GEOLOGICAL ADVANTAGES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 5 



less than nineteen -of the largest and most important towns 

 in England, from Exeter to Carlisle, are all situated along 

 the line of one geological formation, the new red sandstone, 

 which, in addition to its own mineral treasures of rock-salt, 

 gypsum, soda, and metallic ores, usually covers the invaluable 

 deposit of coal, at once yielding an incentive and supply to 

 the vast and enterprising population of this favoured district.* 



Dr. Sillimanf adverts to the same point, and with 

 patriotic zeal expatiates on the admirable resources of the 

 vast American continent, the variety and richness of its 

 diversified geological deposits, and the favourable prospects 

 of its future inhabitants. 



This .part of our subject is so varied and important, that 

 to follow it in all its details would far exceed our limits ; 

 and with one additional remark, illustrative of our obliga- 

 tions on this account to an all-bountiful Providence, we 

 shall pass to other observations of a like nature. It is found 

 that insular situations are usually favourable to the develop- 

 ment of varied geological formations, while continents 

 and extensive tracts of country are generally monotonous 

 and unvaried. Thus, while the Isle of Arran presents an 

 epitome of the lower secondary and primary, and the Isle 

 of Wight a like compendium of the tertiary and upper 

 secondary formations, Sir E-. Murchison, in his recent visit 

 to Eussia, travelled for two thousand miles over old red 

 sandstone alone. Hence, in addition to the advantages of 

 natural security and defence, our insular position confers 

 those of mineral resources alike diversified and beneficial. 

 The same cause, or train of causes, which rent our island 

 from the adjacent shores of Europe, was, doubtless, asso- 

 ciated with intrusions of eruptive rocks, which brought with 

 them to the surface, many of those varied and valuable 

 deposits which enrich our favoured land. 



GrEOLOGl CONNECTED WITH MlNING. Among those 



* A passage of Scripture has been happily applied to describe the blessings 

 with which we are favoured by our peculiar geological position. " A land 

 wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing 

 in it ; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig 

 brass. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy 

 God for the good land which he hath given thee." Deut. viii. 9, 10. 

 J* In Bohn's edition of Dr. Mantell's Wonders of Geology. 



