20 Economic Geology. 



mation they had acquired in every way subservient to its 

 interests, by endeavouring to develop the mineral resources 

 of the country, and contribute to the welfare of the people 

 over which its power extends. 



Unless however some such means as the preceding are 

 taken to give effect to the design contemplated by the Court 

 of Directors in sending to this country what may be consi- 

 dered the nucleus of a Geological Museum, it cannot be 

 expected that much benefit will result from the step, since 

 the pecuniary loss to which individuals would be subject 

 were they to quit their duties for the purpose of attending 

 the Museum, will always operate as an effectual bar to their 

 doing so. It is to be hoped however that the spirit of the 

 Home Government will be sympathised with here, and 

 that effectual measures will be adopted to open up to the 

 Service generally the means of acquiring information of 

 so useful and practical a character. 



In the following papers it is proposed to describe some of 

 the most common applications of geology to the useful 

 purposes of life, and although, from the extent of the subject, 

 a portion only of it can be presented to view, it is yet hoped 

 that the effort will not be unaccompanied with advantage. 



No. 1. 



On the Geological Relations of Artesian Wells. 



The dependence of the welfare and prosperity of the 

 inhabitants of tropical countries generally on their posses- 

 sing abundant supplies of good water, gives a natural pro- 

 minence to the means usually resorted to for obtaining these, 

 and as the method of boring, when employed in subservience 

 to certain general principles included within the province of 

 economic geology, offers peculiar facilities and advantages, 

 the development of these principles may prove at once 

 interesting and useful. It too frequently happens that they 



