317 

 A NEW DEPAKTURE IN THE STUDY OF MINERALS. 



Rev. Prof. C. F. Marsan, M.A.. O.M.I. 



Read ISth February, 18SG. 



It is a subject of wonder for a careful observer how few among 

 intelligent and well educated persons devote themselves to the study of 

 the natural sciences. The beautiful and wondi'ous things "svhich God has 

 created and scattered, with a lavish hand, in man's way attract very little 

 of man's attention. Their superficial beauty may occasionally recreate his 

 senses, strike his fancy, if he is anything of a poet ; but the very cause 

 of that beauty, the laws that preside over natui'e and unite all in one 

 sublime harmony, too frequently escapes his notice. A moi.g the sciences 

 which I'elate to thi3 our rich earthly inheritance. Mineralogy, the 

 oldest by its object, yet the youngest born and litest developed in the 

 human mind, holds a prominent place. Having for its object the ver^ 

 material of which this earth of ouri is composed, and closely connajtei 

 as it \i with the all iooportant sciences of Chemistry, Geology, Botany, 

 Zjology and Astronomy ; the industrial and economical interests which 

 jpring from it, which liogered during its infancy, grew with its growth, 

 and yet await iti find development in order to raise the material 

 wealth of nations to its maximum, have all contributed to promote the 

 study among the s:ientist3 of this country ; but all these reasons have 

 not been sufficient to bring the average student into close contact with 

 the fcience of minerals and rocks. It would carry me beyond the limits of 

 my plan were I to enquire into the causes of that neglect ; let me point 

 out only one cause, the consideration of which will form a natural in- 

 troduction to the subject of this discussion. Mineralogy, though now 

 raised by the immortal discoveries of Hauy, to the rank of a science 

 with a complete system of classification, has not yet been presented to 

 the beginner and student in" a way to render it both logical and 

 attractive. In other words, the system generally followed in teaching 

 this science is not in keeping with the high standing of the science 

 itself; it is defective in more than one respect. Suuh, at least, is the 

 o])inion which I propose to defend. 



