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PEINCIPLES 



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BOOK I. 



CHAPTER I. 



GEOLOGY DEFINED - COMPARED TO HISTORY — ITS RELATION TO OTHER 

 PHYSICAL SCIENCES NOT TO BE CONFOUNDED WITH COSMOGONY. 



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GEOLOGY is the science which, investigates the succes- 

 sive changes that have taken place in the organic and 

 inorganic kingdoms of nature ; it enquires into the causes of 

 these changes, and the influence which they have exerted in 

 modifying the surface and external structure of our planet. 



By these researches into the state of the earth and its in- 

 habitants at former periods, we acquire a more perfect know- 

 ledge of its present condition, and more comprehensive views 

 concerning the laws now governing its animate and inanimate 

 productions. When we study history, we obtain a more pro- 

 found insight into human nature, by instituting a compa- 

 rison between the present and former states of society. We 

 trace the long series of events which have gradually led to 

 the actual posture of affairs ; and by connecting effects with 

 their causes, we are enabled to classify and retain in the 

 memory a multitude of complicatec 

 peculiarities of national character- 

 moral and intellectual refinement, and numerous 



relations — the various 

 the different degrees of 



cumstances, ^ 

 uninteresting 



VOL. I. 



or imperfectly understood. As the present 



B 



