360 MacCulloch's System of Geology. 



never counted strata with more assiduity in Argyleshire,* than 

 he computed the multiples of L. 1, 12s. 



We do not propose to enter minutely into the merits or 

 demerits of the book ; but before making any extracts from it, 

 we would point out rather a singular consideration which its 

 perusal must suggest to a reflecting mind. We had occasion 

 not long since to notice Mr LyelPs interesting first volume of 

 " Principles of Geology" as the first attempt in this country 

 for a long series of years to generalize upon the accumulating 

 facts of geological science. His second volume is hardly in the 

 press, when a work by Dr MacCulloch of similar pretensions 

 appears, only with the more imposing name of a " System" 

 having the same objects, professing the same end, and differ- 

 ing only in the mode : — but how different ! Certainly no two 

 works on one subject ever appeared with an interval of half a 

 dozen of centuries between them, more antipodal than these two 

 at a distance of as many months. They coincide in few par- 

 ticular hypotheses, — in many they are utterly opposed ; but 

 what is more extraordinary, they have hardly the title or sub- 

 ject matter of a chapter common to both. The bewildered 

 reader, standing with an authority by no means destitute of 

 weight on each hand, is apt to inquire where truth lies? Whe- 

 ther the " System," or the " Principles" contain the essence 

 of the science ; for it is utterly impossible that both can do so. 

 It is really important to inquire into this anomalous condition 

 of the science, (for, however triumphant each party may con- 

 sider his own fundamental principles, and baseless those of his 

 opponent, anomalous we must still consider it,) and to show 

 how so important a schism could arise without throwing to the 

 winds any imagined data which geology has been considered to 

 possess. 



We are prepared to concede that Dr MacCulloch possesses 

 the advantage of a varied acquaintance with the physical 

 sciences, to which many, or most of his opponents (and we in- 

 clude Mr Lyell,) lay no claim. This superiority, for such it 

 undoubtedly is, may have done Dr MacCulloch more harm than 

 good as a pure geologist, by the way in which he has employed 

 it, and the disparagement which he has taken every occasion 

 to throw upon the attainments of the modern school of geolo- 

 gists ; — yet it has led him to take some just views (as they ap- 

 * See the System of Geology, vol. i. p. 93. 



