THE GEOLOGIST. 
MAY 1864. 
DE. FEANKLAXD OX THE GLACIAL EE A. 
Br THE Editor. 
Some of the novelties presented at the lectures at the Eoyal Insti- 
tution have, from the hour they were spoken, taken rank with the 
discoveries of the age and the data of science ; amongst such are 
some of the most important results of the researches of Davy, 
Earaday, and Tyndall. Others, as might be naturally expected, have 
risen to no higher rank than that of hypotheses or an hour's amuse- 
ment, and after exciting some discussion and comment, have passed 
away into that oblivion to which all but fundamental or practically 
useful facts are, sooner or later, consigned. Amongst those familiar 
voices which we are there in the habit of hearing, few are listened 
to with more pleasure, profit, or instruction, than that of Professor 
Erankland, especially when he restricts himself to those branches of 
chemistry in which he is so eminent. The Glacial period and the 
former incandescence of the earth are two themes that geologists 
are eternally dwelling upon— whether with profit to themselves or 
with any advantage to their hearers it would be very difficult to say. 
Eor once Professor Erankland has left those realms of chemistry 
within which he is a monarch to run a lance at the same time both 
for and against geologists. Basing a theory on the supposed exist- 
ence of an internal molten mass constituting the core of our globe, 
is taking for it about as secure a basis as any one might be presumed 
to have who attempted to balance his body at the top of a mounte- 
VOL. TII. ^ 
