350 DISCOURSE ON THE STUDY 



indeed, may make collections, may snatch a few 

 hasty observations, may note, for instance, the dis- 

 tribution of geological formations in a few detached 

 points, and now and then witness remarkable local 

 phenomena ; but the resident alone can make con- 

 tinued series of regular observations, such as the 

 scientific determination of climates, tides, magnetic 

 variations, and innumerable other objects of that 

 kind, requires; can alone mark all the details of 

 geological structure, and refer each stratum, by a 

 careful and long continued observation of its fossil 

 contents, to its true epoch ; can alone note the habits 

 of the animals of his country, and the limits of its 

 vegetation, or obtain a satisfactory knowledge of its 

 mineral contents, with a thousand other particulars 

 essential to that complete acquaintance with our 

 globe as a whole, which is beginning to be under- 

 stood by the extensive designation of physical geo- 

 graphy. Besides which, ought not to be omitted 

 multiplied opportunities, of observing and recording 

 those extraordinary phenomena of nature which 

 offer an intense interest, from the rarity of their oc- 

 currence as well as the instruction they are calcu- 

 lated to afford. To what, then, may we not look 

 forward, when a spirit of scientific enquiry shall have 

 spread through those vast regions in which the pro- 

 cess of civilization, its sure precursor, is actually 

 commenced and in active progress ? And what may 

 we not expect from the exertions of powerful minds 

 called into action under circumstances totally differ- 

 ent from any which have yet existed in the world, 

 and over an extent of territory far surpassing that 

 which has hitherto produced the whole harvest of 



