PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



In the Preface to the First Edition of this Work, its intention was 

 stated to be — to place within the reach of the people of the districts 

 to which it relates, a popular account of the more recent discoveries 

 in the Geology and mineral resources of their country, and at the 

 same time to give to geologists in other countries a connected view 

 of the structure of a very interesting portion of the American conti- 

 nent, in its relation to general and theoretical Geology, In the Edition 

 now issued, it is hoped still more completely to fulfil this design, with 

 reference to the present more advanced condition of knowledge. 



With regard to the purely local Geology, the author has en- 

 deavoured to convey a knowledge of the structure and fossils of the 

 region in such a manner as to be intelligible to ordinary readers, and 

 has devoted much attention to all questions relating to the nature and 

 present or prospective value of deposits of useful minerals. It is 

 proper to add that, as he has no pecuniary interest in the mines of 

 the Acadian provinces, and has received no public aid in furtherance 

 of his explorations, he has had no inducement to write otherwise than 

 impartially ; and where he may appear to give undue prominence to 

 one district in comparison with another, this is merely because his 

 descriptions are necessarily limited by the scope of his opportunities 

 of observation. When he makes positive statements as to the eco- 

 nomical value of deposits of useful minerals, these may be relied on 

 as the results of his inquiries as to the facts ; and in all cases of un- 

 certainty, he has endeavoured to avoid everything likely to lead to 

 unfounded hopes or baseless speculations. It has been a source of 

 much gratification to him to find that the First Edition of this Work 



