vi PREFACE. 



coveries in chemical science, related to 

 Nature's chemistry, and to apply them to 

 the explanation of the chemical phenomena 

 presented in the earth, the air, and the 

 ocean. That this attempt has been made 

 in the use of familiar language, and with 

 the desire to avoid the technicalities of 

 science, will not be allowed to detract from 

 the value and importance of the narrated 

 facts and discoveries of chemical philp- 

 sophy. 



That this volume may be the companion 

 of the lover of nature, and that it may 

 assist him to trace in its varied and 

 beautiful chemical phenomena the work of 

 Him who is perfect in knowledge and 

 excellent in working, is the desire of the 

 writer, and the object of his book. 



R. E. 



CHELSEA, 1850. 



