472 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



eternal and ever enduring force the vast clouds of vapours that have in the 

 roll of ages collapsed into the myriads of worlds and suns that swarm in the 

 heavens above and around us — of which we can neither see the limits nor con- 

 ceive the expanse — but which may yet be the smallest and least wonderful of 

 all the myriads of world-clusters with wbich the same great Creator has star- 

 dusted liis course through the realms of boundless and interminable space. 



Reynolds' Geological Atlas of Great Britain. London : James Revnolds, 

 174, Strand. 



This is a series of thirty-three small quarto maps folded and bound into an 

 ordinary octavo book — a very convenient and useful size. These maps are 

 very neatly and cleanly executed ; and on them the principal roads and rail- 

 ways, both those constructed and those constructing, are laid down, and the 

 geological features intelligibly and neatly coloured in, but not always quite so 

 carefully as to areas as ought to pass out to the world under the authority of 

 Professor Morris, whose assistance the editor acknowledges. The maps, how- 

 ever, offering a really good foundation for every essential detail, there is no 

 reason why, under the direction of so able a geologist, all such, errors should 

 not be instantly corrected before the issue is made to the public. Eor ex- 

 ample, in our copy the district from Hythe to Polkestone is coloured in as 

 Upper Greensand and Gault, instead of as Lower Greensand, as every geolo- 

 gist kuovf s it is from the memorable paper of Dr. Eitton " On the Strata below 

 the Challv," and which work is quoted as one of the authorities on which the 

 geological information of the present series is based. Again, the tongue of 

 land outside tlie river Stoiir, in front of Sandwich, and between Deal and Peg- 

 well Bay is coloured down as Chalk, while every antiquary, and we thought 

 everybody else, knew that tract was open water to the old Roman port of Eich- 

 borough, and formed the mouth of the estuary which, passing between the Isle 

 of Thanct and the mainland, was up to medieval times, indeed, used as a pas- 

 sage by ships voyaging to London. 



Tliis map was sent to us in time for review last month ; but Mr. "Reynolds 

 having found out some errors iu his map of Scotland, requested us to withhold 

 our criticism until that map had been amended, which has now been done. As 

 far, however, as the execution of the maps, and the size, style, and small cost 

 of the work arc concerned, Mr. Reynolds has done well his duty as publisher ; 

 and if he will pass his maps under the careful inspection of his friend Professor 

 ^Morris, we have no doubt that the atlas will be relieved of such slight 

 blemishes as those which have caught our scrutinizing eye, and be justly en- 

 titled to a general favoritism with students and travellers, as well as for use in 

 scliools. 



Wc sincerely wish success to all such efforts, but we are nevertheless bound 

 to look for deiVcts in all new publications of this class, as in theii' general 

 accuracy consists their chief value ; we desire at the same time to give honest 

 criticisius, both for the guidance of those of oiii- readers who rely on our judg- 

 ment, and for the just cncouragmeiit of producers, an encouragnient we are the 

 more jiloased to give when wc'see a desire manifested, as in the present case, 

 to attain correctness, by retaining the services of gentlemen who, by their 

 knowledge and talent, are able to secure it. 



END OF VOL. III. 



