426 Dr. Mac Culloch on the Geology of 



of assuming a good polish, and form ornamental stones of equal 

 novelty and beauty. We have long been indebted to foreign 

 countries for substances which our own island produces in abun- 

 dance, and in no instance have the powers of established habits and 

 prejudices been carried further than in the preference given to many 

 of their insignificant marbles and porphyries, while our own, either 

 similar or superior, have been neglected. To encourage commerce 

 and the arts is not unworthy of a Society, which, like ours, has in 

 view among other objects, the investigation of an important branch 

 of the natural history of our own country. Let us not suffer our- 

 selves to be misled by the imposing aspect of independence and 

 disinterestedness which philosophy assumes when employed in 

 investigating general principles, and, contented with the splendour 

 by which science is surrounded, refer to others the humble task 

 of converting it to useful purposes. It is the chief boast of 

 science, that while it occupies the mind in pursuits by which it is 

 exalted and interested, it tends at the same time to better the con- 

 dition of life, by adding to its enjoyments, or taking from its incon- 

 veniences. 



Arran, Goatjield. 



The general disposition, as well as the particular details of the 

 geology of Arran being universally known, I need not enter into 

 any description of them. I may merely remark, that the group of 

 mountains which constitutes the most elevated part of this island, 

 consists of a mass of granite, of which Goatfield is the highest 

 point. Various ridges, separating deep vallies of sudden declivity, 

 branch from the higher parts of the group in different directions. 



