REPORT ON GEOLOGY. 
noo 
OO.J 
Mr. De la Beclie has recently been appointed to colour geo¬ 
logically the Government trigonometrical survey of Devon; and 
a complete geological map of Cornwall is at length promised by 
Mr. Henwood, under the auspices of the Geological Society of 
that county: when these works shall be executed, we may trust 
that the history of the older formations of this island will re¬ 
ceive as full and satisfactory an elucidation as our secondary 
series has long since obtained from the labours and acuteness 
of our geologists. 
If it be said that these questions as to our older rocks are 
only questions of detail, be it remembered that the boldest and 
happiest generalisations of science must rest on such details in 
the first instance. While we remain imperfectly acquainted with 
the various modifications exhibited by our earliest formations, 
(variations wdiich must have resulted from corresponding 
changes in the causes which produced them,)—while we are as 
yet unable precisely to distinguish the disturbing forces and in¬ 
trusive ignigenous masses of this period,—how can the bases of 
any geological theory be securely laid ? Mr.Weaver has recently 
added to his former important paper (before noticed) a continua¬ 
tion which completes the geology of the South of Ireland, and 
now leaves only the north-western portion of that island a desi¬ 
deratum. The most important general feature of this paper ap¬ 
pears to be the having ascertained the fact that the coal beds of 
the South-east of Ireland present an older carboniferous forma¬ 
tion than any previously known, being associated with the trans¬ 
ition rocks. 
Before we advert to that wider and more important field, the 
comparative geology of the Continent, it is most gratifying to 
remark, that as we shall there find our countrymen distinguish¬ 
ing themselves no less than at home, so in return the geology 
of our own island has been indebted for many valuable contri¬ 
butions to the labours of the ablest Continental observers. The 
indefatigable and acute Boue (whose name we shall have such 
repeated occasion to cite as connected with almost every de¬ 
partment of our subject,) commenced his career by exploring 
Scotland, concerning which he has presented the public with 
a most masterly sketch, ably condensing every important pre¬ 
vious observation before spread over diffuse and voluminous 
works, and adding original materials of at least equal value *. 
* A second edition of this work, incorporating the important subsequent ob¬ 
servations of Messrs. Murchison and Sedgwick, would be very desirable ; but 
it would require a previous detailed examination of the coal-fields of this part 
of our island to render it complete. Should this be accomplished, we might 
hope that Mr. Weaver might be induced to complete and condense into one 
volume his most important Memoir on Ireland. I trust also shortly, with the 
