4G Astronomy and Geology compared. 



PT. I. 



beings in the very bosom of fire as to enable fishes 

 to exist in the element of water which is incompatible 

 with the life of terrestrial animals, and to adapt their 

 organs in turn to an existence on land which is cut 

 short by a brief immersion in the other element. 

 The author of the ' Plurality of Worlds,' a work 

 attributed to the late Dr. Whewell, controverts this 

 view, and labours to demonstrate that all the other 

 planets are untenanted, and that life only exists with 

 us. I have always considered his reasons as quite 

 unsatisfactory, and although nothing upon the subject 

 can be proved, yet that all the presumptions are in 

 favour of a contrary hypothesis ; still, however, we 

 must admit that nothing on this subject can be known 

 with certainty; the condition of the planets must 

 from their remoteness be utterly unknown to us ; no 

 telescope can do more than reflect the general form 

 to our eyes, and even our own Moon, comparatively 

 so near us, only exhibits a variety of lights and 

 shadows upon her surface. 



That portion of Geological research which is 

 dedicated to the study of the remains of vegetable 

 and animal Life is by far the most interesting and 

 important branch of that science. This will appear 

 very distinct to us if we picture to ourselves Geology 



