4 Principles of Geology. 



Burnet, Whiston, Woodward, and Buffdn, are now remembered only 

 as the splendid errors of illustrious men, and the systematic hypoth- 

 esis of Whitehurst, though far better supported by the practical knowl- 

 edge of its author, has shared the same unregretted fate. To rank 

 with these neglected dreams, the respected opinions of Hutton and 

 Werner, would be unjust ; the former, a man of capacious intellect 

 and original genius, has combined in his system much that is excel- 

 lent and much that is extravagant; but its errors have been corrected 

 by the progress of inquiry, and its truths illustrated even by his op- 

 ponents. Werner's fame rests secure on accurate observation and 

 sagacious generalization of facts. From an examination of a small 

 tract of country, he deduced principles which are found to be uni- 

 versally applicable. He first taught that the earth is constructed af- 

 ter a regular plan, and composed, near the surface, of rocks laid on 

 one another, in a constant order of succession. His theoretical 

 views, though zealously embraced by his numerous disciples, were 

 of litde value, and rather obscured the real utility of his practical 

 system. 



Geologists have commonly placed Mr. William Smith in compari- 

 son with Werner; and have agreed that in England one was accom- 

 plishing what occupied the attention of the other in Germany, and 

 that both were unconsciously acting on the same plan, and producing 

 the same results. This is strictly true as far as relates to their prac- 

 tical opinions; but Mr. Smith is no theorist in the ordinary sense of 

 the word. His whole life has been spent in practical researches, to 

 prove the truth, and extend the benefit, of those general laws of 

 structure which he was the first to promulgate in England. Besides 

 discovering, at nearly the same period as Werner, the principle of 

 the arrangement of secondary strata, he added the important doc- 

 trine, that organic fossils are distributed in the earth according to 

 regular laws, and may be employed to discriminate and identify the 

 rocks. Werner and Smith are, therefore, the leaders of the modern 

 school of geology, and whilst every fresh investigation illustrates the 

 truth of their general principles, their names will be honored with in- 

 creasing respect, though every " theory" should be forgotten. 



The methodical developement of first principles in geology, at- 

 tempted in the following pages, is the result of repeated reflections on 

 the subject, for the purpose of public instruction. It is a condensed 

 abstract of parts of my lectures. Hoping that this account of the 

 strata of the Yorkshire coast would be read by others besides pro- 



