246 = Mr, Farey’s. Notes on Mr. Bakewell’s Geology. 
accurate rate of a-time-keeper may be always obtaimed by 
equal altitudes of the sun, with a sextant, by persons who 
have been properly instructed in the method of taking 
them ; and as frequent opportunities occur for this purpose 
when a ship is lying at anchor, every endeavour should be 
used to put it in practice as often as possible. 
XLIII. Notes and Observations on the Introduction and 
three first Chapters, of Mr. ROBERT BAKEWELL’S *¢ In 
troduction: to Geology ;’—embracing incidentally, several 
new Points of Geological Investigation and Thew ys By 
Mr. Joun Farzy Sen., Mineral Sur VEY Or. 
To Mr. Tilloch. 
Sir,—Ir i is a remark very commonly and truly made, that 
no department of science or literature is so overloaded with 
theoretical works as Geology: ‘* Theories of the Earth, 
Geognosies and Elementary Treatises on this subject, in- 
crease so fast,’’ exclaim some persons, that we ought to set 
our faces against their further multiplication. On due con- 
sideration however, this will be found a very injudicious 
view of the subject, and calculated only to perpetuate errors, 
and prevent the slow, but certain approaches, which this 
science in common Wath all others is making, towards 
truth and perfection. 
On a subject, whose facts are so widely and so deeply 
spread, many of which are so very liable to be mistaken, 
and whose minute and sufficiently extended examination, 
is attended with such a great expense of labour, time, and 
money, and after all, whose publication, in this country in 
particular, is so little encouraged, and often so difficult to 
be procured, even when the observers are willing to give 
away all their previous labours, a more rapid progress must 
not be expected, than what is vow making. 
From two Letters, of the 16th and 21st instant, (pp. 53 
and 103) which I have found it necessary to address to 
you, some persons will perhaps suppose me acting therein, 
contrary to the maxims above stated, and as being de- 
sirous of depreciating Mr. B’s Work. I beg however di- 
stinctly to state, tbat this is far from my intentions or 
wishes, and that I have yet perused no systematic work on 
Geology, which I think entitled to a general and careful 
reading, in any degree compared with Mr, Robert ai. 
we 
