1808-1822.] 
IMPORTANCE OF GEOLOGY. 
25 
In reply to the arguments of utilitarians, who ask how 
far the science of geology can be made profitable, he 
observes :— 
“ The claims of geology may be made to rest on a much 
higher basis. The utility of Science is founded upon other 
and nobler views than those of mere pecuniary profit and 
tangible advantage. The human mind has an appetite 
for truth of every kind, physical as well as moral, and the 
real utility of science is to afford gratification to this 
appetite. The real question, then, more especially in this 
place, ought surely to be, how far the objects of Geology 
are of sufficient interest and importance to be worthy of 
this large and rational species of curiosity, and how far its 
investigations are calculated to call into action the higher 
powers of the mind. Now when it is recollected that the 
field of the geologist’s inquiry is the Globe itself; that it is its 
study to decipher the movements of the mighty revolutions 
and convulsions it has suffered, convulsions of which the 
most terrible catastrophes presented by the actual state 
of things (earthquakes, tempests, volcanoes), afford only a 
faint image,—the last expiring efforts of those mighty 
disturbing forces which once operated,—these surely will 
be admitted to be objects of sufficient magnitude and 
grandeur to create an adequate interest to engage in their 
investigations.” 
With arguments forcibly and clearly stated, the Professor 
goes on to show how Geology, which he regarded as the 
handmaid of Religion, holds the keys of one of the 
kingdoms of Nature ; how closely it is allied to Mineralogy 
and Chemistry ; how it can claim the application of pure 
Mathematics ; and how it is connected with Hydrostatics 
and with Astronomical speculations. And then, passing 
into a higher region, he points out its connection with 
Natural Theology, and shows that the working of the Great 
