356 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



have been in its origin, a continued shrinking from all attempts to 

 grapple with the difficulties which admittedly beset this subject is 

 likely to retard the progress of some of the most important branches 

 of chemical and physical geology. The successful solution of many 

 obscure problems can only be hoped for from a long, patient, and 

 accurate examination of the never-ceasing processes of nature work- 

 ing deep in the recesses of the earth, and which are only open to 

 observation in those wonderful excavations which, by the patient 

 toil of years upon years, have been made accessible to us in our 

 mining districts. 



The history of science teaches us that the prevalence of specula- 

 tion (theorising) is generally in inverse ratio to that of observation. 

 When correct facts are few, the vaguest speculations are the most in 

 vogue. The subject at present under our consideration forms no ex- 

 ception to this experience. While our knowledge of the facts of 

 metalliferous deposits seems, to me, to have remained almost 

 stationary for the last generation, the same cannot be said of specu- 

 lations, or so-called theories, as to their origin. These have been 

 abundant enough ; but although they form an injurious and retard- 

 ing element to the progress of true information, they do not stand 

 alone, nor I believe pre-eminent, in this respect. The great evil 

 connected with this subject is a tendency to state as facts what are 

 in truth often nothing but opinions — and probably very incorrect 

 opinions : " d'illusions systematiques qui nous porteraient a con- 

 siderer comme des faits positifs ce qui n'est encore que dans le 

 vague des conjectures."* The grave errors arising from this cause 

 are, I am satisfied, far greater than are at all suspected. On future 

 occasions I shall take an opportunity of referring to some that have 

 come under my own observation. 



If we now turn to the Continent we find, if not a very brilliant 

 advance, yet a certain and steady progress both in observation and 

 generalization. This of course is almost entirely due to the ex- 

 istence, in the principal continental states, of educated mining corps, 

 under whose immediate superintendence all operations must be 

 carried on — the government whom they represent being in most 



* Tournet, "Etudes sur les depots metalliferes," p. 385. 



