216 ON THE UTILITY OF THE NATURAL SCIENCES. 



that it must be a rich ore of lead, expended a large sum in building a 

 furnace for smelting it. Another paid a considerable amount of money 

 for a few pieces of white topaz, which he conceived to be diamonds. 

 Men in other respects intelligent, producing iron pyrites, in triumphant 

 proof that they have discovered a mine of gold, is an event of frequent 

 occurrence. About a hundred years ago, a house was built at Balti- 

 more of bricks imported from England ; yet beneath the site of the 

 garden, and neatly laid out grounds, once the pride of the owner, was a 

 bed of clay which has afforded and continues to afford material for mil- 

 lions of bricks. A veiy slight knowledge of mineralogy would have 

 been sufficient to prevent such blunders. 



Chemistry is essential to a perfect acquaintance with mineralogy. 

 The utility of chemistry is, perhaps, more generally palpable than any 

 other branch of natural science. To the labors of chemical philoso- 

 phers society is indebted for many comforts and luxuries. The dis- 

 covery of a gas adapted to the purposes of illumination has been fol- 

 lowed by trades and occupations not previously known or required ; gas- 

 fitting, and the manufacture of gas, as well as daguerreotyping, are 

 among the vocations brought into existence exclusively through the 

 study of" chemistry. Indeed, the applications of this beautiful science 

 to the practical purposes of mankind are almost innumerable. 



Geology cannot be successfully prosecuted without a knowledge of 

 other branches of natural science. Mineralogy is necessary to under- 

 stand the composition of aggregate rocks ; and botany and the different 

 departments of zoology enable us to trace back, through the progress of 

 time, the various steps in the formation of the earth to a period in the 

 creation when no organic form existed, either upon dry land or beneath 

 the waters. The record is indelibly written in the fossil remains of 

 animals and plants ; and it cannot be read by one entirely ignorant of 

 osteology and comparative anatomy. 



A knowledge of geology is valuable to the engineer in locating 

 roads. The study of geology and mineralogy has developed those prin- 

 ciples which facilitate the search for coal beds and veins of metallic 

 ores ; clays used in the manufacture of the varieties of porcelain, 

 pottery, and bricks ; quarries of marble and stone ; and through this 

 study architects may acquire knowledge which will assist them in judg- 

 ing of the strength, durability, and comparative value of the varieties 

 of building stone, and in selecting those best adapted to their purposes. 

 The utility of geology has been publicly acknowledged ; many States 

 of the Union have been at the expense of geological surveys, for the 

 purpose of ascertaining their mineral resources. 



A knowledge of natural history, generally, facilitates the economic 

 exploration of new countries, and enables the traveller, almost at a 

 glance, to perceive the nature of the soil and climate, as well as the 

 value and qualities of their vegetable and mineral productions. But 

 among the many benefits which the natural sciences confer upon so- 



