On Mineralogical Surveys. 353 



has not been more or less examined, and authorized geolo- 

 gical maps have been published by the respective govern- 

 ments. The French Government have lately published a 

 magnificent map, coloured geologically under the guidance 

 of Beaumont, and Dufrenoy. The Austrian and Prussian 

 Governments have also published splendid geological maps. 

 In addition to what has been done by the different govern- 

 ments, many splendid maps have been published by private 

 individuals, viz., Von Buch, Hoffmann, Boue, Von Dechen, 

 Oeynhausen, &c, and in the transactions of many of the 

 continental Societies and periodicals, an immense number of 

 valuable observations will be found. Nor is Great Britain 

 behind in this department. The island has been investigated 

 in all directions. In England many valuable observations 

 have been published by Smith, Greenough, Buckland, Phil- 

 lips, Sedgewicke, Lyell, Murchison, and others. In Scotland, 

 Jameson, MacCulloch, Playfair, Fleming, Boue, Necker, &c. 

 have by their labours left little to be done ; and Griffiths, 

 Weaver, Portlock, &c. have given us much information with 

 regard to Ireland. Last year a geological map of Ireland, 

 coloured under the direction of Griffiths, was laid before 

 Parliament. At present the geological department connect- 

 ed with the great Trigonometrical Survey is conducted 

 under the able superintendence of Major Portlock. Nor 

 must we omit to mention that Murchison has published a 

 most extensive work on the Silurian system — a name given 

 by him to a series of slates, limestone, and sandstones occur- 

 ring between the old red sandstone and greywacke series, 

 and probably, as supposed by Professor Jameson, a mere 

 extension of the former. It is not a partial formation con- 

 fined to England, for it has been met with in Scotland,* and 

 in many places on the European continent,f and no doubt 

 from the specimens which we have examined in the collec- 



* Professor Jameson in Lectures. f Phillips' Geology, p. 85. 



