But geology gives to the miner means of distinguishing rocks which he did not formerly possess, and thus of knowing where minerals may or may not be expected to occur. This is one of its most evident advantages, and one in which the whole community is more or less interested. Ignorant miners were often guided in their search for ores or coal by certain characters which were of little value, except in a few localities, and induced men to spend much money seeking for mineral fore forming a theory of the earth, they are expected to know the facts which the earth's crust exhibits, and which their theory must explain. No one would venture now to write quarto volumes on rocks, without having studied them in the fields, and even to boast of this as a qualification for his task. Geologists must now come into closer contact with the works of the great Creator, and thus learn more fully their own weakness and ignorance; and they have thus become more deeply impressed with that spirit of reverent humil-treasures in places where a geologist ity which becomes the true philosopher. The advantages to be derived from the study of any science can seldom be understood till its principles are known, and should follow, not precede, the exposition of these. In some respects this is true of geology; but many of its applications are almost self-evident. In the mines, geology had, in a great measure, its birth, and many of its most important facts have been observed there. The theory of veins and stratification, with the peculiar distribution of the valuable ores and minerals, were at least partially known to practical men before they found a place in the systems of geologists. But in these they appear in a new form, and with new light. They are no longer mere facts, standing solitary and alone, for which no reason can be assigned and no cause given. They now form part of a wellconnected system, and the miner is taught not only when they should occur, but also where he may expect exceptions to the general rule. The names of many rocks are derived from the local terms used in particular mining districts; but science has given precision to these terms, and, from words hardly understood at a few miles' distance, has rendered them intelligible over the whole civilized world. The facts observed in distant places and countries can thus be described in uniform language, and compared with each other, so that what in them is merely local, may be separated from what is universal. Hence the system of Werner, with all its errors, was of great use in the progress of the science, by enabling inquirers in different countries to understand each other, which they had never previously been able to do. could have said at once that they were not to be found. In many places in England and Scotland, mines may be seen, driven for hundreds of yards through the hardest rocks, in the expectation of discovering coal, though men of science know that it is never found in such circumstances, and though the whole succession of rocks is laid open by some neighboring river or ravine. Mr. Murchison, when examining the geological structure of Wales, met with repeated instances of this kind, and the poor farmers, after ruining themselves in the vain research, often complained to him of their landlords, who would not continue the profitless pursuit. "Ah! if our squires were only men of spirit, we should have as fine coal as any in the world," was the frequent remark of such speculators, wholly untaught by their own painful experience. Yet a few popular lessons in geology would have dissipated the vain delusion, and taught these men that they were spending their money and labor to no purpose. Even in the south of Scotland, where the mass of the people are well educated, many similar attempts have been made on rocks of the same geological formation, and of course, with equal want of success. It is a singular fact, that these explorers are usually misled by a variety of black slate, composed almost entirely of flint, and hence as hard as iron, and wholly incombustible. It is, in truth, well described by a sanguine excavator of this class, who said to his minister, "It is as black as a coal, as hard as a coal, and as heavy as a coal; in short, it is coal altogether-except that it will not burn." In these instances, geology would have told these persons that coal worth work ing never occurred in such rocks, and thus | those to whom it may prove a copious saved them their dear-bought experience. source of intellectual_gratification and But it not only tells where coal is not, but moral improvement. Though the study also where it is to be found. It makes of geology may be begun in books and known the order and succession of the class-rooms, it must be pursued in the various rocky beds that make up the crust open fields. The descriptions and theoof the earth, and thus renders its interior ries of our instructors must be compared almost transparent to the eye of science. with the realities and facts of nature. It The practical geologist examines the sur- is thus only that progress can be made in face of a country, and finds it composed the science, and its true advantages realof a species of rock which he knows lies ized. We must cease to listen to the higher in the series than coal. From its voice of men, that we may hear the Crefossil remains, the shells or plants it con-ator speaking to us in his works. Nor is tains, he knows its place in the earth's it to every part of these works alike that crust, and hence the probability of coal the attention of the geologist is turned. lying below it. Such scientific divining The verdant meadow or the fertile plains, has, in many instances, proved success-covered with rich and