Geology as a branch of education / by David Thomas Ansted.

  • Ansted, D. T. (David Thomas), 1814-1880.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Geology as a branch of education / by David Thomas Ansted. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    you, that, to arrive at any of these practical results, and to draw conclusions safely, clear and definite notions of the fundamental principles, and the methods of Geology, must he attained ; for without these, however you may be able to exhibit superficial knowledge, you cannot possibly he trusted to make an observation, or draw a conclusion. It is sometimes, and indeed not unfrequently said, that there is hardly enough yet known in Geology to justify these assumptions of its importance ; and that its systems and arrangements, and conclusions, are constantly changing, so that what is learnt to-day will have to he unlearnt to-morrow. This, however, is the statement of persons who do not know the subject. It is not true, either in fact or in inference. The foundations of Geology are sound and firm, and cannot be disturbed—they are based on a rock, and they may safely defy the storm of ignorance and prejudice. As fact after fact is made known and added to the great store of accumulated knowledge, each now finds its appointed place; the corner stones are set in, the walls are rising rapidly around us, and the temple of our science already shows its broad front, its noble proportions, and something even of its finished beauty. It is true, indeed, that the structure is yet incomplete : here a tower is wanting to strengthen pud unite into a solid mass one portion of the edifice—there we may conclude, that ano- ther portion has still to he commenced ; but what is done is done well. It is work that will endure, for it is based on unchangeable truth. THE END. LONDON l Printed by S. & J. Bkntley, Wilson, and Flky, Bangor House, Shoe Lane