Correspondence — Mr, David Forbes. 93 



ON SOME POINTS IN CHEMICAL GEOLOGY. 

 By David Forbes, F.R.S., etc. 



In the '' Chemical News " of October 4th, 1867, I commenced 

 some remarks under this title, for the express purpose of exciting 

 more interest in the application of Chemistry to Geology, and with 

 the hope of starting a discussion which might at the same time en- 

 liven as well as elucidate the subject. Accepting Dr. Hunt's invi- 

 tation, — his views, being the most recent, were first selected for 

 consideration, and although that gentleman now appears greatly 

 astounded at my presuming to differ from his opinions, it is still 

 highly gratifying to find that he has at last condescended to reply. 



As this reply, however, contains absolutely nothing which can in' 

 any way affect or modify the opinions which I have already expressed 

 on the views of Dr. Hunt, or even require a reconsideration of the 

 arguments upon which those opinions were based, I am enabled to 

 reply tout de suite. 



Dr. Hunt adopts a line of argument which is an elaborate attempt 

 to convince his readers of the utter incompetency and ignorance of 

 his reviewer ; yet, at the same time, it is amusing to observe that the 

 character and tone of his remarks, in conjunction with his studious 

 avoidance of some of the knotty points and more important argu- 

 ments brought forward in opposition to his views, are strikingly 

 suggestive of his being afilicted with a presentiment that there may 

 after all be rickety points in his theoretical views. 



Men who live in glass houses should not throw stones : Dr. Hunt's 

 accusations of ignorance will appear strange to those who have paid 

 attention to some of his sweeping assertions : amongst others, for 

 example, when he emphatically declares that quartz '^ can only be 

 generated by aqueous agencies," geologists will infer that Dr. Hunt 

 must be ignorant of the most important fact, that quartz is found in 

 abundance in volcanic lavas in many parts of the world, although 

 not in Canada. 



Had Dr. Hunt remained content with his Canadian laurels, he 

 would probably have enjoyed them in peace without having his 

 opinions disputed ; but when he now aspires to be recognised in 

 Europe, he cannot complain if his views be criticised by any or all 

 of those interested in the subject — an ordeal which must be under- 

 gone before he can expect them to receive general acceptance, for 

 surely he does not issue them as axioms or oracles. Europe differs 

 greatly from Canada, and amongst other things, in close competition 

 being the order of the day. No man in Europe can expect to retain 

 any portion of the field of science exclusively for himself, or to travel 

 alone on any of the many different roads which lead to one and 

 the same scientific truth. 



If real progress is to be made in science, the student must reason 

 for himself, and not be content with accepting, merely on authority, 

 opinions which are inconsistent with his own deductions or experi- 

 ments ; nor should he be deterred by the opposition to be expected 



