2 INTRODUCTION. 



which are more within our reach? Or shall we bestow so much care 

 and labour on the animated inhabitants of our globe, and never ex- 

 amine the structure of their dwelling? 



The researches of the geologist are far from being unworthy of 

 the christian, or the philosopher : for, Avhile they enlarge the bounds 

 of our knowledge, and present a wide field for intellectual employ- 

 ment and innocent pleasure, they may serve to conduct us to that 

 glorious Being, "who by his strength setteth fast the mountains, 

 being girded with power ; in whose hand are the deep places of the 

 earth, and the strength of the hills." All his woi'ks praise him, the 

 humblest as well as the grandest; and we see his wisdom and power 

 and goodness, not only in the luminaries of heaven, and in ahimated 

 nature, but also in the ragged rocks, the stones of the brook, and 

 the clods of the valley. 



It is rather surprising, that a study of such importance as geo- 

 logy, has hitherto had so small a share among scientific pursuits. 

 At a very remote period, men began to penetrate into the bowels of 

 the earth, in quest of the shining metals, and other valuable products 

 of the mineral kingdom; and the attention of the learned, both in 

 ancient and modern times, has oft been directed to the nature and 

 classification of minerals : but, till near the beginning of the present 

 century, few philosophers attempted to investigate the structure of 

 the earth itself; and the few who pushed their inquiries in that direc- 

 tion, chose rather to indulge in wild conjectures, than to enter on a 

 sober and patient examination of faCts. It is within the last twenty 

 or thirty years, that geology has begun to assume her proper rank 

 among the sciences; and, desisting in a great measure from the 

 flights of fancy, has been proceeding in the more legitimate track of 

 laborious research. Imagination, indeed, can scarcely be altogether 

 restrained from offering her services, in a pursuit where there is so 

 much that is mysterious or obscure ; yet, if her wanderings prove a 



