52 Geological Survey of the Umted Kingdom. {January, 
Portsmouth the double turreted Inflexible is being built with 
20-inch plates for her citadel at Woolwich, a sixty ton 
experimental gun, with calibre of 15 inches, to throw a 
projectile of 1100 Ibs. weight, is in progress. This new gun 
we learn is fitted with a breech-loading apparatus, but no 
details have yet been published. 
V. THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE UNHE® 
KINGDOM. 
Rs the applications of science to industry are every day 
becoming more important, it may be interesting to 
review the origin and progress of our National 
Geological Survey. This institution was established for 
the purpose of arranging, in a form easily accessible to the 
public, a complete body of information respecting the 
geological structure of the British Islands, and the dis- 
position and extent of their mineral wealth. 
It was about forty years ago when Sir Henry (then Mr.) 
De la Beche proposed to the Government to publish copies 
of the ordnance maps geologically coloured. This proposal 
being acceded to, the Survey was commenced single-handed 
by him, in the year 1834. Having for some time previously 
worked at the geology of the west of England, he was the 
better prepared to issue geological maps of Cornwall, to 
which his attention was first given. Subsequently, a small 
branch of the Trigonometrical Survey (then under the 
superintendence of Colonel Colby, R.E., F.R.S.), was 
formed under the directorship of De la Beche. 
About the same time, a geological branch of the Ordnance 
Survey was formed in Ireland, and placed under the charge 
of Captain Portlock. 
In 1835, De la Beche suggested to the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer that a collection should be formed, and placed 
under the charge of the Office of Works, containing speci- 
mens of the various mineral substances used for roads, in 
constructing public works or buildings, employed for useful 
purposes, or from which useful metals were extracted. In 
1837, the sanction of the Treasury was given to this design, 
and a building in Craig’s Court was devoted to the work of 
the Office and the reception of the specimens. This was 
replaced by the more suitable building now occupied at 
Jermyn Street, the Museum of Practical Geology, which 
was opened to the public in 1851. 
