in Werner s Influence 137 



school. His theoretical views, however, retarded there the 

 acceptance of the fuller development of the doctrine of 

 geological succession which made such rapid progress even 

 during his lifetime in England and in France. 



But unquestionably the greatest service which "Werner 

 did to the cause of geological science was the enthusiasm 

 he inspired for that branch of knowledge in so many 

 capable men. "It was to his irresistible influence," as 

 Cuvier has well remarked, " that the world owes those 

 authors who have treated so fully of minerals, and those 

 indefatigable observers who have so fully explored the 

 globe. The Karstens and the Wiedemanns in the cabinet, 

 the Humboldts, the Von Buchs, the D'Aubuissons, the 

 Hermanns, the Freieslebens, at the summit of the 

 Cordilleras, in the midst of the flames of Vesuvius and of 

 Etna, in the deserts of Siberia, in the depths of the mines 

 of Saxony, of Hungary, of Mexico, of Potosi, have been 

 borne onward by the spirit of their master ; they have 

 brought back to him the honour gained by their labours ; 

 and we may say of him, what was never truthfully said 

 before, save of Linnaeus, that Nature everywhere found 

 herself interrogated in his name." 



It was one of the most singular episodes in the 

 history of geological science that the first serious check 

 to the triumphal march of Wernerianism through Europe 

 came from two of Werner's most distinguished pupils, 

 D'Aubuisson and Von Buch, and that their first opposition 

 to their master's teaching was inspired by that very 

 volcanic tract in Central France to which Desmarest had 

 so long before appealed in vain. Let us see how, in this 

 instance, the whirligig of time brought in his revenges. 



