1822.J On the Geology of the Isle of Wight, S^c. 329 



Article III. 



On the Geology of the Isle of Wight, Sfc. 

 By rrof. Sedgwick. 



(To the Editor of the Annals of Philosophy.) 



SIR, Trinity College, Cambridge^ March 17, 1822, 



There appeared in the Annals of Philosophy/ for Sept. 1821, 

 an article by one of your correspondents (Mr. G. B. Sowerby), on 

 the Geology of Headen Hill, in the Isle of Wight. With some 

 of his observations I entirely concur ; and I appreciate as highly 

 as he can do himself the importance of an intimate acquaintance 

 with certain branches of natural history. Without such know- 

 ledge it must be impossible to ascertain the physical circum- 

 stances under which our newer strata have been deposited. 

 To complete the zoological history of any one of these forma- 

 tions, many details are yet wanting. It is principally with the 

 hope that my own observations may be in some measure sub- 

 servient to this end, that I have ventured to request their inser- 

 tion in your journal. 



I must at the same time state, that some of Mr. Sowerby's 

 views respecting the classification of the formations over the 

 chalk differ widely from my own. An absence of several months 

 from the University prevented his remarks from falling into my 

 hands before December. A series of engagements, of which it 

 is unnecessary here to speak, have prevented me from undertak- 

 ing the task of replying to them until this moment. 



The point on which your correspondent appears to differ most 

 widely from myself is in the estimate he has formed respecting 

 the merits of those who have preceded him. He seems hardly 

 to have considered that the honours of inventive talent must 

 chiefly be awarded to those who first point out the way to disco- 

 very, and from obscure and seemingly imperfect data are able to 

 deduce important general conclusions. One thing, however, is 

 most certain, that sarcastic animadversions, either on societies, 

 or individuals, can never tend to promote the investigations of 

 truth. 



It is impossible that the praise of successful investigation 

 should be withheld from Mr. Webster. His excellent and origi- 

 nal communications respecting the formations in the Isle of 

 Wight are in the hands of every English geologist, and prove 

 both his dihgence in the observation of facts, and his sagacity in 

 drawing the right conclusions from them. No subsequent dis- 

 coveries can possibly take away from this merit, even though 

 they point out some objects of detail which had been, perhaps, 

 either overlooked or misunderstood. 



In the following notice I intend, first, to give some account of 



