274 



Geological Poems. 



It has been further observed that In the order in which 

 rocks are placed over each other, there is an approxima- 

 tion to a regular succession in every part of the globe, with 

 the exception of certain rocks supposed like the volcanic 

 to be formed bj subterranean fire, and which cover other 

 rocks without any regular order. Though the whole se- 

 ries of rock formations enumerated at p. 6, may never have 

 been observed together in any one situation, yet wherever 

 they do occur, the rocks placed at the top of the series, are 

 never found under any of the others. Chalk, or green 

 sand, sometimes rests immediately on lias limestone, or red 

 sandstone, without the intervention of the oolites, but w^e 

 never find the oolites above chalk. Some of the rock for- 

 mations do not extend to every part of the globe: thus 

 chalk and oolite are not found in Wales or the north-west 

 part of England ; and, according to Humboldt, they are en- 

 tirely wanting over a great part of South America. It still 

 remains true, that wherever different formations are ob- 

 served over each other, there is an approximation to a reg- 



ular order of succession 



to trace this succession is the 



most important part of the science denominated Geology. 



The author thought it might be useful to describe the or- 

 der of succession of the principal rocks, in an amusing 

 form, divested of all unnecessary technicality, that the sub- 

 ject might be the more easily understood and remembered. 

 This is the utmost merit to which the Poetical Geognosy 

 lays claim. 



The Geological Cookery is intended to impress on the 

 memory of the student the structure of aggregated rocks. 



London, January 22, 1820. 



meat to the Geoloo^y of Eriglani.1, have made the moat important mistakes ; 

 mistakes which have introduced much confusioa, and prevented the Geolo- 

 gists ou the Coutment from understauJing the description ^iven of the geol- 

 ogy o, this country. He trusts he shall make this apparent in a work he i? 

 preparing for puhlication. 



