INTRODUCTION. 5 



that they are a part of the homage due to the Creator, whose infinite 

 perfections are more and more illustrated and displayed, in propor- 

 tion as his works are explored by the light of science. 



Much has already been achieved by the labours of geologists. 

 They have examined the character and form of large and interesting 

 portions of the crust of the earth ; particularly in different regions of 

 Europe, and most of all in the British Isles : and from a review of 

 existing facts, they have arrived at some important conclusions, now 

 generally admitted. It is well ascertained, that the substances 

 composing our globe are not thrown together in confusion, but are 

 disposed in strata, or beds, of various thicknesses, or in crystallized 

 masses, which, however irregular in form, display a regularity of 

 structure; and that these beds or masses, which rise one above 

 another, like successive courses of stone in a building, are not placed 

 indiscriminately, but in a certain order ; which, though it admits of 

 considerable variations, is so far established, at least in the regions 

 hitherto explored, that we may expect to find some Jcinds of rocks 

 occupying the lowest stations, others in the highest, and qthers in- 

 termediate; while above the whole, there is usually an alluvial 

 covering, which contains, along with vegetable soil, a promiscuous 

 collection of detached fi-agments of rocks of all descriptions. It is 

 also found, that the lowest rocks, among which the massive crystal- 

 lized rocks of the granite family hold a distinguished place, contain 

 no organic remains, that is to say, no remains of animals or vegeta- 

 bles; but that such remains occur in great abundance in some of the 

 higher rocks; for which reason, as well as on account of their relative 

 position, the former have been coWedi primitive or primary rocks, and 

 the latter secondary; while the beds interposed between them, con- 

 taining very few organic remains, have obtained the name oi transition 

 rocks. The secondary strata are sometimes designated Jiat rocks.* 



* There can be no propriety in retaining Ihe German word/oefsas the title of sueh rodcs, 

 eur English word^a/ conveying the same idea. 



B 



