62 Geological Survey of Canada. 



^he south of Sweden, and carries the reader on in the most pleas- 

 ing manner through the chief incidents that marked the life of 

 Linnaeus, to his final eminence. The story is told with great sim- 

 plicity and elegance. The incidents are skilfully wrought into 

 the narrative. The prominent excellences of this great man's 

 character and genius are lovingly noted. There is no elaborate 

 statement or discussion of his system to perplex young readers, 

 enough, however, is related to excite admiration and awaken inter- 

 est. The book is besides pervaded with a genuine, unaffected 

 piety, and a true love of nature, which renders it very delightful 

 reading for a winter's evening. To the young we would expressly 

 recommend this Biography. It sets before them an example of 

 perseverance in a chosen pursuit, and shows what may be done 

 by a zealous devotion to any department of study which invites 

 attention. The authoress concludes her pleasing task with a few 

 words recommendatory of the studv of Botanv. As a mental 

 exercise she particularly commends it, "What study," says she, 

 «• is calculated to afford more delightful instruction, at once grati- 

 fying a taste for beauty and training the youthful mind to thought 

 and observation. Affording too the most healthful gratification 

 and innocent enjoyment, its pleasures spring up beneath our 

 feet, and as we pursue them, reward us with simple and pure joys.'' 

 The book is beautifully printed and carefully got up, and will 

 both recompense cost and perusal. 



Geological Survey of Canada. Report of Progress for 1857. 



As a branch of literature, Geological Reports are in some 

 respects in a pitiable position. Necessarily dry in their details, 

 and to many readers scarcely intelligible, they are too often 

 thrown into dusty corners of libraries, where they lie unread and 

 uncared for. Occasionally they fall into the hands of critics 

 more witty than wise, who can see no advantage in the expendi- 

 ture of public money in the investigation of fossil remains of shell- 

 fish and such trifles ; not considering that in thus despising the 

 handiwork of their Maker, they would deprive us of an important 

 aid to the discovery of those deposits of useful minerals in which 

 all men, however little scientific, are interested. In these circum- 

 stances it becomes one of the duties of Journals such as this, to 

 point out whatever of utility there may be in these somewhat 

 forbidding documents. 



