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THE GEOLOGIST. 



dissensions on the part of the naturahsts from whom they 

 may emanate and the geological public ; — ^^would that the au- 

 thorities on geological subjects were more matter of fact and 

 less speculative ! We have asserted, that the interest of geo- 

 logy is mainly attributable to the scope given to the fancy — 

 much less, then, would we attempt to confine the powers of 

 speculation engrafted in the human mind by deprecating 

 their employment ; but Professor Sedgwick has said, — in a 

 public capacity, at a public meeting, and as a public and high 

 authority on the subject, to whom even the leading members 

 of the London Geological Society pay great deference) — that 

 geology cannot be said to comprise ^Haws,^' but is founded 

 upon extensive data^ which establish the modus operandi, in 

 this quarter of the globe only, but which may be opposed to 

 appearances in other parts yet unknown and unexplored. 



We have rarely heard such a candid expression as this 

 from a person held in such estimation as an authority upon 

 any one branch of science, and when we heard of its being 

 made use of on this occasion, we were naturally not a little 

 surprised, at the same time as we were greatly pleased — and 

 it would be a source of much gratification to find geologists 

 in general taking Professor Sedgwick's views of the case, 

 before they attempt to speculate as to the extended opera- 

 tions of nature in the transformation of the crust of our 

 earth. 



The late meeting of the Association is also interesting 

 from the variety of subjects brought under its notice in the 

 other departments of science of which we treat, and these 

 exhibit far more talent and research than most of those yet 

 submitted at any previously held. 



THE EDITOR. 



