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CHAPTER XXIV. 
a 
MINERALOGY. 
Art. 1. A Comparative View of the Hultonian and Neptunian Systems of Geology: in 
Answer to the Huttonian Theory of the Earth, by Professor Playfair. 
THE work of Professor Playfair, to 
which this is a reply, was reviewed in 
our last volume, p. 903. We there took 
notice of a few of the fundamental ob- 
jections to the Huttonian theory, and 
shall therefore content ourselves with 
simply announcing the book that- lies 
before us. 
All the geological theories that have 
eyer been invented appear to us to labour 
under insurmountable objections ; in the 
comparison, therefore, of any two, it 
is easy by bringing forwards the chief 
difficulties on gne hand, and concealing 
them on the other, to incline the balance 
to which ever side we choose. 
We do not find any new arguments, 
er any very superior mode of stating 
8vo. pp. 256. 
them, in the present work. Mr. Kir- 
wan’s geological essays haye been made 
very liberal use of, and the writer has 
shewn some judgment in omitting to 
brin fceacds r. K.’s strange theory 
of the formation of coal, and certain 
other points, in the aqueous system of 
geology. 
The demonstration of the falsehood of 
the Huttonian theory, from the diffusi- 
bility of heat, is strongly and, in our 
opinion, successfully urged ; but it by no 
means follows, that fossils must have been 
formed by consolidation from aqueous 
solution in a chaotic fluid, because the 
appearartces they present are incompa- 
tible with the supposition of their being 
formed by fire. - 
Arr. II. British Mineralogy, or coloured Figures to elucidate the Mineralogy of Great 
Britain. 
WE are sorry to witness in this work 
the injudicious misapplication of inge- 
nuity and talents, which we have often 
admired, and from which we have de- 
rived both pleasute and information. 
—The crystalline and other particular 
forms of minerals, together with their 
colour, in most instances may be repre- 
sented by painting, and are so inthe vo- 
By James Soweray, F.L.§. 8vo. 
lume before us with considerable suc- 
cess; but the infinite gradations of lus- 
tre, the play of light, and the still more 
essential characters of fracture, it is ut- 
terly impossible for the best artist to de. 
lineate. Where the objections to a work 
are radical, it is useless to point out 
minuter imperfections. - 
