238 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
ni'^lted state, an alteration in tlie stratified rock in immediate contact witli 
it takes place." ^ovr rocks do not meet as friends do in walking about 
the earth, the superior and subjacent rock must, we apprehend, be in im- 
mediate contact, at any rate since the first deposit of the latter ; and there- 
fore if granite be an igneous rock or fire-heated rock, must not the 
sedimentary rock have been deposited originally upon it, if it be right to say 
one rock of one kind of formation is chaugcd by coming into contact ^^itll 
another rock of another kind of formation? We know, of course, the 
popular notions, but we expect from a geologist in Professor Eanisay's posi- 
tion sometliiug more than a parrot-like repetition of popular notions. Such 
a book as the present, however admirable it may be as an elementary intro- 
duction to a deep and attractive science, — and this merit we freely and 
M illingly accord it, — vrould be unworthy of the author, and his rank as a 
geologist, and his standing in society, unless it were the vehicle of higher 
instruction than could be given by a college youtli fresh from his class. Ele- 
mentary treatises we do not expect — unless of more voluminous character, 
like Lyell'SjDelabeche's, Phillips's, or Mantell's — from a. savant of eminence; 
and such small essays as the present are rather the class to expect from 
young men coming into notoriety than those older men who have acquired 
fame, and from whom we expect, especially when they are in the national 
service, higher and far more responsible works. Why time should not 
permit the Professor from showing /tow heat " sometimes eats (sic) its way 
towards the surface in a manner not immediately connected with volcanic 
action ;" why, for his own part, he should believe, and yet leave unex- 
plained his belief, that in one sense granite is an igneous, and in another 
sense a metamorphic rock ; why fusion by heat is necessary for the soften- 
ing of the rock and the movements of the constituent particles in the act 
of crystallization ; why he should forbear at present from entering on the 
theory of the essential presence of highly heated water in the formation of 
granite, as being foreign to the object of his lecture, — are mattersjof regret, 
for their subjects are points of very great interest, and properly dealt with 
would have given high charms to this rudimentary production. But he has 
preferred to hide his light under a bushel, and to leave the world in darkness. 
Altogether, raetamorphism is, to our minds, so treated with such a want of 
logic, and such a muddle of facts, and forgetfulness or neglect of recent re- 
searches, that it AA ould have been far better for geological science, if not for 
the author's reputation, that this portion had been eliminated. The third 
lecture is on the Physical Structure of England, and deals concisely with the 
various stratified formations, taking up, amongst other topics, the relation- 
ship between disturbance and form of country, the effects of disturbance, 
and denudation. The fourth treats of the distribution of the Miocene and 
Pliocene Tertiary Strata, Glacial Phenomena, and Origin of certain Lakes, 
—the glacial epoch, illustrated by glacier and^ other existing ice pheno- 
mena, being treated in a remarkably simple and explanatory manner, and 
thoroughly worthy of any writer ; indeed this portion possesses a charming 
clearness and enthusiasm rarely equalled. The fifth lecture deals still with 
the newer or Pliocene strata, treating of the denudation of the coasts of 
Britain, the present British climates and their causes, areas of drainage, river- 
valleys and their origin, old river-gravels and prehistoric human remains, 
historical elevation of the country. Upon this latter subject we have also 
a word of comment to make. It is very easy for geologists to say " heave 
up the land," but it is as yet rather doubtful whether nature is quite so 
ready or able to do it as geologists are to nuppose it done to get difficulties 
out of their way. It is quite possible that many of the so-called " heaves 
up " of the land may have other explanations than any hea^-ing at all ; and 
