$18.j ON THE FOU^UTION OF liOCi^S. 4^^^ 



theory, and showing the fallacy of the other — the in- 

 jury <Ione to science, and the ohstriictions thrown ii\ 

 the way of its progress are inc^lculahle : for beside.^ 

 the disadvantage of haying nothing to w ork npon 

 but facts, distorted by the jauytliced eye of sys- 

 tem, the science itself suffers dij^credit in the opinicJl 

 of those who have no practical knowledge of its uti- 

 lity. 



WhilQ treatises on geology consisted of theories of. 

 the foi'mation of the earth, the public ha(^ ^ right to 

 consider geology as a speculalion, whcjse utility, if 

 any, was distant and uncevaiin ; by wlii^h means the 

 science of all others the jnqst 9apablq of useful aiid 

 practical application iQ^ most of the opcxatiyuis of com- 

 mon life, was devoted i(\ theoretical disqiusitions on 

 the origin and formation of the earth ; the utility 

 whereof is very problematical^ even admitting the pa^* 

 sibility of arriving at any salisfactqry result. 



From all I have seeii, or heard, the primitive is ik^ 

 prevailing rock towards the poles ; that is, the primi- 

 tive in the vicinity of tlie polar regions, is not covered 

 by either alluvial, secondary or transition; and that tlicrc 

 is in those regions a scarcity, if not a total absence^, 

 pf all the classes of rocks, wiiich contain the vemaipa 

 of vegetable qr ^nimal productions : tlje deficiency cf 

 heat may be the cause of this scarcity of aniiual a^4 

 vegetable mattei:. 



Should the. above observations be confirmed by fi:tup 

 experience, it will become probable that wlie earth*3 di- 

 ameier at the poles, has been diaiinishiug, a;id will ecu* 

 iiauc l^ lUmijLii'fl*; by tlic gradual wearing away of tjie 



