196 Preface to“ The Natural History 
abstruse, but interesting phenomena above ground and below, 
raised from obscurity, and treated of and explained upon rational 
principles, in a clear, convincing, and satisfactory manner. 
3d. I have examined part of the modern system of Count 
Buffon and others upon this subject, to see how they correspond 
with the real structure of the superficies of the globe, and other 
phenomena of nature; and what I have advanced under this 
head will bear the severest scrutiny by every test. 
‘4th. I have treated of the natural history of mountains, and 
of their glens and excavations, which is a sublime and difficult 
subject. In this part the height and figure of the mountains, 
the profundity, direction, and extent of their excavations, the 
exterior and interior structure, with all the most remarkable 
phenomena of mountains, and other irregularities of the surface 
of the globe, are fully accounted for and explained to a demon- 
stration, upon the principles of the agency of water, and of the 
prodigious height and force of the diluvian tides ; and the clear 
light which is thrown upon this great subject, will convince every 
candid naturalist of the truth of my propositions. 
5th. I have examined the nature, or quality, the size, figure, 
and other phenomena of the larger grains and fragments which 
are found in the composition of our rocks and strata; and these 
inquiries naturally lead us into profound and interesting disqui- 
sitions relating to the universal deluge,—to the present and the 
antediluvian earth. 
This profound and awful subject is naturally mysterious and 
obscure, but it has been involved in infinitely greater obscurity 
and confusion by the theories and systems of all ages, as the 
subject never has been well understood ;—out of which obscurity 
and confusion I have endeavoured to raise it, and to explain and 
illustrate the doctrine of the deluge upon rational principles, 
agreeable to the laws and phenomena of nature. 
6th. I have made a few observations concerning several other 
subjects relating to the mineral kingdom, among which there 
will be found an interesting treatise of volcanoes. 
I beg leave in this place to observe, that in all this work I 
aim at being useful to society, especially within the limits of my 
own country,—my native island ; but in the tract upon volcanoes 
my genius and imagination soars above the height of the British 
mountains, and takes a view of all mankind upon the whole face 
of the globe, and especially where they now are, or may here- 
after be plagued with the dreadful calamity of volcanoes; and 
I hope to be the instrument of saving many lives from sudden 
destruction,— to mitigate the miseries and abridge common 
losses in voleanic countries ; and if my rules and instructions for 
that purpose are thoroughly considered and followed, 
I am 
