BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 7 



more remote, first make himself a little acquainted 

 with those nigh home, we shall, previous to extend- 

 ing our researches to more distant bounds, first in- 

 dulge ourselves with a cursory glance at the lowest 

 compartment of the vast edifice, by taking a view of 

 the internal structure of our globe, and see what 

 commodities there present themselves for our use 

 and accommodation. 



CHAP. II. 



THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH. 



Thus in thy world material, MIGHTY MIND, 

 Not only that which solaces and shines, 

 The rough, the gloomy, challenges our praise ! 



The treasures of the mineral kingdom, being 

 more concealed, are not so alluring to the senses 

 and are of course, to most men, less interesting than 

 animals or vegetables; but they present themselves 

 to the reflecting mind under innumerable points of 

 view that are interesting, chiefly as affording the ma- 

 terials on which nature, by her slow but certain 

 operations, is continually producing changes that 

 tend to augment the multiplication of plants, for the 

 preservation and the accommodation of animals; 

 while man, in the mean while, is endowed with fa- 

 culties which enable him to avail himself of the 

 qualities they possess for his own purposes. 



