Mineralogy. xci 
important facts which have come to my knowledge, either have 
or will make their appearance in the transactions of the dif- 
ferent geological sovieties which have been of late years esta- 
blished in Great Britain. I shall take care to insert a regular 
analysis of the different volumes published by these societies 
into the Annals of Philosophy soon after they have made their 
appearance. 
here is only one publication belonging to Geology, strictly 
‘so called, which has made its appearance since my last historical 
sketch was drawn up. I allude to a work, intitled, “ Facts 
and Observations towards forming a new Theory of the Earth, 
by William Knight, LL.D. Professor of Natural Philosophy in 
the Institution of Belfast.” I abstain the more willingly from 
entering into any discussion respecting the theory of the earth, 
which the author has advanced, and which he has supported 
with much zeal and ingenuity, because the world in general 
seems now sensible of the unprofitable nature of such specu- 
lations. Even Professor Jameson, whose zeal burned for so many 
years with such furious ardour, that to call in question a Wer- 
nerian opinion, or to hesitate about the propriety of a Wernerian 
arrangement, was considered by him as a crime of the deepest 
die, and worthy of the severest treatment ; even he has become 
sufficiently cool, has ventured to call in question some of the 
most material parts of his master’s geognosy ; and if he exercise 
his own judgment without fetters for a few years longer, I 
venture to predict that he will not be a Wernerian at all. Even 
the Huttonians, those Calvinists of the science of geology, 
whose theory was so complete and so beautiful, if we took its 
foundation for granted, and were complaisant enough to over- 
look its inconsistency with the phenomena of nature—even they 
have become a great deal more tolerant; they no longer hurl 
their anathemas and their interdicts against their antagonists ; 
they no longer affirm that mineralogy and geology are uncon- 
nected sciences, and that we may become profound geologists 
without any knowledge whatever of rocks or of minerals. On 
the contrary, they have exercised their industry with laudable 
zeal, and not only favoured us with descriptions of tracts of 
country themselves, but encouraged others to undertake similar 
tasks. Geologists in general seem now satisfied that the true 
object of their science is to acquire an accurate knowledge of 
the structure of the earth ; that this knowledge can be acquired 
only by patient observation; that at present our knowledge of 
that structure is very incomplete ; and that till the position of 
all the different strata over the whole surface of the earth be 
accurately ascertained, it would be a waste of time to speculate 
upon the original formation of these strata, or the changes which 
they have undergone since their original creation. Dr. Knight 
Is a ae ee of amiable manners, of excellent abilities, and 
indefatigable industry. He would much more effectually pro- 
7 
