2 Notice of the Wonders of Geology. 



gested information and scientific deductions within the reach of 

 the student. 



The excellent works of Smith, De la Beche, Buckland, Dau- 

 beny, Sedgwick, Murchison, Bakewell, Thomson, Jameson, Ly- 

 ell, Greenough, Conybeare, Phillips and others in England and 

 Scotland are well known, and most of them have been mentioned 

 in the pages of this Journal. Continental writers also are numer- 

 ous and not less distinguished than those of Britain — we may cite 

 Cuvier, the Brongniarts, Humboldt, Boue, De Beaumont, De- 

 shayes, Omalius de Halloi, D'Aubuisson, Von Buch, Leonhard, 

 Bronn and many more, while our own country is fruitful in geo- 

 logical surveys and elaborate reports and memoirs of great value, 

 although it is as yet without any extended origi?ial elementary 

 treatise on geology. 



At present we shall confine our attention to the work named at 

 the head of this article. 



The first London edition appeared in March, 1838, and the third 

 only fourteen months after, so rapid had been the sales, indicating a 

 great and deserved popularity. The first and only American edi- 

 tion was in fact, identical with the London third, being printed 

 on the same paper of the same quality and with the same types 

 and illustrations. The title page was so far altered as to shew its 

 adoption here, and an original prefatory discourse, served as a pass- 

 port to this country, in which the work found an editor in Prof. 

 SiLLiMAN, of Yale College, and a pecuniary sponsor, in Mr. A. H. 

 Maltby, of New Haven. 



The object of this American adoption was, to secure some ad- 

 vantage to the respected author, (a precedent unhappily as novel 

 as it is just,) and at the same time to bring the work before 

 the American public at such a price, as would enable persons in 

 moderate circumstances to purchase it. 



In this view, as we are assured, the expectations of the American 

 sponsors have not been disappointed, notwithstanding the trying 

 times, in the business world, that are now passing over our heads. 



In Vol. xxxiv, at p. 387 of this Journal, we gave a favorable 

 account of the first edition of the Wonders of Geology, and it is 

 our object now to say something of the merits of the last edition. 

 We regret that it has lain so long unnoticed by us, but from the 

 pressure of many duties, our power has not been commensurate 

 with our inclinations. 



