128 FOUNDATION AND EAELY WORK 



R.S. TAS. 



"Tasmania abounds in minerals, and in those chiefly 

 "which experience has shown to be of most importance for 

 "economical jDurposes. Iron, coal, lime, and sandstone are 

 "found in great abundance. The first has not been worked 

 "at all ; and the second but very partially and imperfectly. 

 "Very little attention, we believe, has been paid to the 

 "application of lime for the improvement of land; and 

 "scarcely any to the adaptation of particular kinds of lime^ 

 "or the limes of jDarticular districts, to particular soils. 

 "Every one must see what beneficial results might arise 

 "from the diffusion of sound scientific views upon these 

 "important subjects, and what a powerful impetus might 

 "thereby be given to the evolution of those mighty re- 

 "sources which the liberal hand of Nature has treasured 

 "up in the bosom of our Island 



"But there is a more important view of our Journal, in 

 "its relation to the general interests of the Colony — we 

 "mean, its bearing on the intellectual and moral character 

 "of the community. Though not professedly devoted to 

 "moral or religious subjects, it may nevertheless perform 

 "important service to both. In morals especially, causes 

 "which operate by an indirect and unobtin,isive agency are 

 "not always the least efficacious. The circulation of a 

 "Journal of Science, upon matters of local interest, amon^ 

 "the inhabitants of this rising country, is calculated to 

 "produce a most salutary effect upon their character : by 

 "leading them to the study of Nature, and habituating 

 "them to reflect on the interesting objects around them, it 

 "would afford valuable exercise to their mental powers, 

 "and open up new and most productive soui*ces of pleasure 

 "and enjoyment. The situation of a settler in Australia is 

 "peculiarly in want of such a stimulus. He is not unfre- 

 "quently a man of intelligence and education. But living 

 "in comparative seclusion, and far removed from the stir- 

 "ring scenes and transactions of European society, his 

 "mind is apt to become relaxed, and to lose its former 

 "tone and vigour ; or to be narrowed and contracted by 

 "exclusive converse with petty details ; or, still worse, to 

 "be given up to the sordid passion for accumulating wealth. 

 "In such circumstances, whatever would tend, like the 

 "Journal in question, to excite his attention to, and lead 

 "him to find an interest and pleasure in, the events and 

 "appearances of surrounding Nature, could not fail to be 

 "peculiarly beneficial. It would serve to alleviate the 

 "monotony and todiousnees of his situation— to prevent 

 "the inactivity and consequent deterioration of his mental 

 "faculties — to counteract the power of ungenerous and Ae- 



