MISCELLANY. 
495 
ingenious scoff at the records of the inspired volume.” “ Surely,” exclaims another 
writer, “ it cannot be long ere the Infidel and the Evangelist shall be a syonym 
of term, and an identity of person.” Now we have neither heard nor read these 
lectures, but we believe that Dr. Smith’s aim is to prove the entire accordance of 
Geology and Scripture. If so, he has received but small thanks for his pains 
from the would-be pious<—and the reason is obvious. Truly at the present day 
the man of science, the philosopher, can afford to laugh—or 44 scoff, ” if you will— 
at the hypocritical endeavour to cast the taunt of 44 Infidelity” in the teeth of an 
opponent. A man is an Infidel in one country who would be Orthodox in 
another; and the term can only be considered a reproach by those who believe 
solely because there is no reason for their faith. Who would not be an 44 Infidel’' 
where Orthodoxy is but another name for Superstition ? —Ed. 
Use of Geology to Farmers. —One of the most obvious sources of advantage 
to the farmer, from an acquaintance with the distribution of mineral masses, is 
the facility with which in many instances the injurious effect of small springs 
coming to the surface may be obviated. The theory of the earth’s internal 
drainage is so simple, that every man of common sense would be able to drain 
his land upon sure principles, or else to know precisely why it cannot be drained, 
if he were to become so much of a geologist as to learn what rocks existed under 
his land, at what depth, and in what positions. Springs never issue from stratified 
masses, except from reservoirs somehow produced in jointed rocks—and at the 
level of the overflow of these subterranean cavities. Faults in the strata very 
frequently limit these res#voirs, and determine the points of efflux of the water. 
Let those faults be ascertained, or the edge of the jointed rock be found, the cure 
of the evil is immediate. But some geological information is needed here; and 
landed proprietors, who think it less troublesome to employ an agent than to 
direct such a simple operation, may at least profit by this hint, and choose an 
agent who knows something of the rocks he is to drain. Another thing, probably 
of importance to agriculturists, is the discovery of substances at small depths, 
which, if brought to the surface, would enrich, by a suitable mixture, the soil of 
their fields. This is very strongly insisted on by Sir H. Davy, in his essays; 
and, considering how easy a thing it is for a landowner to ascertain positively 
the series of strata in his estate, it is somewhat marvellous that so few cases 
can be quoted, except that of Sir John Johnstone, Bart., of Hackness, near 
Scarborough, in which this easy work has been performed. Finally, in the 
experiments for the introduction of new systems and modes of management, 
with respect to cattle and crops, it will be of great consequence to take notice of 
the qualities of the soil, sub-strata and water, for these undoubtedly exercise a 
real and perhaps decisive influence over the result. 
