6 
silver of Laurion combined to develope that high state of art 
which, exemplified in the Parthenon and the sculptures of 
Phidias, has never since been equalled ; whilst the abrupt lime- 
stone ravines of Lycia and Arabia Petrsea gave rise to a descrip- 
tion of architecture peculiar to itself. 
As examples of the second point, call to mind the different 
occupation and character of the dwellers in the Spanish penin- 
sula, — the active mining and mercantile population of Gallicia, 
Asturia, and the Basques on one hand, the indolent Castilian 
and Portuguese on the other.* Or compare the torpid millions 
of the Slavic race in the plains of Russia with their industrious 
relatives and co-religionists in Servia and Bulgaria.f 
Lastly, in furtherance of the third inquiry, we need only to 
examine the beautiful population map of the British Islands by 
Petermann, which shows at a glance that besides the conditions 
requisite for the purposes of shipping, it is coal and iron and 
lead and copper that mainly influence the increase of our towns. 
Nor can we omit to refer to the amazing process by which the 
discovery of gold is at this day pouring a new tide of population 
over parts of Siberia, to Western America, and to the 
Antipodes.^ 
Such general views are, however, somewhat foreign to my 
purpose ; for the main question which lies before me is the im- 
portance of mineralogical knowledge to those engaged in 
technical avocations. Enormous as is the interest at stake in 
connexion with this science, it is obvious that a more or less 
profound acquaintance with its facts must be productive of 
considerable differences in the progressive development of the 
national wealth. It is surely patent to all that the miner ought 
to be thoroughly acquainted with the nature of those substances 
* Le Play, Ann. des Mines, 1834. 
f C. Weerth, “ Die Entwickelung der Mensclienracen durcli Einwirk- 
ungen von aussen.” Lemgo, 1842. 
$ Virlet, “ Coup d’oeil statistique sur la Metallurgie dans ses Rapports 
avec l’Industrie, la Civilisation, et la Ricliesse des Peuples.” 1837. Ami 
Boue, “ Der ganze Zweck und der liolie Nutzen der Geologie.” Wien, 
1851. 
