On the Causes which retard Geological Knowledge. 297 



by many of the leading continental geologists. T also knovA' that 

 the tone of the " Introduction" in your first number, has given 

 particular satisfaction here. Your friendly critic in the Philoso- 

 phical Magazine has but done you justice on that subject. You 

 have certainly taken the correct philosophical view of the man- 

 ner in which geologists should treat that — with inexperienced 

 minds — too attractive branch of our science, and have hap- 

 pily freed both your Journal and the subject from the appre- 

 hensions which would enable prejudice to raise up an unfriendly 

 spirit against them. In truth, the material origin of this planet 

 is by no means a proper topic for geological writers, and you 

 may observe, that all writers, who — as they thought — have been 

 laying a great deal of strength out upon it, are now entirely dis- 

 regarded, and are indeed classed among the weakest of those 

 writers who have entered the lists. See the inventions and 

 opinions of Burnet, Whiston, Buffon, De Luc, and many others, 

 whose names have at different periods greatly influenced science : 

 we look back with surprise, mingled with pity, upon the effusions 

 of great minds like theirs, which aspired to instruct mankind in 

 some of the loftiest branches of physical science, whilst yet un- 

 conscious of its elements. 



" It has been an axiom in education for a long period, that it is 

 of the very nature of truth, that we should be led to it by practi- 

 cal induction ; yet how much is that axiom disregarded, to the 

 detriment of science, and to the bringing of names — otherwise 

 meritorious — into disrepute. It is lamentable to see how men 

 erect altars, from time to time, as if to immolate themselves upon. 

 Men who knew little or nothing of practical geology, have written 

 on the subject as if for the express purpose of deterring others 

 from the pursuit of it ; they have cherished the false idea that 

 modern geology and true religion do not accord with each other. 

 Some of them have affectedly assumed a tone of piety, merely to 

 entrap their readers ; and, indeed, as you say, if the modern 

 leaders in geology had not, by their learning, industry and pru- 

 dence, succeeded in eradicating these groundless opinions, the 

 science would have been very much retarded with us. In like 

 manner on your side of the Atlantic, in order to prevent the few 

 from misleading the million, you will find it necessary to assail all 

 wild and affected speculations, whether religious or irreligious, 

 and to tell your readers what is not geology, before a steady at- 



VoL. I.— 38 



