GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE. 3. 



the geologist is destined to pursue his investigations 

 and extend his discoveries, by the consideration of 

 analogies, and by inferences from limited observa- 

 tions ; by a combination of the operations of analysis 

 and synthesis, according to the rigid rules of philoso- 

 phical induction. Geology thus necessarily assumes 

 a high rank among the sciences ; and if it has not yet 

 obtained to such an eminence as to claim a place 

 among those which are esteemed accurate, its cultiva- 

 tors have the greater stimulus to observe rightly and 

 reason truly; that they may place it on that proud 

 elevation in the honours of which they must them- 

 selves participate. 



To illustrate these remarks by a reference to the 

 actual state of geological knowledge, to the facts and 

 analogies already ascertained, to those by which a 

 mere observer may be misled, and to those modes of 

 proceeding by which the truth may be established, 

 would be abundantly easy. But, to the student, it 

 would now require the anticipation of many details ; 

 and hereafter, when he shall have been put into pos- 

 session of them, it will no longer be necessary. 



Disgusted with visionary theories, actuated by a 

 spirit of opposition, or influenced by narrow views, 

 many geologists have wished to stop short in this ca- 

 reer; surrounding themselves with a circumscribed 

 boundary, and refusing to inquire into those revolu- 

 tions, of which the earth every where presents the 

 most impressive traces, to attempt an explanation of 

 their causes, or to connect, by a just theory, all those 

 marks of change which are the proper objects of a 

 philosophical system of Geology. Others, have op- 

 posed the progress of rational geology, by confound- 

 ing primary and secondary causes. Because the poe- 

 tical imagination of Button has created worlds, they 



