242 



Selections. 



[NO. 2, NEW SERIES, 



proportionate continuation of the culture, the number of trees will 

 be increased to millions. 



" Thus we have succeeded in carrying out a matter in which the 

 whole human race has an incalculable interest, and which was un- 

 dertaken, not for the Netherlands alone, from thirst for gain or 

 commercial speculations, but for the real benefit of mankind. We 

 flatter ourselves that the Netherlands, on this account, may reckon 

 on the approbation of the whole civilized world." 



Supposed Aerolite in a tree. 



We re-publish the following paper by Sir R. Murchison, from 

 the proceedings of the Royal Society not only on account of the 

 intrinsic interest attaching to the subject but as an example of care- 

 ful induction and research applied to a singular natural phenome- 

 non, and as an example of the caution with which conclusions 

 should be drawn regarding the nature and origin of remarkable 

 appearances in nature. Young and rash observers, particularly in 

 India where access to books and well authenticated specimens is 

 often difficult, are too apt to pronounce dogmatically on forms 

 which meet them in the course of their inquiries.' The care and 

 circumspection exhibited by so eminent a philosopher as the Pre- 

 sident of the Geological Society in this investigation should serve 

 as a warning against too hasty and confident a reliance on first 

 impressions. 



" In bringing this notice before the Royal Society, it is unneces- 

 sary to recite, however briefly, the history of the fall of aerolites or 

 meteorites, as recorded for upwards of three thousand years, though 

 I may be pardoned for reminding my Associates, that the pheno- 

 menon was repudiated by the most learned academies of Europe up 

 to the close of the last century. The merit of having first endea- 

 voured to demonstrate the true character of these extraneous bodies 

 is mainly due to the German Chladni (1794), but his efforts were at 

 first viewed with incredulity. According to Vauquelin and other 

 men of eminence who have reasoned on the phenomena, it was in 

 1802 only that meteorites obtained a due degree of consideration 



