62 Notices respecting New Books. 



Beche to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by the Geological 

 Survey for the collection and classification of specimens, the result 

 being that space was granted by Government for the reception of 

 such specimens. As years rolled on the collections increased, addi- 

 tional space was needed, and " finally the necessity of proper accom- 

 modation became so pressing, especially after 1S45, when the Geo- 

 logical Survey and the Museum of Practical Geology were placed 

 under the same department," that the building in Jermyn Street was 

 erected. 



In his Inaugural Discourse, Sir Henry conducts us through the 

 building and describes its stores — its specimens of architectural 

 stones, ceramic products, collections of minerals and fossils, its che- 

 mical laboratory, metallurgic and mining departments. Those who 

 have visited Durham Cathedral and other similar edifices in this 

 country, and seen the havoc made of the stone by atmospheric 

 action, will appreciate the importance of a collection for architec- 

 tural purposes. Had such a collection been open to those who raised 

 the Four Courts in Dublin, the irretrievable ruin of that splendid 

 edifice by atmospheric influence might have been avoided. Our 

 advance in ceramic manufactures is illustrated by the progress made 

 in the transfer of prints to porcelain : a century ago one colour only 

 could be transferred ; we can now paint a picture. Referring to the 

 ignorance generally prevailing in mining districts as to the value of 

 minerals, the following striking fact is cited. " Ores regarded only 

 as important for the copper they contained, were raised upon the 

 property of the Duke of Argyll in Scotland. After a time the works 

 were abandoned, as the copper found in the ores was not sufficiently 

 abundant to pay for the cost of obtaining them, and much was 

 thrown aside as not worth dressing. The Duke, impressed with a 

 certain character in the ores, brought specimens to this Institution 

 for analysis ; and it was found that they contained 11 per cent, of 

 nickel, a valuable metal, and, as you are aware, extensively employed 

 at this time in different alloys, such as those known as German 

 silver." " Even within these few days," adds the lecturer, " a case 

 has occurred in Devonshire where a field-wall was constructed of 

 grey copper ore, and the breaking of a gate-post led to a knowledge 

 of the fact." Referring to the reclaiming of mud-banks which 

 surround estuaries, the lecturer observes, " The body of water 

 entering and passing out is important ; and yet what do we often 

 find done, and done, too, by Act of Parliament ? The body of water 

 entering, and consequently passing out, is diminished for the purpose 

 of reclaiming, as it is termed, certain mud-banks, often extensive ; 

 thousands of tons of water are thus sometimes cut off from perform- 

 ing the work by which they aided in keeping the channel to the sea 

 clear ; the bottom of the channel rises, and the port is damaged." 



Calling the mineral produce of Great Britain 1, that of Russia is 

 about | , of Prussia -i, of France i, of Sweden ^, of Norway Jj-. a 

 country possessing such vast resources in this respect as Great 

 Britain, might be expected to devote particular attention to this point ; 

 but this is not the case. " Although the *aw mineral produce of 



