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On Metallurgical Phenomena as illustrative of Geology. By 

 Professor Hausmann of Gottingen. Communicated by the 

 Author.* 



There are two means especially fitted to secure steady ad- 

 vances in the study of geology, and to guard against its being 

 lost in vague hypotheses. The one consists in an accurate ob- 

 servation of the changes which we perceive constantly occurring 

 on the surface of the earth : the other, in a careful appropriation 

 of the experience with which we are supplied by skilfully con- 

 ducted experiments. The conviction of the importance due to 

 the former of tliese means, gave rise to the prize question pro- 

 posed by the Royal Society, and which found such a satisfac- 

 tory solution in Mr Von HofF's classical treatise on the " Tra- 

 ditionary Changes of the actual Surface of the Earth." The de- 

 sire, by the practical application of the latter means, to contri- 

 bute something towards the illustration of geological phenomena, 

 elicited the observations which Professor Hausmann laid before 

 the Royal Society twenty years ago y\ and led also to a further 

 prosecution of the inquiry, the result of which forma the sub- 

 ject of the present memoir. 



If our views in the science of Geology have, in modern times, 

 undergone important changes, they have, by a skilful enlistment 

 m their service, of the grand discoveries in Natural Philosophy 

 and Chemistry, indisputably obtained a more solid foundation, 

 than could formerly have been their lot; although it would be 

 no less shortsighted than presumptuous to consider as incapable 

 of improvement, those geological theories which have, in our 

 day, earned the highest eulogiums, or to regard their basis as 

 secure as that of many physical theories which can boast of ma- 

 thematical support. That one particularly important change 

 has taken place in our geological views, is attributable to the cir- 

 cumstance, that the empire of Neptune, which Werner had 



• The above memoir is the substance of a lecture which was delivered 

 by Professor Hausmann at a meeting of the Royal Society of Sciences, held 

 at Gottingen on the 24th December 1836, " De usu experientiarum metal- 

 lurgicarum ad disquisitiones geologicas adjuvandas." 



\ Vide Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, for translation of Hausmann's 

 observations referred to above. 