luxuriant vegetaful, and many undertakings which merely tion, do not escape his notice, and in his practical men ridiculed, have produced eyes have a meaning and a worth beyond great wealth to the bold theorist who dared that observable to the common crowd of to despise their warnings. Mr. Murchi- men. Their beauty and fertility is as son, in the work already alluded to, men- open to him as to the painter, poet, or agtions many instances of valuable coal-pits riculturist; but, beside this, he sees in sunk through beds of red sandstone, in them parts of a great whole, and can places where, a few years ago, no one trace back their history, through many suspected this mineral to exist. In the revolutions, to the time when they were, north of England many similar cases oc- perhaps, the bottom of a lake whose wacur. There are examples, too, of valuable ters have disappeared, the estuary of a minerals, not concealed in the bowels of river which has ceased to flow, or a porthe earth, but lying open on its surface, tion of the channels of the ocean, above having been wholly neglected, till some which they are now far elevated. But competent geologist was led to the spot by the pursuits of the geologist lead him to accident. In Unst, the most northern of prefer other scenes, of a wilder, more the British isles, great quantities of a par- rugged, and less generally attractive naticular rock were strewed over the ground, ture. The rocky seacoast, where the and so little regarded as to be used for land and waters carry on their never-endconstructing walls or fences. Dr. Hibbert ing contests for the supremacy, is to him found that this was the chromate of iron, full of instruction. In the lofty cliffs, secfrom which chrome yellow, so much used tions are laid open he would in vain look in manufactures, is prepared, and these for elsewhere, and the mouldering pinnaneglected stones immediately became ob- cles of rock speak to him of events older jects of commerce, and a source of large than the pyramids, and chronicled in charincome to the proprietors. acters more enduring and intelligible than their sculptured hieroglyphics. The narrow ravine, where the foaming river can scarce force its way amid the projecting rocks, has many lessons to impart to him. In its rude walls he sees the various strata concealed beneath the deep soil and abundant crops of the neighboring plains; while the form and depth of the channel tell of the power of aqueous erosion, and form a kind of natural chronometer, by which the past duration of our present continents may be estimated. These few instances show the advantages which may result from the study of geology. The interests of private individuals are not only promoted by it, but also those of the whole nation. Many instances might be produced of the benefits it has conferred both on private individuals and the community, and other applications of its principles to various professions and pursuits might be noticed. But few can directly participate in these advantages, compared to the number of But the favorite resort of the geologist | minds in listless indolence to the pleasuis the lofty mountains and their lone valleys. In their towering rocks and majestic precipices he sees clear traces of those tremendous forces which have agitated and convulsed the globe. In searching out these, he is led into wild scenes of the most romantic beauty, which have been for ages concealed in the remote wilderness. He thus sees and enjoys much which is hid from others, who have not this motive to explore these lonely solitudes. Here also his science gives meaning to natural appearances, which to other men seem unintelligible and repulsive. In the rude blocks scattered over a mountain-side, he finds a confirmation or confutation of a theory of the universe, or an explanation of facts observed in some remote quarter of the globe. No one can look, without emotion, on the granite pinnacles of Arran, rising from the broad estuary of the Clyde, but they have assuredly more than a twofold interest to those who see in that small island a model of the whole earth, and a test of all the theories that have been proposed, to account for its phenomena. rable emotions they excite. Such scenes are calculated to inspire higher sentiments, and we forfeit half their use and value when our minds are not prepared to receive these. Nothing stands alone in nature; no part of the vast universe exists solely for itself. Every portion of it is connected with those around, and bears to them innumerable relations. The true import of the mountains and hills can only be understood when viewed in connexion with plains and valleys; and the significance of the sandy deserts of the Sahara, may be read in the genial climate of our own continent. But it is geology and its connected sciences, which hold the key to this branch of wisdom, and can alone open their treasures to men. It not only unfolds the present purpose and uses of various portions of creation, but exhibits their connexion with what precedes and follows them. It thus lays open to us wider and more extended views of the divine Providence, and proves that even the physical welfare and comfort of man had been foreseen and attended to ages before he was called into being. For to Geology thus makes us acquainted with what else than the wise benevolence of some of the most interesting parts of that the Creator can we ascribe those stores of great globe we inhabit, and enables us to coal, and iron, and limestone, accumulated find pleasure and instruction even in its in such inexhaustible abundance, and rudest and most barren districts. The brought into that contact with one another bleakest moor loses its loneliness, and the which renders