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POPULAE SCIENCE REVIEW. 
A MANUAL OF GEOLOGYA 
T he Manuals of Messrs. Galbraith and Haughton have already won for 
themselves such a world- wide reputation, that it is only necessary to 
announce a new addition to the series in order to establish its circulation. 
Professors Galbraith and Haughton, who are both “ fellows ” of Trinity 
College, Dublin, and each of whom is distinguished as a teacher in his own 
special department of science, long ago issued a series of manuals upon the 
subjects of pure and mixed mathematics. We believe Ave are correct in saying 
that these treatises, which commanded a most extensive sale both in this and 
their own country, were really the result of the labours of Messrs. Galbraith 
and Haughton themselves. Some time since they projected a new series of 
manuals devoted to the natural and physical sciences, which, though brought 
out under their superintendence, were written by gentlemen specially 
selected. Of these, the manual of the Metalloids has already met a favourable 
reception at our hands. The volume now before us is upon the subject of 
geology, physical and palaeontological ; and though its author modestly 
regards it as “ an introduction to the more systematic treatises of Lyell, 
Dana, Jukes, and others,” we have no hesitation in expressing our opinion 
that it is infinitely better suited to the wants of the average student than any 
of the works alluded to. It is written in clear and forcible language, and 
as the report of a series of lectures delivered in the University of Dublin, it 
cannot fail to reflect the highest credit upon the scientific status of Trinity 
College. To descant upon the author’s merits as a geologist would be super- 
fluous ; Dr. Haughton is well and creditably known to all geologists, English 
and continental, and those who knoAv him as the editor of the Dublin Quarterly 
Journal of Science are often amazed at the number and importance of his 
published researches. In point of arrangement his manual does not differ very 
materially from those of other writers ; but it is remarkable for the introduc- 
tion of some new features, and for the happy faculty which the author in 
most cases exhibits, of not saying more than is necessary. The besetting sin 
of most manual writers is verbosity ; they seem to start with the conclusion 
that students who desire to learn are a very unintelligent class of men, and 
that the oftener they repeat a statement the more likely it is to be apprehended. 
This is a fatal mistake. The student requires to have the ideas which he wishes 
to grasp, conveyed to him in the clearest and shortest manner possible, and 
this is just what Professor Haughton does. He treats of the origin and com- 
position of the globe in the first instance, and then passes on to such subjects 
as the constitution of rocks, x>reservation of fossils, geological time, &c. His 
* “ A Manual of Geology.” By the Rev. Samuel Haughtox, M.A., 
M.D., F.R.S., Professor of Geology in the University of Dublin. London : 
Longman & Co. 1865. 
