SCIENTIFIC TRACTS. 



NUMBER II. 



GEOLOGY. 



GEOLOGY is a modern science. It is but little more 

 than a quarter of a century since it received its exist- 

 ence, especially in our own country. Before that, it 

 was neither understood, nor mentioned in our highest 

 institutions of learning. Our most learned professors 

 possessed no practical knowledge of this subject, nor 

 did our country contain any source from which it could 

 be obtained. They were unable to recognise or name 

 the most common mineral in the streets. Indeed, most 

 of the knowledge in Europe upon this subject, was 

 drawn from conjecture, rather than facts. 



Within a few years past, however, Geology has made 

 greater progress than was ever made by any other science 

 in the same length of time. From being wholly unknown 

 in our colleges, it has become a familiar and delightful 

 subject in Infant Schools. Thousands of children under 

 ten years of age, are now better practical Geologists, 

 than any individual who could be found in the country 

 thirty years ago. They have not collected their know- 

 ledge from their school-rooms or their books, but from 

 actual observation, and examination. They are ac- 

 quainted with a certain rock or mineral from seeing it, 

 and know its situation, by breaking it from the mass to 

 which it was attached. Their school-rooms and their 

 parlors bear infallible testimony both of their knowledge 

 and their industry. Their countenances testify that 

 their collections are the price of blows upon the rocks, 

 rather than upon their backs. Stripes did not compel 

 them to obtain their knowledge, but their knowledge 



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