Indian Coal. 



617 



" No great country save England has been without geolo- 

 gists employed by the State during the last ten or fifteen 

 years, and in the appointment of Mr., now Sir H. De la 

 Beche, to the office of geologist of the Ordnance Survey, the 

 English Government has at length recognised the princi- 

 ple. In our own country, however, the great enterprise, 

 and spirit of the Geological Society have worked out the 

 leading data for which foreign governments, even the Unit- 

 ed States, are glad to pay. It seems singular too that the 

 President of the Geological Society of London, should be 

 invited to Russia, and should, under the auspices of the Em- 

 peror, have prepared a geological map of that region (with 

 special reference to coal tracts) whilst in regard to British 

 India no information whatever has been sought at our hands 

 by your rulers, and no advice of course has been tender- 

 ed. You have evidently taken the right course, which 

 is, to bring public opinion to act upon our Indian Govern- 

 ment, which sooner or later must subscribe to the necessity 

 of employing well informed geologists under a skilful chief. 

 The points to which you direct attention in search of coal 

 seem to be judiciously selected, as far as I am competent 

 to judge ; and assuring you that I will at all times afford 

 you any support in my power in prosecuting the praise- 

 worthy, and truly national objects, &c." 



(Signed) R. J. Murchison. 



Upon this we would merely remark, that whatever be the 

 character of the British Government in India in other re- 

 spects, the world will estimate its policy in regard to these 

 things, according to the opinion of Mr. Murchison. Although 

 not yet in possession of the sentiments of Sir J. Herschel 

 and Mr. Lyell on this subject, we hope to be so before 

 long, when we shall not withhold them from our readers. 



4 K 



