of Natural History to GeoUgy and tfte Arts. 217 



lead him to uiidertake geological, mining, or exploring adventures in 

 distant and little-known lands, he will find himself far better qualified 

 to draw conclusions respecting the age and position of fossiliferous 

 strata than if he had come to the inquiry with a vague general know- 

 ledge, such as he might gather from the inspection of a universal col- 

 lection ; for an intimate acquaintance with the fossils of all regions 

 could not be acquired by him even during many years. He has 

 learnt not only how to observe, but also what to observe; he has 

 gone through that wholesome training which monographic exercises 

 in any of the divisions of natural history invariably give. Without 

 it, zoologists, botanists, and geologists, must be content to take place 

 among mere declaimers and talkers about things, which, in the ab- 

 sence of practical knowledge, ail possible reading and lecture- listening- 

 will fail to make them understand. , ^■A]^,^ i. 



The collections of organic remains displayed in the galleries of this 

 Museum are not of interest to the student only, they have a public 

 value : they bear testimony to the correctness of our knowledge of 

 the geological structure of the British Islands ; and, where they 

 coincide with the operations of the Geological Survey, present the 

 minutest evidence of the age and features of the strata explored, as 

 i'ar as fossils can afford such evidence. And as the economic value 

 of geological observations must ever depend on their strict accuracy 

 — on the confidence that may be placed in them by those who would 

 invest capital or prosecute researches on account of their faith in data 

 officially laid before the public — such tangible proofs, open to the 

 most severe scrutiny, as collections of organic remains made on the 

 spot by the officers of the Survey, must have a practical importance, 

 upon which too much stress cannot be laid. 



In a country where i*iches are a title to high esteem and power, 

 any branch of science that has no direct influence upon money-making 

 is likely to be held in low estimation by the unenlightened. The 

 meaning attached to the word practical in England is often nearly 

 synonymous with money -producing or money -saving. Although I 

 would be the last person to maintain that scientific establishments 

 should be supported by the nation, or scientific researches respected 

 mainly on account of such recommendation, I am not one of those 

 who would separate science from the ordinary pursuits of men, or 

 who would desire to see philosophers withdrawing themselves from 

 the multitude, by keeping their thoughts unmingled with the meaner 

 aims of the crowd. When science, provided she bo mindful of her 

 honour, and make no saciifices of her love of truth, serves as the 

 handmaiden of even the humblest of arts, her dignity gains in lustre, 

 and her i'amiliarity breeds respect. There is no department of science 

 without some ties with the common business of life. Even palaeon- 

 tology may have a direct as well as an indirect influence on com- 

 mercial enterprises. An ej^ampki orrtwOjj 9«t loi', mikay^ . safijr tierve 

 as an illustration. u.>r, .;-.,! t^-^t .'-^i (l-jfjlv/ 7d n^';-;.fiff;.tr. » "m> 



