21 APRIL 1838, Page 16

DR. MA NTELL.

We have received a letter from a friend of Dr. MANTELL'S, which enumerates his works, his scientific merits and discoveries, vouches for the wonders of the Wonders of Geology, and attacks, or at least impugns, our notice of it. As regards Dr. MANTELL'S science, we neither entertain nor expressed any derogatory opi- nion: on the contrary, we stated that his expositions of " the facts"—of the Wonders of Geology, were highly popular,—though we still think that he has not produced " a distinct exposition of the principles of geology, or a connected and comprehensive view of the science." All we said about the " curiosities," the " visi- ters," and so forth, was drawn from Dr. MANTELL'S book, and our tone caught from his own : and if men of science will place their vanities and their weaknesses before the world, they must take the chance of having them noticed, thinking themselves lucky if it be done en bagatelle. As regards the review, we can enter into no controversy. " What is written is written." If it cannot defend itself, we will not.