UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 223 



When this order is once known, the geologist is 

 no longer perplexed by the number of strata ; 

 each throws light upon the other, and the whole 

 combination receives the name of a series or 

 formation. By comparing several of these series 

 together, a resemblance in relation and position 

 will be observed between many of them, which 

 will lead to a still greater simplification of the 

 different classes." 



My uncle then changed the conversation ; we 

 begged of him to go on with his geology ; but we 

 could not persuade him ; he said if we attempted 

 to remember too much, we should lose the whole. 

 " Will you then give us a little lecture on it every 

 day ?" 



" I will with great pleasure occasionally con- 

 verse on the subject with both of you, my dear 

 children," said he ; " and in our walks, or 

 whenever a proper opportunity occurs, I will en- 

 deavour to give you a few general ideas of the 

 structure of the globe. Hereafter we may per- 

 haps enter more minutely into the details of the 

 science, and then it will be time enough to talk 

 of daily lectures." 



March 1st. My dear mamma has often 

 laughed at me for my love of little coincidences ; 

 and I have now a new one to tell her. I -very lately 

 mentioned in my journal some remarks, made 

 by Dr. Walker of Edinburgh, on the seasons of 

 the flowering of foreign plants ; and this morning 



