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ful conclusions could be deduced. Yet the diligent and persevering study 
of analogous facts tended towards the discovery of the true cause. And 
although the labours of the ancient philosophers were not wholly unpro- 
ductive, yet the purely inductive path of Positive Science should be our 
course. Hence we should avoid the pursuits of the Metaphysician. We 
should touch very lightly on speculations about Vital Principle — Origin of 
Life — Nature of Force — and such like mysteries, and I think that attempts 
to discover the origin of species will not be popular among the students of 
pure science. Still less shall we be inclined to deviate from our own 
domain into that which belongs to the Theologian and the teacher of 
Religion. We will labour in the pursuit of science ; and not doubting 
that truths of every kind are consistent, although we may not be able in 
some instances to reconcile them, we will carry on that pursuit wherever 
our search may lead us, free from the unreasonable fear, that a correct 
train of reasoning will ever terminate in fatal error. Natural science is 
based on pure reason. Religious knowledge, while consistent with reason, 
has its foundation on a Religious Instinct. The truths of each may appear 
incompatible and we may be unable to reconcile them. I believe that, in 
this life, we never shall comprehend this mystery ; and I agree with the 
justness of the remark ' To know more, we must be more.' " 
Fort-Major Austin, F.G.S., then read the following paper on 
*' Rock-Basins, Logan Rocks, and Tolraen," illustrated with some 
drawings of the localities referred to. 
Some years since, in a ramble through Cornwall, I had an opportunity of 
examining the different geological features of that interesting county, and accord . 
ingly rock-basins, logan rocks (rocking stones), and tolmen, attracted my atten- 
tion. The so-called rock-basins are merely irregular depressions in the granite 
blocks, caused beyond doubt by the unequal weathering of the stone. While 
passing many days amidst the rocky masses which abound in Cornwall, I had 
ample confirmation of the opinion I had formed as to the origin of rock-basins, 
which certain fanciful antiquarians had ascribed to the Druids, who, it was averred^ 
had scooped out these cavities in the granite blocks for some purposes connected 
with their religious rites. It was supposed that the rains and dews of heaven 
deposited therein that pure and untainted element which was required for the due 
performance of their superstitious ceremonies. Unfortunately for this learned 
hypothesis, it can be shewn that these said Druidical fonts are nothing more than 
natural cavities formed by the gradual decomposition of the felspar in the granite. 
It will be found that in the granite, crystals of felspar frequently occur in groups 
and patches, as well as disseminated generally through the mass. The felspar 
being more readily acted on by the atmosphere than the quartz and mica, which 
are also component parts of the rock, it follows as a necessary consequence that 
where these clusters of crystals of felspar occur, disintegration goes on with greater 
^apidity than where the more enduring materials prevail. Hence it is that in those 
