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 tlie 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 piu-suits. If Geology did no more than this, it would do 
a great deal, and would justly hold a high place as a branch of 
learning. 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 foimd 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 something 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 Ufe. 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 Mineralogy, Chemistry, Botany, 
and Zoology in all its branches, yet he cannot 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 
