ledge of, that their appearance cannot fail to excite admiration, and 
an eager desire to obtain all the information respecting them, which 
can be acquired. 
Notwithstanding the interest which they must excite, want of 
information, respecting these bodies, generally prevails. Even in 
those places in this island, where they most commonly are found, 
all inquiries respecting them are, in general, answered only by the 
most silly tales and legends. This is, perhaps, attributable to the 
circumstance of no particular treatise, on these subjects, having yet 
appeared in the English language ; excepting a few valuable papers 
in the Philosophical Transactions, Dr. Woodward’s Catalogue of 
his Collection of Fossils, Mr. Walcot’s Description and Figures of 
Petrifactions found near Bath, some observations in Mr. Jones’s 
Physiological Disquisitions, and Mr. Martin’s Figures and Descrip- 
tions of Petrifactions collected in Derbyshire. AVhat else has 
hitherto been ptiblished, in this country, respecting them, has been 
chiefly in those works which, treating of mineralogy in general, 
have necessarily spoken of these substances, but in a superficial and 
unsatisfactory manner. In France and Italy, and more particularly 
in Germany, the most ardent and scientific inquiries have indeed 
been instituted; in consequence of which, discoveries of the most 
curious and interesting nature have been made. These, however, 
having been published either in French, German, or Latin, and not 
having yet appeared in an English dress, it is not to be wondered at 
that the astonishing information which they impart, is so little known 
in this country. 
From the consideration of this circumstance, I am disposed to 
offer to the public eye whatever information I shall be able to collect, 
whilst complying with your request; trusting that the interest, excited 
by the subjects of my inquiry, will be sufficient to awaken attention 
to a most pleasing, but much neglected science. 
