

GEOLOGICAL ESSAYS. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE structure of the globe which we inhabit, and the 

 infinitely varied features, either moral or physical, 

 which are presented to human view in almost every 

 district upon its surface, afford a subject for contem- 

 plation, that far transcends the feeble capacity of man 

 perfectly to comprehend ; much less is he able to de- 

 lineate, with truth and correctness, the innumerable 

 shades which are characteristick or indicative of some 

 great and important change or operation, which has 

 been wrought upon this stupendous fabrick. 



Nevertheless^ many have entered, as Geologists, with 

 a becoming zeal, upon the arduous task, and with no 

 inconsiderable degree of success, as well as credit to 

 themselves. They have, regardless of the Mosaic 

 account of the creation of this earth, endeavoured, 

 from various phenomena, to account for its origin, 

 formation, and the successive changes which it has 

 undergone through an immense period of passed ages, 

 upon principles peculiar to their views of the subject. 



How far their opinions are correct, it is not the 

 object of this work to determine. Nevertheless, it 

 may not be amiss to observe, (viewing the Hutto- 

 nian theory as inadmissible,) that however plausible 

 the Neptunian doctrines may appear, and however 

 numerous the facts which not only support the theory, 

 but seem to stamp with the seal of truth the entire 



