THE WERNERIAN SOCIETY. 
41 
ing the admitted fact, the importance of all attempts 
to facilitate such studies, to excite ardour, and to sti- 
mulate exertion, will he fully appreciated. Under the 
influence of this conviction, we make no apology for 
submitting to the public the following sketch of the 
rise, progress, and present state of the Wernerian 
Natural History Society of Edinburgh, as well as a 
few general observations on that branch of natural 
history, to which some of its most distinguished mem- 
bers have hitherto devoted their talents. To this so- 
ciety, we, without hesitation, refer not only a large 
share of the enthusiasm that has been kindled, but 
some of the most interesting observations on the inter- 
nal structure of Great Britain that have yet been pre- 
sented to the world. In addition to this view, it will 
be well to illustrate its truth, and to trace the insen- 
sible though progressive influence that has been exer- 
cised on the minds of many, by one enlightened, zeal- 
ous, and persevering individual. 
On the Continent of Europe, the first steps to- 
wards improvement in mineralogical knowledge were 
made; while, in our own country, though so rich 
in its mineral treasures, scarcely a work appeared, 
with the exception of ‘Williams’ Mineral Kingdom, 
and Price’s Cornwall, that contained accurate ob- 
servations. Yet in the midst of this most deplorable 
ignorance of the works of nature, her most secret 
mysteries were resolved with a boldness and teme- 
rity scarcely to be surpassed by the flights of Para- 
