500 The Mineralogical Resources of Ireland. [Oct., 



At the Queen's University, science is largely cultivated, and 

 there are professorships of natural philosophy, chemistry, natural 

 history, geology and mineralogy, anatomy and physiology, and 

 engineering; scholarships are awarded in science, and a special 

 diploma for enghieering. 



Thus it will be seen that in all our large Universities ample 

 provision is made for science-teaching, and it is greatly to be feared 

 that the reason why this branch of human intelligence has not been 

 hitherto more largely cultivated there, is not so much on account 

 of the indisposition of the College authorities to afford instruction, 

 as to the unwillingness of the students to receive it. 



The late respected Dr. Daubeny wrote to the wiiter of this 

 article some time before his death, expressing his regret that more 

 encouragement is not given to the study of science by the middle 

 classes. A demy-ship in natural science at Magdalen College, he 

 said, was literally going a-begging, and the writer was asked whe- 

 ther he could recommend a candidate. One reason for this indiffer- 

 ence — probably the chief one — was soon made apparent when the 

 attempt was made to comply with the Doctor's wishes. " What 

 am I to do for a living, after I have completed my studies?"' 

 asked one young man. And this question contained the solu- 

 tion of the mystery — science does not pay. The great prizes 

 are to be found at the Bar, or in the career of a statesman, and 

 unfortunately scientific knowledge is not yet appreciated in those 

 professions. 



But why the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge should with- 

 hold honour where there is no profit ; should offer facilities for 

 instruction and yet deny the student the reward of merit, is a 

 mystery. The sooner they encourage the pursuit of science by 

 conferring degrees for its proficiency, and thus making it at least 

 an honourable profession, the better it will be both for the teacher 

 and the taught. We trust the day is not f:ir distant when the 

 example of the Universities of London and Edinbui-gh will, in this 

 respect, be followed by the older Universities, which should rather 

 lead than follow in every intellectual movement of the day. 



IV. THE MINERALOGICAL RESOURCES OF IRELAND. 



As compared with either England or Scotland, the mineral resources 

 of Ireland are limited in extent, and not very rich in kind. Of seve- 

 ral species of rocks and formations, which are of economic value, 

 there is indeed an abundance. Ireland can produce the noblest 

 specimens of granite, serpentine and marble, and prodigious quanti- 

 ties of limestone, chalk, and other massive rocks ; but when we 



