10 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



especially to Economic Geology, but we hope we have said enough 

 to show its value and importance, and to point out some at least 

 of the practical results which it has produced, and which have no 

 small influence on the welfare and prosperity of the country. 

 There is, however, another consideration upon which we have not 

 touched, viz., the training and culture given to the mind by all 

 scientific pm-suits. If Geology did no more than this, it would do 

 a gi'eat deal, and would justly hold a high place as a branch of 

 leammg. But this is not all ; Geology tells us of the history of 

 God's Creation in ages long since passed away, the records of 

 which are only to be fomid in the rock masses which form the 

 crust of the globe. Now, any thing which gives us a clearer 

 insight into the works and ways of the Omnipotent Ruler of the 

 universe carries with it a moral lesson and a divine philosophy 

 which will have a practical effect upon a thoughtful and well- 

 disciplined mind. We cannot decipher the testimony of the rocks 

 without knowing somethmg about the nature and character of the 

 animals and plants which not only helped to form them, but, in 

 most cases, actually compose them. But as these are generally 

 merely the relics of a former world, we cannot read these 

 records aright without some knowledge of existing forms of 

 animal and vegetable life. We have here, therefore, an additional 

 motive for Geological pursuits; for the study of natural history, 

 whether past or present, is both useful and pleasurable. 



While Geology thus has its uses and recreations, it demands 

 laborious thought at home, as well as a quick eye and a ready 

 hand in the field ; for although it may not be necessary that the 

 Geologist should be a master of Mmeralogy, Chemistry, Botany, 

 and Zoology in all its branches, yet he camiot safely remain 

 ignorant of their general principles and facts, so far as they bear 

 upon the history of the ancient world. It has already conferred 

 many lasting benefits on mankind, and will, no doubt, as our 

 knowledge is enlarged and error removed, add many more. False 

 and dangerous theories have, indeed, been from time to time 

 propounded, and occasional mistakes have been made, but the 

 purest wisdom — the highest earthly knowledge — must sometimes be 

 found wanting ; this is inevitable in the lot of a finite being like 

 man, and is not the fault of the particular science or study from 



