IN GALLOWAY. 377 



manner in which they had been formed ; and 

 here, it must be confessed, that his conclusions are 

 not always satisfactory. But while we admit this, 

 we are at the same time prepared to maintain, 

 that they are legitimate so far as they go, and af- 

 ford, by much the most likely explanation that 

 has hitherto been offered. The unsatisfactoriness 

 of the theoretic conclusions of Werner, arises 

 not from the false and erroneous principles on 

 which he proceeds, but from the difficulty of the 

 subject, and the yet imperfect state of our in- 

 duction. His opponents, themselves, have in ef- 

 fect been compelled to admit this, and have ac- 

 knowledged, that though he has not put us 

 right, he has put us on the way of being right," 

 or has shewn us the proper mode of investigation 

 in this subject, — a merit of no slight kind certain- 

 ly, and in the highest degree honourable to the 

 man who has had the good fortune to attain it. 

 To set us on the right road, is doubtless the first 

 step towards enabling us to reach the place of our 

 destination. 



Proceeding on his principles, Werner's now 

 numerous and widely scattered pupils have for 

 these last thirty years been making rapid strides 

 in geognosy. It is not much above the half of 

 that period, since the science was, we may say, at 

 all known in this island ; and yet, by the genius 

 and enterprize of many of the members of this 

 Society and others, and particularly of our Pre- 



3hS 



