WILL of Augustus Bergh of 19 York Road Hove dated 13th December 1859 proved, with two codicils dated 11th April 1860 and 6th April 1864, on the 1st October 1864 at Lewes by the Executors John Prout of 229 Strand W.C. Perfumer and Sarah Mills wife of John Mills the daughter.
Personal Estate sworn under £6000.
Bequeated his collection of Shells etc to his Executor John Prout whose son had it in his possession when called on 9th Sept. 1901 at his Strand Office. F.R.B.
Leopold (Christian) von Buch Baron von Gelmersdorf (1774 - 1853) Prussian Geologist, contributed largely to the development of this Science, though his extreme view of the Vulcanian theory of the origin of the earth's crust is no longer tenable (Harmsworth Encyclopaedia)
In his Book page 40 referring to von Buch, Augustus Bergh states:- "We had the pleasure of meeting this celebrated traveller in the year 1806 at Christiania at the house of a wealthy merchant M. Ploën to whom we had letters of introduction".
The title of the Book which can be found in the British Museum is:-
A Theory of the periodic inundations of each Hemisphere, etc.
An Essat on the Causes of Distant Alternate Periodic Inundation over the lowlands of back Hemisphere suggesting the means whereby the earth's surface is renovated and the continuous support of its creatures provided for to which is subjoined a table connecting the two sister sciences of Astronomy and geology with an Appendix and Notes elucidatory of the Author's theory. By Augustus Bergh - London - James Ridgway 169 Piccadilly.
There is a dedication "To my children and intimate Geological friends".
On page 34 "we know from experience how frequently we have been obliged to steer half a point or more wide of the course directed by our Chart"
On page 35 "In our first attempt to express our views in the year 1829 in a paper entitled "Views on the Sinking of Lands in the Southern Hemisphere and Risings in the Northern alternately".
In 1830 he wrote a paper:-
"On the former Change of Temperature, Change and Motion of the line of Aprides through the coliptic and the Inundations of the Lowlands of both Hemispheres alternately" "etc.
"This was eagerly received with entreaties to publish it but we at once declined. A geological friend however prepared to publish it in his name to which we assented and he distributed about 2000 copies some of which found their way into France and Germany and afterwards reappeared here as a French production somewhat altered from the original.
"In the latter part of 1830 we began to re-write our present theory" .....
It is a curious coincidence that as a client of my firm I knew well "Baron Carl von Buch" (died 1911) a nephew of the abovenamed Leopold von Buch. F.R.B.
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