Fvssik* 1.41 



CHAP. IX. 



Of Earths, Stones, Metals, Miner- 

 als, and other Fossils. 



HAVING taken a view of the air 

 which surrounds, and the water which 

 diversifies the face of our globe, we will 

 now take a survey of the solid substance, 

 or body of our earth. 



Those who observe the disposition of 

 the earth, as it appears in the quarrying 

 or digging of mines, find it generally ly- 

 ing in horizontal layers, or strata of dif- 

 ferent kinds, like the settlings of waters* 

 The first layer that presents itself, is most 

 commonly the bed of vegetable earth or 

 mould. With this earth the surface of 

 our globe is generally covered* It is 

 this mould which gives rooting and nour- 

 ishment to plants, so that they may stand 

 and grow in it, and it is as it were the 

 store-house from whence all the living 

 M2 



