52S Correspondence — Mr. J. Clifton Ward. 



I tliought, and still think, would be of some use, if adopted, in 

 elementary teaching. But, if this be all, Mr. Dauby will then 

 "pronounce the system unprofitable." Here I differ from him, for 

 probably out of every hundred students who commence crystal- 

 lography, not more than a tithe of them ever learn, or care to learn, 

 more than the rudiments of the science. An elementary knowledge 

 of the subject is usually deemed sufficient for ordinary purposes ; 

 and a sound elementaiy knowledge is by no means without its value. 

 Is it, then, " unprofitable " if ninety per cent of students can, by 

 any means, acquire more easily that which they wish to acquire ? I 

 may here cite the well-worn proverb that a steam-hammer may be 

 used for cracking small nuts, but that the same end may be attained 

 by simpler means. With regard to the higher branches of crystal- 

 lography, Mr. Danby's estimate of my system may possibly be 

 correct. Still, I do not think that the student who used it would 

 have anything to unlearn. I thank Mr. Danby for taking the 

 trouble to test the merits or demerits of the system, and I trust that 

 others whose requirements are more purely elementary may be 

 induced to give it a fair trial. Frank Eutlky. 



H.M. Geological Survey. 



GLACIATION OF THE LAKE-DISTRICT. 



Sir, — ^I feel that some apology is due from me to Mr. Mackintosh, 

 Dr. Bryce, and others, for not having alluded in my paper on " The 

 Glaciation of the Northern Half of the Lake-district," to the work 

 previously done by others on the same subject. M}'- reason was this : 

 The papers upon this subject are so numerous, and so generally — I do 

 not say universally — the result of hasty runs through the country, that 

 I felt it difficult to allude to some, and give no notice of others. It was 

 my intention, moreover, when the subject should be treated more com- 

 pletely in a forthcoming Survey Memoir, to give a list of all papers 

 bearing upon it. My official work has enabled me to go more 

 minutely over the district than perhaps any previous worker, and I 

 need hardly say that all conclusions arrived at in my recent paper 

 were founded on self-observed facts. Since its reading and publica- 

 tion in the Journal, I have learnt that Dr. Bryce, in 1853 and 

 following years, opposed the idea of a great ice-cap coming from 

 the north-east, and completely riding over the Lake-district moun- 

 tains, in papers communicated to the Philosophical Magazine, British 

 Association, and Glasgow Philosophical Society. 



Keswick. ' J. Clifton Ward. 



GEOLOGY OF THE LAKE-DISTRCT. 



Sir, — May I be allowed through the medium of your Magazine 

 to ask authors of Papers on the Geology of the Lake-district to do 

 me the favour of sending the titles of the same upon post-cards or 

 otherwise ? 



Greta Bank Coitage, Keswick. ' J- Clifton Ward. 



