356 
THE OEOI.OGIST. 
have been in its origin, a continued shrinking from all attempts to 
grapple with the difficulties which admittedly beset this subject is 
likely to retard the progress of some of the most important branches 
of chemical and physical geology. The successful solution of many 
obscure problems can only be hoped for from a long, patient, and 
accurate examination of the never-ceasing processes of nature work- 
ing deep in the recesses of the earth, and which are only open to 
observation in those wonderful excavations which, by the patient 
toil of years upon years, have been made accessible to us in our 
mining districts. 
The history of science teaches us that the prevalence of specula- 
tion (theorising) is generally in inverse ratio to that of observation. 
When correct facts are few, the vaguest speculations are the most in 
vogue. The siibject at present under our consideration forms no ex- 
ception to this experience. While our knowledge of the facts of 
metalliferous deposits seems, to me, to have remained almost 
stationary for the last generation, the same cannot be said of specu- 
lations, or so-called theories, as to their origin. These have been 
abundant enough ; but although they form an injurious and retard- 
ing element to the progress of true information, they do not stand 
alone, nor I believe pre-eminent, in this respect. The great evil 
connected with this subject is a tendency to state as facts what are 
in truth often nothing but opinions — and probably very incorrect 
opinions : " d'illusions systematiques qui nous porteraient a con- 
siderer comme des faits positifs ce qui n'est encore que dans le 
vague des conjectures."* The grave errors arising from this cause 
are, I am satisfied, far greater than are at all suspected. On future 
occasions I shall take an opportunity of referring to some that have 
come under my own observation. 
If we now turn to the Continent we find, if not a very brilliant 
advance, yet a certain and steady progress both in observation and 
generalization. This of course is almost entirely due to the ex- 
istence, in the principal continental states, of educated mining corps, 
under whose immediate superintendence all operations must be 
carried on — the government ^^■hom they represent being in most 
* Fournot, "Etudes sur los depots mctalliferes," p. 38.5. 
