6 Ilesozoic and Camozoic Geology and Palaeontology. 



"The short period of time that mankind seem to have been capable 

 of correct observation, and the minute segment of the immense circle 

 of nature's operations, that has revolved during the comparatively- 

 short period, renders all speculations on the origin of the crust of the 

 earth mere conjectures, founded on distant and obscure analogy. Were 

 it possible to separate this metaphysical part, from the collection and 

 classification of facts, the truth and accuracy of observation would be 

 much augmented, and the progress of knowledge much more certain 

 and uniform; but the pleasure of indulging the imagination is so su- 

 perior to that derived from the labor and drudgery of observation — 

 the self love of mankind is so flattered by the intoxicating idea of act- 

 ing a part in the creation — that we can scarcelj' expect to find any 

 great collection of facts, untinged by the false coloring of S3'stems." 



Ver^' few facts, which now constitute the sciences of Geology and 

 Palseoutology were, at this time, known, and even later, theories and 

 unwarranted assumptions constituted the greater part of what was 

 taught as Geology, notwithstanding the exhortations of McClure, 

 urging empirical stud}^ as against the injurious speculations and pre- 

 tensions founded upon the imagination, or in the zeal to suppress in- 

 vestigation, because it seemed inimical to the teachings of the clergy. 

 As a sample of what was taught, we may quote from Prof Amos 

 Eaton's " Index to the Geology of the Northern States," published in 

 1820. 



He says, page 223 : 



" I think I may say, with confidence, that the remains of two genera 

 of animals, Anomia and Pecten^ form, at the least, two thirds of all 

 the secondary limerocks in North America. It may b6 deemed arro- 

 gant to include all the territory of this vast continent. But it has 

 been my good fortune to see specimens of this rock from Canada to 

 Mexico, and from Hudson's river to the Mississippi, taken from numer- 

 ous localities. Perhaps I ought not, however, from these examinations, 

 to infer that there ma}' not be compact limestone of a great extent made 

 up of different organic remains west of the Rocky mountain.'' 



Again : 



"Moses sa3's, the Lord made 'every herb of the field before it grew,' 

 — 'whose seed is in itself,' etc. This accoi'ds with the well known 

 fact, that new plants are still springing up from seeds, probable- 

 planted at the creation, wherever fores':s are cut away and other steps 

 taken to prepare particular patches of earth for giving growth to such 

 particular plants. It is even said that pulverized rocks have been 

 known to afford seeds, and to give growth to new plants. Perhaps this 

 latter fact is not well authenticated." 



