OF CREATION. / 







however, now to illustrate these facts at any length, 

 because, in truth, they would involve the whole subject 

 of Descriptive Geology, and would require the intro- 

 duction of details, and the use of technical language, 

 which it is my especial object to avoid. The reader 

 must either take for granted that there are such 

 facts, or he may satisfy himself concerning them by a 

 very slight amount of observation and investigation. 



Although, however, the following pages may not 

 communicate any such argumentative proofs of the 

 truth of Geological conclusions as would be required to 

 convince those who are determined to doubt, yet ac- 

 tual observations will be presented to the notice of the 

 reader in order, and the conclusions which alone seem 

 rational will be narrated as history. My object in 

 alluding to the series of investigations on which the 

 science of Geology is founded, is rather to show how 

 far there are supposed to exist materials for descrip- 

 tion and history, than to enter into any discussion or 

 argument concerning these materials. It is enough 

 that I have alluded to the nature of the facts, and the 

 kind of observations required. 



Taking it for granted, then, that there is something 

 in the structure of the earth which requires and ad- 

 mits of investigation, let us next see how far this in- 

 vestigation can be carried with reason, and how far 

 the structure of the globe is laid open for examination. 

 The reader must indeed be contented to take upon 

 trust the statements that will be made in this intro- 

 ductory chapter concerning Descriptive Geology, but 

 he may be assured that they are too well establish- 

 ed, and founded on too many observations, to be 

 shaken, or even questioned. 



