156 Natural History. 



citements to a further prosecution of the inquiries 

 which he instituted. It would be happy for the 

 interests of science in this new world, if similar 

 undertakings, conducted with similar skill, could 

 be multiplied and extended. — It is, indeed, dcr 

 voutly to be wished that a kind Providence may 

 for ever conceal from our view all mines of the prer 

 cious metals, if there be such in our country; but so 

 many mines of more real value to a nation have 

 been discovered, and profitably wrought within 

 the last age, in the United States, that we may 

 safely wish for the extension, and the more dili- 

 gent improvement of these discoveries. 



Geology. 



In the investigation of the natural history of the 

 Earth, little progress had been made prior to the 

 commencement of the eighteenth century. In- 

 deed, as Mineralogy is the alphabet, by the prin- 

 ciples and combinations of which the great vo- 

 lume of geological science must be formed, it is 

 plain that as long as the former remained in an 

 uncultivated state, the latter would receive but 

 little light or improvement. During the century 

 under consideration, geology has become an object 

 of the attention and inquiries of many distinguished 

 philosophers. The discoveries of chemists and 

 mineralogists, and the observations of intelligent 

 travellers, have all tended to facilitate these inqui- 

 ries, and to render them more enlightened and 

 satisfactory. And, although modern times have 

 produced many visionary theories, and crude con- 

 jectures on this subject, they have also given birth 

 to some important acquisitions, and much correct 

 philosophy, which will be highly prized by all 

 who study the history and structure of our globe. 



