NATURAL HISTORY. 21 



to which the study of hydrology, has given rise, 

 are the doctrines of the tides, currents, depths, and 

 other phenomena of the sea of the depths and 

 courses of rivers of hydraulics and of hydro- 

 statics, which relate to the motion, pressure, 

 and gravity of water and of the principles and 

 application of steam, now of such comprehen- 

 sive and universal use. The subject, therefore, 

 is highly interesting; and, as being connected 

 with most of the other sciences, its study becomes 

 of great importance. 



The earth and its productions are the next 

 subjects for consideration; and these for obvious 

 reasons are deserving of a very particular notice. 

 To explain the artificial divisions of the eartb, its 

 seas, rivers, latitudes, and local peculiarities, 

 belongs to the province of geography ; a science 

 too well understood, and the importance of whose 

 study is too fully appreciated to render a further 

 illustration of its utility requisite to an association 

 so enlightened and so well informed as the one 

 which 1 have now the honour to address. I 

 shall therefore pass over to ii$ general productions, 

 which, ranging themselves under three distinct 

 heads, have been denominated the mineral, vege- 

 table, and animal kingdoms; and as minerals, 

 according to the present view of philosophy, were 

 the first created, we will begin with the mineral 

 kingdom. But as we cannot understand the 

 laws by which minerals are regulated, without 



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