526 HISTORY OF GEOLOGY. 



Since that period, Descriptive Geology in England has constant!) 

 advanced. The advance has been due mainly to the labors of the 

 members of the Geological Society ; on whose merits as cultivators ot 

 their science, none but those who are themselves masters of the sub- 

 ject, have a right to dwell. Yet some parts of the scientific character 

 of these men may be appreciated by the general speculator ; for they 

 have shown that there are no talents and no endowments which may 

 not find -their fitting employment in this science. Besides that they 

 have united laborious research and comprehensive views, acuteness 

 and learning, zeal and knowledge ; the philosophical eloquence with 

 which they have conducted their discussions has had a most beneficial 

 influence on the tone of their speculations ; and their researches in 

 the field, which have carried them into every country and every class 

 :>f society, have given them that prompt and liberal spirit, and that 

 open and cordial bearing, which results from intercourse with the 

 world on a large and unfettered scale. It is not too much to say, 

 that in our time, Practical Geology has been one of the best schools 

 of philosophical and general culture of mind. 



Sect. 2. Application of Systematic Geology. Geological Surveys 



and Maps. 



SUCH surveys as that which Conybeare and Phillips's book present- 

 ed with respect to England, were not only a means of disseminating 

 the knowledge implied in the classifications of such a work, but they 

 were also an essential part of the Application and Extension of the 

 principles established by the founders of Systematic Geology. As 

 soon as the truth of such a system was generally acknowledged, the 

 persuasion of the propriety of geological surveys and maps of each 

 country could not but impress itself on men's minds. 



When the earlier writers, as Lister and Fontenelle, spoke of mine 

 ralogical and fossilological maps, they could hardly be said to know 

 the meaning of the terms which they thus used. But when subse- 

 quent classifications had shown how such a suggestion might be car- 

 ried into effect, and to what important consequences it might lead, 

 the task was undertaken in various countries in a vigorous and con- 

 sistent manner. In England, besides Smith's map, another, drawn up 

 by Mr. Greenough, was published by the Geological Society in 1819 ; 

 and, being founded on very numerous observations of the author and 

 bis friends, made with great labor and cost, was not only an imnortant 



