390 Dr. Mac Culloch on the Geology of 



In the mass of geological reading which Is in the hands of every- 

 one, most of the places referred to for characteristic examples are in 

 foreign coiSntrles, always of difficult access to the many, and ren- 

 dered more so at present from the circumstances of the times. 



Our own country, perhaps, exhibits a greater variety of mineralo- 

 gical products and geological facts than any equal space on the globe, 

 condensed in their position and easy of access. It is desirable there- 

 fore that a record should be kept of such circumstances, that the 

 student may not be sent to Siberia or Bohemia for that information 

 which he may acquire in Arran or the Grampians ; and that the 

 humble task of recording the domestic habitats of interesting par- 

 ticulars may be countenanced by a Society which we trust is destined 

 to add somewhat to the interest already taken in this pursuit, and to 

 the general progress of geological knowledge. 



In matters of terminology I have felt an inconvenience not peculiar 

 to myself, which I have been unable to remedy without appearing 

 to attack hypotheses that I would willingly have let alone, as the 

 language of controversy is unpleasing, and appears rather cal- 

 culated to retard than promote the progress of an infant science ; 

 not only by warping the impressions which the mind receives, but 

 by diverting it from legitimate observation to the more amusing 

 occupation of attack and defence. 



I allude here chiefly to Werner's great divisions of rocks. If we 

 describe the several rocks by the terms which he has applied to 

 them, we begin by admitting the very matter to be proved. A worse 

 consequence follows ; the adoption of the terminology insensibly 

 leads to a belief in the hypothesis, and becomes inimical to that in- 

 dependent and free spirit of observation which the infancy of any 

 physical investigation more especially requires. To describe ap- 

 pearances without adopting this systematical language requires a cir- 



