84 
JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 
nufacturing reputation of Staffordshire, and so much wealth to its 
inhabitants. We must also look to him, and such philosophers, to 
dispel erroneous views which may lead to popular delusions and 
rash speculations. However, I am myself deeply impressed with the 
importance of advancing by every means in our power the indus¬ 
trial wealth of Ireland; and we must consider that if our country 
does not contain within itself all the ingredients for the manufac¬ 
ture of porcelain, it is well known that neither in Staffordshire nor 
Worcestershire are to be found any of the raw materials used in 
its manufacture, unless coal is to be included in this term. With 
the great extent of granitic and quartz rock in Ireland, there is 
nothing improbable in the discovery of kaolin and silex fitted for 
manufacture, and if the kaolin is in an impure state, it is well worth 
the pains of experimental philosophers to ascertain whether there is 
not some easy process of purifying it from the iron and other dele¬ 
terious ingredients which it may contain. Ear, however, be it from 
me to urge the establishment of manufactures of this kind on the 
loose data that have been brought forward, as I am convinced that 
without due energy and perseverance no enterprise can succeed, and 
that with these valuable assistants there is no country which is not 
able to place itself in an advantageous position in the markets of the 
world. 
Another interesting subject is the Drift of Ireland. As Profes¬ 
sor Jukes has well observed, it has not been treated with the atten¬ 
tion it deserved. Mr. Thomas Stanly has, however, read a paper on 
the subject; and I trust that Mr. Kelly has not abandoned a subject 
into which he has inquired with his usual accuracy and discrimina¬ 
tion. We also owe to Mr. Kelly a very voluminous catalogue of 
fossils of the Irish Carboniferous Limestone. One of the character¬ 
istic features of geological literature is the disposition to divide the 
labour of observation into monographs, and no system is more 
likely to enable us to place Geology nearly on the footing of an exact 
science. 
It may appear great presumption on my part to attempt any¬ 
thing like a review of the general state of Geology at the present 
moment, and therefore I shall not attempt any such thing;—but I 
cannot deny myself the gratification of congratulating you on the 
great addition we have received during the past year to the informa¬ 
tion we previously possessed of the physical structure of the globe. 
