154 
ZEAL IN GEOLOGY BY SCIENTIFIC INDIVIDUALS. 
been traversed in different directions. 
When men of science can however command 
a leisure moment from their other arduous 
professional employments, we find them 
engaged in scientific pursuits and papers of 
great value have been transmitted by them to 
the society. We have now before us two 
volumes of the transactions of the Physical 
class, one for 1829, the other for 1833, 
replete with the most valuable geological 
intelligence, and we boast in the face of the 
scientific world in Europe that they are 
worthy of a prominent place in their 
transactions. Let the reader refer to 
the Transactions of the Physical class 
for proof in the papers of Voysey, Herbert. 
Everest, MacPherson, Ward, Calder, Frank- 
lin, Low, Coulthard, Hardie, and others. 
We publicly avow our belief that if any 
mineralogist were to visit the Society’s 
rooms now, and view the specimens in 
mineralogy, the arrangement of which is en- 
tirely due to the talents and labours of Mr. 
James Prinsep, they would receive a full and 
satisfactory proof that much has been done 
in this department. There are however 
a considerable number of specimens 
accumulated, wliich yet remain unexa- 
mined. These,weshouldbe glad tosee,rescued 
from their present situation, and we regret 
that other members of the Society should 
not have been found to come forward to 
assist their over-burthened, but willing and 
talented Secretary, whose zeal in Geologi- 
cal science entitles him to our warmest gra- 
titude and admiration. Our author considers 
the objects of the Asiatic Society too com- 
prehensive to be of much use in the culti- 
vation of Geology. From the facts al- 
ready adverted to, we think a separate 
Geological Society would be an advantage, 
although, such an institution would go far 
we fear, to ruin the present institution which 
is now so very poorly supported as scarcely 
to be able to defray the expenses of a curator 
for its museum. Of this we are certain, no 
friend to science would lend his aid in anyway 
to the establishment of a Geological Society 
which would ruin the Asiatic. We would 
rather see the Geological branch, as it now 
exists, strengthened by more zealous exertions 
on the part of the members than risk an 
injury to the parent institution. 
Dr. McClelland refers to the geological 
societies of Britain comparing what has been 
done by them with the few Geological papers 
to be found in the whole series of the Philoso- 
phical Transactions of London and Edin- 
burgh. But we must not compare great 
Britain and her mighty institutions with the 
labours of the few scientific men in India, 
where the ability to have separate institu- 
tions is so small. In Britain, it is not 
necessary to give to the transactions of other 
societies the papers to which our author has 
alluded; but he himself gives a satisfac- 
tory reason for this difference in the folio w- 
ing passage. 
“ Before the world became acquainted with 
the labours of Werner, Bergman, Scheele, 
Klaproth, Kirwan, and Haiiy, geology could 
not be called a science, and its imperfect 
rudiments were then safely confided to Socie- 
ties celebrated for general learning. When 
however its objects became defined, its 
importance pointed out, and principles laid 
down and established for facilitating our 
knowledge of the Natural History of the 
globe — for extending our researches into the 
chemical nature of the mineral substances, of 
which the crust of the earth is composed, 
and their uses in the economy of life : then did 
geology present itself to enlightened nations, 
as a science entitled to peculiar atten- 
tion ; and Societies composed of the most 
eminent men were suddenly called into exist- 
ence. Great Britain and Ireland alone can 
boast of four such institutions : while our 
Indian empire, although it occupies a portion 
of the earth’s surface, about twenty times 
greater, excites no interest or attention.” 
Dr. MacClelland is right to awaken 
attention to the subject of Geology, by shew- 
ing the importance of its study. But it 
is our duty to point out the real state of 
the case, and by our exposition to refute 
the charge — that there has been no interest 
or attention excited. We have already 
shewn, that were it only for the labours of 
Voysey, Herbert, Franklin, and the cele- 
brated Dr. Heynes, they would sufficiently 
prove that the zeal, spirit, and talents so 
conspicuous in our native land has per- 
vaded India. Dr. McClelland must at 
the same time consider the character 
