Reviews — B. B. Smyth — Goldfields of Victoria. 4:59 



into massive blocks, through the rapid consolidation of their sur- 

 faces, on the escape of the vapours which they contain in abun- 

 dance. (See Volcanos, p. 135. Longmans, 1862). The crater of 

 this volcano still gives issue to many fumaroles of acid vapour, 

 vp'hich coat its crevices with crusts of sulphur and various 

 sulphates. 



Several other volcanic cones are visible from this point, con- 

 tinuing the train of vents into the territory of Mexico, but were 

 not examined by our authors. On quitting them we cannot forbear 

 from expressing regret that they had not entered on the examination 

 of so interesting a volcanic district, free from any preconceived 

 ideas as to the non-volcanic character of the great masses of 

 trachytic porphyry and their conglomerates, which compose its 

 chief substance ; and which we must believe to have been closely 

 connected in origin with the volcanic cones and craters that every- 

 where penetrate its mass and stud its surface. We should then, 

 perhaps, have obtained from them a more definite and clear idea of 

 the geology of this interesting country. 



G, P. SCROPE. 



n. — The Gold-eiblbs and Mineral Districts of Victoria, with 

 Notes on the modes of Occurrence of Gold and other Metals 

 and Minerals. By E. Brough Smyth, F.G.S., Secretary for 

 Mines for the Colony of Yictoria, etc., etc., etc. Melbourne, 

 1869. 4to, pp. 644. Illustrated with One hundred , Sketches, 

 Plans, Maps, and Sections. London : Triibner and Co., 

 Paternoster Eow. 



ONE of the greatest glories of England is her Colonial possessions, 

 and of these Australia is undoubtedly the finest. Less than a 

 century ago this vast continent was virtually a terra incognita, its 

 colonization having only commenced in 1789, whilst the organiza- 

 tion of its separate governments was only accomplished in 1842. 



Mr. Smyth thinks that at the present time, even, the resources of 

 this great country are less known than are those of Tasmania,' 

 Norfolk Island, or Japan. 



As far as concerns the mineral riches of the Colony of Yictoria, 

 the grand work before us furnishes all the information that can be 

 desired, and, although the author modestly speaks of himself as only 

 a compiler, we are bound to say that Mr. Smyth has, by the pub- 

 lication of his book, conferred a service on the Colonial Government 

 and the public, which entitle him to the best thanks of us all. 



Mr. Brough Smyth writes, (p. 5) : — "During a period of nearly fifty 

 years — from the first discovery of the waters of Port Phillip Bay, 

 in February, 1802, until the finding of gold at Chines in March, 

 1850 — it was believed that the southern part of the Island-continent 

 of Australia was so much almost useless land, lying in the way of 

 the navigator, and probably profitable only to such hard}^ pioneers 

 as might take sheep, and cattle, and horses to it from Tasmania and 

 New South Wales." 



Every district was valued solely in proportion to the number of 



