ON THE GEOLOGY AND MINING OF^ &C. 247 



unsolicited received information on the state of China, its literature, 

 its arts, government, morals, &c. ; and from that time I have felt 

 a great veneration for an Intellectual Monstrosity, particularly 

 when, like the traveller I have written of, he combines with great 

 talent high and exalted moral perceptions. 



Hall Gate, Doncaster, 



October \Qth, 1837. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE GEOLOGY AND MINING OF 

 THE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE COAL-FIELD.* 



These lectures were rather of a descriptive than a scientific cha- 

 racter, as they contained many curious details respecting the mining 

 and manufacturing operations, and the topography, of the district. 

 TYieJirst was in great part devoted to a sketch of the facts observ- 

 ed by geological inquirers, and recorded as illustrative of the forma- 

 tion and progress of a coal basin. The probably heated and fluid 

 condition of the earth at its first creation was assumed ; and the 

 gradual hardening of its surface, the movements of the crust, 

 through the expansive force of gases and vapour, the disintegration 

 of the elevated portions, and the deposition of their elements, under 

 new combinations, by the agency of water, explained. Fire, there- 

 fore, might be termed the disturbing, water the tranquillizing pow- 

 er; and the action of both, proceeding through uncounted ages, 

 alternately caused new elevations, and formed new compounds in the 

 silent operation of deposition. 



In the course of the long period of time thus occupied, the gra- 

 dations of animal and vegetable life, suited to the progressive con- 

 dition of the earth, were called into existence ; and thus a study of 

 the remains and of the preserved forms of organized matter present- 

 ed, to a certain extent, an historical record of the relative ages of 



• Being the substance of two lectures lately delivered at the Atlienreuni, 

 in Worcester, by Mr. W. Hawkes Smith, of Birmingham. These lectures 

 were attended by numerous audiences, who received tiiem with marked sa- 

 tisfaction. Discourses of this kind are well-calculated to promote the spirit 

 of generous emulation and inquiry — En. 