them available to the uses sandy down is not so uniform or devoid of of men? Had each existed in equal or meaning as to disgust us. In this way, even greater profusion, but widely separatravelling is rendered doubly instructive ted from the other, had the iron ore been and amusing, and is changed from a mere found without the coal and limestone nemean of spending time or gratifying an cessary to convert it into the precious metidle and ignorant curiosity, into a source al, how far inferior would have been the of high moral and intellectual improve-advantages derived from them! What a ment. It is indeed remarkable, when blight would it cast on the industry and we look to the number of persons who in commerce of the world. the present day wander over the length and breadth of our land, how few take any care to derive from their journeys the full amount of amusement and information they are fitted to convey. It is not enough to visit remarkable places, to stand on the ground consecrated to virtue and patriotism, unless we participate in these feelings and have our good resolutions strengthened by the emotions they inspire. So, also, in visiting beautiful and sublime scenery, it is not sufficient to yield up our WISDOM OF FAITH.-Does not every architect complain of the injustice of criticising a building before it is half finished? Yet who can tell what volume of the creation we are in at present, or what point the structure of our moral fabric has attained? While we are all in a vessel that is sailing under sealed orders, we shall do that which is best for us, if we confide implicitly in our government and captain. NEW ZEALAND. NEW ZEALAND. N 241 on its way to the other ship to put her commander on his guard, when the canoes ran violently in upon the boat and nearly upset it, at the same time making a dessouthern Pacific, ex-perate attack upon the boat's crew. Three tending from 34° to of the seamen were killed and one morto 470 south lati- tally wounded. The savages then hastily tude, and from 1670 retreated, carrying with them one of the to 1790 east longi- dead bodies. Tasman immediately weighStude, was discovered ed anchor, and gave the place the name by Tasman, a Dutch of the Bay of Murderers. Thus inausnavigator in 1642. The vast southern piciously did the first interview of the Pacific was then an almost unexplored New-Zealanders with Europeans termiregion, and though nearly two centuries nate. Tasman had not been able to bring had elapsed since European navigators his guns to bear upon the retreating islanddiscovered the passage to India by the ers, and the savages could not as yet apcape of Good Hope, the mine of enter-preciate the hostile power which they had prise which was then opened still continued to attract their chief attention, and to satisfy their maritime ardor. The reputed existence of a fifth continent, placed in the southern hemisphere, and vague rumors of its supposed rich productions, inflamed the imagination of geographers, and proved a wholesome stimulus to the progress of discovery. Tasman was despatched by Anthony Van Diemen, governor of the Dutch East Indies, and sailed on the 14th of August, 1642, from the Port of Batavia, in company with another vessel under his command. He first discovered the island now known as Van Diemen's land; and pursuing his voyage toward the east, again saw land on the 13th of September, and following the line of coast anchored next day within a large bay, here for the first time he had an opportunity of seeing the natives, who came out in two canoes, and hailed the strangers in a strong rough voice, but they did not approach very near to the ship. On the following day, a canoe with thirteen men came within a stone's throw, but no temptations could induce them to come on board the ship. Tasman describes them as of the common stature, and strongboned; their complexion between brown and yellow, and their black hair tied up in the Javanese fashion, on the crown of the head, with the addition of a large feather stuck therein. Seven other canoes in the meantime put off from the shore, and Tasman, doubtful of their intentions, hoisted out one of his boats, which being manned by a quartermaster and six seamen, was 66 aroused. When the ship had got under sail, twenty-two canoes followed her, and advancing within range of the guns, were fired upon, and one man being killed, and the shot striking the canoes, they turned toward the shore. The man who was killed bore a white flag in his hand. Tasman's course precluded him from ascertaining that what he took for a large bay was the strait separating the northern from the southern island, which unitedly are known under the name of New Zealand. He therefore naturally looked upon the other island as a continuation of the same land, and that in fact he was upon the shores of the new continent, believed to exist in this part of the southern ocean. "It is," he says, a very fine country, and we hope it is a part of the unknown south continent." One of his countrymen had made a similar mistake about a quarter of a century before, having come in sight of land which he conceived to be part of a continent, and to which he gave the name of Staten land, or State's land. Just at this time, or a few months afterward, the supposed continent was discovered to be an island of no great extent; but Tasman believed that he had also fallen in with a portion of Staten land or the southern continent. When it was ascertained that the country called Staten land was only an island, Tasman's discoverv received the name of New Zealand. On the 4th of January he passed the northwestern extremity of New Zealand, which he named Cape Maria Van Diemen, in honor of a lady to whom it is said he was |