features of a district. But this aptitude, which would have been of great service in a soldier s life, was not called forth for warlike purposes. The peace of 1815 changed the career of many young aspirants for military distinction, and among them De la Beche. Instead of pursuing the calling he had chosen, he began to devote himself with ever- increasing assiduity to the pursuit of geology. When only twenty-one years of age he joined the Gealogical Society of London, continuing throughout life to be one of its most active, useful, and honoured members. Possessing a for tune sufficient for the gratification of his tastes, he visited many localities of geological interest in Britain, and spent some time on the Continent studying features in the geology and physical geography of France and Switzerland. His journeys seldom failed to bear fruit in suggestive notes, papers, or sketches. Early attachment to the south-west of England led him back to that region, where, with augmented power from enlarged experience and reflection, he began the detailed investigation of the rocks of Cornwall and Devon. Thrown much into contact with the mining community of that part of the country, he conceived the idea that the nation ought to compile a geological map of the United Kingdom, and collect and preserve specimens to illustrate, and perhaps even to aid in further developing, its mineral industries. He showed his skilful management of affairs by inducing the Government of the day to recognize his work and give him an appointment in connection with the Ordnance Survey. This formed the starting-point of the present Geological Survey of Great Britain and Ireland. Year by year increasing stores of valuable specimens were transmitted to London ; for De la Beche enlisted the sym pathy and co-operation of the mining authorities of Corn wall and Devon. At last the building where the young Museum of Economic Geology was placed became too small. But De la Beche, having seen how fruitful his first idea had become, determined to use all his persuasion to prevail on the authorities not merely to provide a large structure, but to widen the whole scope of the scientific establishment of which he was the head, so as to impart to it the character of a great educational institution where practical as well as theoretical instruction should be given in every branch of science necessary for the conduct of mining work. In this endeavour he was again successful. Parliament sanctioned the erection of a museum in Jermyn Street, London, and the organization of a staff of professors with laboratories and other appliances. The establishment was opened in 1851. The Geological Survey also, which had grown up under his care, no longer under the Ordnance Department, received a new organization and an increase to its staff. To De la Beche belongs the high praise of having entirely originated and developed this important branch of the public service. Many foreign countries have since formed geological surveys avowedly based upon the organization and experience of that of the United Kingdom. The British colonies, also, have in many instances established similar surveys for the development of their mineral resources, and have had recourse to the parent survey for advice and for officers to conduct the operations. De la Beche was an able mineralogist as well as an admirable field-geologist. He published numerous memoirs on English geology in the Transactions of the Geological Society of London, as well as in the Memoirs of the Geological Survey of the United Kingdom. He likewise wrote a valuable text-book of geology, and a work of singular breadth and clearness Researches in Theoretical Geology in which he enunciated a philosophical treatment of geological questions much in advance of his time. An early volume, How to Observe in Geology, was rewritten and enlarged by him late in life, and published under the title of The Geological Observer. It was marked by wide practical experience, multifarious knowledge, philosophical insight, and a genius for artistic delineation of geological phenomena. He received from many foreign societies recognition of his services to science, and at the close of his life was awarded the Wollaston medal the highest honour in the gift of the Geological Society of London. After a life of constant activity he began to suffer from partial paralysis, but, though becoming gradually worse, continued able to transact his official business until a few days before his death, which took place on 13th April 1855.
DELACROIX, FERDINAND VICTOR- EUGENE, (1798-
1863), a French painter of history, was born at Charenton-
St-Maurice, near Paris, 26th April 1798. His father was a
partisan of the most violent faction during the time of the
Revolution. The family affairs seem to have been conducted
in the wildest manner, and the accidents that befell the
child, well authenticated as they are said to be, make it
almost a miracle that he survived. He was first nearly
burned to death in the cradle by a nurse falling asleep over
a novel, and the candle dropping on the coverlet; this left
permanent marks on his arms and face. He was next
dropped into the sea by another bonne, who was climbing
up a ship s side to see her lover. He was nearly poisoned,
and nearly choked, and, to crown all, he tried to hang him
self, without any thought of suicide, in imitation of a print
exhibiting a man in that position of final ignominy. The
prediction of a charlatan founded on his horoscope has been
preserved : " Get enfant deviendra un homme cclebre,
mais sa vie sera des plus laborieuses, des plus tourmentees,
et toujours livree a la contradiction."
Delacroix the elder died at Bordeaux when Eugene was
seven years of age, and his mother returned to Paris and
placed him in the Lyce e Napoleon. Afterwards, on his
determining to be a painter, he entered the atelier of Baron
Guerin, who affected to treat him as an amateur. His
fellow-pupil was SchefTer, who was alike by temperament
and antecedents the opposite of the bizarre Delacroix, and
the two remained antagonistic to the end of life. Dela
croix s acknowledged power and yet want of success with
artists and critics Thiers being his only advocate perhaps
mainly resulted from his bravura and rude dash in the use
of the brush, at a time when smooth roundness of surface
was general. His first important picture, Dante and Virgil,
was painted in his own studio ; and when Guerin went to
see it he flew into a passion, and told him his picture was
absurd, detestable, exaggerated. " Why ask me to come
and see this 1 you knew what I must say." Yet his work
was received at the Salon, and produced an enthusiasm of
debate (1822). Some said Gericault had worked on it, but
all treated it with respect. Still in private his position,
even after the larger tragic picture, the Massacre of Scipio,
had been deposited in the Luxembourg by the Government,
became that of an Ishmaelite The war for the freedom of
Greece then going on moved him deeply, and his next two
pictures Marino Faliero Decapitated on the Giant s Stair
case of the Ducal Palace (which has always remained a
European success), and Greece Lamenting on the Ruins of
Missolonghi with many smaller works, were exhibited
for the benefit of the patriots in 1826. This exhibition
was much visited by the public, and next year he produced
another of his important works, Sardanapalus, from Byron s
drama. After this, he says, " I became the abomination
of painting, I was refused water and salt," but, he adds
with singularly happy naivete", " J etais enchante ds moi-
meme ! " The patrimony he inherited, or, perhaps it
should be said, what remained of it, was 10,000 livres de
rente, and with economy he lived on this, and continued
the expensive process of painting large historical
pictures. In 1831 he reappeared in the Salon with six
works, and immediately after left for Morocco, where
