812 he comfleWjgK/l ' his geographical map of first of its kind, and a work which flMgfe' taken years of incessant toil. "Froa©p;, that hour," says Phillies, "the fame fgjjgj:; its author as a great original wbb secured." Fame, however, did bring riches, and Smith was • in 1819, to Bell all his possessions, ' it was only through the kindness ' friend that he managed to keep a mim ' of his niost valued papers. D , ttm *g|? " the next ten years he travelled all o™s|||| England, surveying, and carrying geological investigations, as well *«*®*ms 1 turing at varying centres. In "Jgik ruary, 1831, tho Geological Soow»ffi| voted Him the Wollaston medal, a few months later the conferred upon him a very wela)m6peftj|| sion of £100 a year. In 1830, T™s||| College, Dublin, honoured him with tno|jp§ L.L.D degree. Ho died on 28th, 1836. "His equanimity, pabop*«tt industry, and memory," says a biogrtrfe pher. "were alike remarkable; so ***>pfe was his ingenuity in all mechanical vices for overcoming professional cultiee. His geographical was freely imparted, so that,,?.°* m s£lp standing his reluctance to PubhsfyJWMi labours boro fruit in tho hands or oHWpjSn workers, and his position as the 3 founder of stratigraphical geology ;■ never been questioned." -pll Battle of Novara.—The which had ended for a ' -toe M*V£fe&& determined struggle to drive the trians from her territories was in revoked. Thia tim© Piedmont £;>%%£':*'■ faced the Austrian forces. Th© J"*&lp3 Charles Albert, gave up the mptmfcr command, and decided to call , w ■*%/?- j French general,to lead the, ™ B K2S E:f :I eso forces. None was available, W«**s. *'j ever for Franc© was unwilling to promise herself with Austria. * in *Z*o<,' tl Czarnowsky, a Polish general, accepts-'I the command. It was not a choice, for th© Piedmontes© saw ing in their new leader to inspire con:?,' - . fidence. He did not sneak guage, and was unfamiliar with t&«r;-y-. ; country. Radetaky, the Austrian: g*W* #s& ral, on the other hand, was flushed *&¥*ss his victories of the previous year, *w*-_ advanced on Piedmont confident j with his superior forces, seawnea Aveil disciplined, he could the Piedmontese army. At VigevMjMTf and at Sforzesca his hopes were J"™ $&■ fulfilled, though at Mortara he $**>%§ mor© successful. It remained for vara to settle the campaign <lccisivel£rj|» The Polish leader had bungled at e * e &WM move • his troops were disheartened D J",'3*§( their'repulso at Mortara, and he «ft*S*g» managed to allow the commissariat become destitute of provisions. stf A { at the commencement of the fortune favoured the Piedmontese, * Czarnowsky could have won the Qrojlim by following up the attack with a cisive bIoAV. Instead, he retreat-rd", *JJftgfe|!a the repulsed Austrian.*, now attacked with vigour, and before **ft«rejS end of the day had carried nil beforfig§fj|g them. Th© Austrian* lost 396 and had 1850 wounded; their °W*^|Sffl

*Nts left 3000 men on tho battlefield, m well as 4000 wounded and 3000 prisoners. It Avas indeed a disastrous day for the Italian patriots.