Notice of the Wonders of Geology. 7 
had not involved a portion of this concealed world, unrecogniza- 
ble by our unassisted vision, but palpable and unquestionable with 
the aid of high magnifying powers.* = 
All these things then, so far from proving that the globe is 
eternal, do, on the contrary, demonstrate that the present order of 
things in the mineral world, has had every where a beginning, 
and therefore we may reasonably infer that matter itself must 
also have had a beginning, neither its mode nor its substance be- 
ing eternal. But it is beyond the reach of the human mind, to 
ascertain when, or in what form of existence, matter was first 
brought into being by the power of an infinite Creator, to whom 
space and time are alike without limit, and means of filling them 
without end. 
The selection of subjects by Dr. Mantell is very judicious, and 
they are combined and gern en in a state of Juminous condensa- 
tion. 
Amidst the immense opulence of geological facts, this is no 
small praise ; a happy selection implies, of course, a familiar ac- 
quaintance with the whole science, and requires the exercise of 
a sound judgment, directed by a discriminating taste. If we 
were to express any regret as to materials, it would be, both in 
the case of Dr. Mantell and of Mr. Lyell, that the primary rocks 
are left comparatively in eclipse under the flood of light that is 
poured in upon the world of fossils. Perhaps we may be under 
an undue bias on this point, from the predominating influence 
exerted by the primary rocks upon the earlier condition of geology, 
both under Werner and Hutton, for fossils were then but little 
known in comparison with the vast range which they now oc- 
os It is also true, that upon the plan of arrangement for 
h a preference has been expressed above, the primary rocks 
vol of course acquire all due consideration, because they 
would cap the climax of fire, and descending to them through 
the volcanoes and proving them, as we believe, to be ignigenous, 
we then cite them as proofs, on a magnificent scale, of the effects 
of heat, causing even the mountains of granite, or the materials 
of which they are composed, to flow in fiery liquidity, on a scale 
commensurate with the height of Alpine peaks, and mountain 
* We write, to a certain extent, from personal observation, and may add, that we 
have lately enjoyed an seediaie of i inspecting, in the hands of a friend recently 
returned from Europe, some of the very specimens of fossil animalcules with which 
Ehrenberg — had Siviahed him. 
