On the Study of the Principles of Stratification. 125 
solutions of the most apparent phenomena of its formation, they 
now attempt to give an accurate description of its structure. 
Such materials, at some future period, will supply a mind hke that 
of Newton, with the means of establishing a correct theory; for 
the present state of the carth’s surface, is certainly not suf- 
ficiently well known, to admit of a satisfactory explanation of its 
origin. 
The knowledge of the relative position of the Strata which 
form the external crust of the earth, is one of the most important 
branches of this inquiry; but to render it more useful, there are 
other chjects which should always be attended to in such re- 
searches. 
It has been observed, that a stratum does not always consist of 
the same mineral substance throughout its whole extent,—or at 
least that it often presents the same mineral elements in very diffe- 
rent combinations and states; therefore, in a complete description 
of each stratum, all its principal variations of position, of thickness, 
of extent and situation of exposed surface, and of mineral character 
should he accurately described. The petrifactions and shells it 
contains should be ascertained; and of those that are peculiar to 
it, correct descriptions should We given ;—the uses to which its 
minerals are applied should be noticed, and the probability of 
obtaining them in other situations, pointed out ;—the nature and 
qualities of the soil on its exposed surface should be described, 
and the best means of ameliorating or improving it, suggested. 
The uses of such information—to the owner of landed property— 
to the miner—the agriculturist—the engineer—the architect— 
the manufacturer; and, indeed, to every branch of civilized so- 
ciety, are too self-evident to need detail, and of too multifarious a 
nature to admit of it here. They only require to be known, to 
be fully appreciated. 
In this as in other descriptive branches of natural history, a 
concise mode of expressing the leading characters of each stra- 
tum, will be necessary, by which they may be described with 
brevity, accuracy, and precision; as by that means the labour of 
comparing the facts of different observers will be materially 
abridged, as well as that of describing them. To accomplish 
this, it may he necessary to introduce some appropriate terms— 
for all those which refer to hypothetical notions respecting the 
mode of formation, should be carefully avoided ;—the use of 
hypothesis is unquestionable, but its very nature render: s its lan- 
guage unfit for descriptive purposes. Hypothesis may guide us 
in our inquiries, and give a tenfold degree of interest to our re- 
searches; but still it must rather be considered the instrument, 
than the end of our labours. ‘To a candid inquirer after truth, 
the danger of clothing his descriptions of natural phenomena 
in 
