XV111 PREFACE. 



rially have aided me in my pursuit (0) this work 

 is truly the production of one who has possessed few 

 advantages for its completion none, indeed, except 

 those which have arisen from a long residence in 

 mining county (Jj) where the objects of the 

 study abound,, and have been constantly examined 

 under their most interesting relations Hence I 

 beg leave to add, that a large portion of the facts 

 advanced in this treatise, has been repeatedly con- 

 firmed by my own observations. These facts, I am 

 aware, are often rudely explained, and sometimes 

 inartificially put together : but, I trust, the errors and 

 deficiencies of the work will not be found so nume- 

 rous, as to prevent its being considered a proper 

 collection of data, for the student to proceed on. 

 Hereafter, perhaps, some one with leisure and 

 abilities equal to the task may condescend to fill 

 up these "Outlines;" or, sketching others with 

 a happier hand, give to the world a complete 

 ' ' Ph ilosophia Reliquiorum . ' y 



(0) I should be wanting in gratitude, however, if I did not 

 here acknowledge the obligations I am under to iny friend Dr. 

 Hull, of Manchester, for some valuable hints on the nomenclature 

 of petrifactions. 



(/>) Derbyshire. 



