THE WERNERIAN SOCIETY, 41 



ing the admitted fact, the importance of all attempts 

 to facilitate such studies, to excite ardour, and to sti- 

 mulate exertion, will be fully appreciated. Under the 

 influence of this conviction, we make no apology for 

 submitting to the public the following sketch of the 

 rise, progress, and present state of the Wernerian 

 Natural History Society of Edinburgh, as well as a 

 few general observations on that branch of natural 

 history, to which some of its most distinguished mem- 

 bers have hitherto devoted their talents. To this so- 

 ciety, we, without hesitation, refer not only a large 

 share of the enthusiasm that has been kindled, but 

 some of the most interesting observations on the inter- 

 nal structure of Great Britain that have yet been pre- 

 sented to the world. In addition to this view, it will 

 be well to illustrate its truth, and to trace the insen- 

 sible though progressive influence that has been exer- 

 cised on the minds of many, by one enlightened, zeal- 

 ous, and persevering Individual. 



On the Continent of Europe, the first steps to- 

 wards improvement in mineralogical knowledge were 

 made ; while, in our own country, though so rich 

 in its mineral treasures, scarcely a work appeared, 

 with the exception of Williams' Mineral Kingdom, 

 and Price's Cornwall, that contained accurate ob- 

 servations. Yet in the midst of this most deplorable 

 ignorance of the ivorJcs of nature, her most secret 

 mysteries were resolved with a boldness and teme- 

 rity scarcely to be surpassed by the flights of Para- 



