674 HISTORY OF GEOLOGY. 



Geological Knowledge of Facts, and Geological Dy- 

 namics. These are the two provinces of knowledge- 

 corresponding to Phenomenal Astronomy, and Ma- 

 thematical Mechanics which may lead on to the 

 epoch of the Newton t>f geology. We may, indeed, 

 readily believe that we have much to do in both 

 these departments. While so large a portion of the 

 globe is geologically unexplored ; while all the 

 general views which are to extend our classifications 

 satisfactorily from one hemisphere to another, from 

 one zone to another, are still unformed ; while the 

 organic fossils of the tropics are almost unknown, 

 and their general relation to the existing state of 

 things has not even been conjectured ; how can we 

 expect to speculate rightly and securely, respecting 

 the history of the whole of our globe? And if 

 Geological Classification and Description are thus 

 imperfect, the knowledge of Geological Causes is 

 still more so. As we have seen, the necessity and 

 the method of constructing a science of such causes, 

 are only just beginning to be perceived. Here, then, 

 is the point where the labours of geologists may be 

 usefully applied ; and not in premature attempts 

 to decide the widest and abstrusest questions which 

 the human mind can propose to itself. 



It has been stated 10 , that when the Geological 

 Society of London was formed, their professed ob- 

 ject was to multiply and record observations, and 

 patiently to await the result at some future time ; 



10 Lyell, B. i. c. iv. p. 103. 



