CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



1. PRELIMINARY Observations 25 



2. Plan of this Essay 28 



3. Of the first Appearance of the Earth 29 



4. First Proofs of Revolutions on the -Surface of the Globe 30 



5. Proofs that such Revolutions have been numerous 34 



6. Proofs that the Revolutions have been sudden... 37 



7. Proofs of the Occurrence of Revolutions .before the 



Existence of Living Beings 39 



8. Examination of the Causes which act at present on the 



Surface of our Globe 44 



9. Of Slips, or Falling Down of the Materials of Moun- 



tains * 45 



10. Of Alluvial Formations 46 



11. Of the Formation of Downs 48 



12. Of the Formation of Cliffs, or steep Shores 49 



13. Of Depositions formed in Water 50 



14. Of Stalactites 51 



15. Of Lithophytes ib. 



16. Of Incrustations , 5t 



17. Of Volcanoes 53 



18. Of Astronomical Causes of the Revolutions on the 



Earth's Surface .,., 5 



3 



