298 On the Causes which retard Geological Knowledge, 



tention can be drawn to the facts upon which a knowledge of 

 the science can be raised. In Europe there are sufficient sound 

 geologists to check all affectations in the science. This is not the 

 case in countries where the science has not been actively pur- 

 sued, nor can it be supposed there is the same check upon the 

 propagation of errors in the United States : hence the teachers 

 of geology there have a great responsibility upon their hands, 

 and it is certain that the progress of geological knowledge will 

 be commensurately slow in America, if, to the discarded theories 

 and prejudices of Europe, others of native growth are superadded. 

 I do not 'know that any information I could send you from this 

 side of the water, would be as valuable as the result of the ex- 

 perience of this country in the study of geology, and which you 

 can apply, if you choose, with the same success to the present 

 state of that science with you, that you do all the other instruc- 

 tive lessons you derive from Europe, which is at present a great 

 experimental school for America. 



" The re-publication in your country of the third edition of 

 Bakewell's * Introduction to Geology,' was some evidence of a 

 strong taste for that science, for the author of that work is an 

 experienced practical observer ; and the one hundred and twenty 

 pages of matter appended to it by the American editor, himself 

 a professor of geology, induced the friends of science here to ex- 

 pect a summary of American phenomena, to contrast with those 

 European ones Mr. Bakewell has brought forward with so much 

 ability. In this we have been greatly disappointed. This volu- 

 minous Appendix, which has both Preface, Introductory Views, 

 and an Index, and which professes to be an outline of the Philo- 

 sophy of Geology, is not only barren of practical instruction, but 

 has by no means steered clear of those conceits and fancies, which 

 have rendered the labours of so many writers utterly useless. 

 This is greatly to be regretted, coming from a public teacher, 

 who has it in his power to bias the minds of so many ingenuous 

 youths. It is by no means with unkind intentions to the writer, 

 that I enter upon a brief analysis of some parts of this appendix. 



" Page 7. ' Are the discoveries of geology consistent with the 

 history contained in the book of Genesis ? 



" * Respecting the deluge, there can he hut one opinion, and that 

 opinion has been already stated ; geology fully confirms the scrip- 

 ture history of that event.' 



