900 THE WONDERS OF GEOLOGY. Lect. VIII. 



Fixed-stars of animal life, which the microscope reveals 

 to us, we are alike overpowered by the contemplation of 

 the minutest, as of the mightiest, of His works ! And if, 

 as an eminent philosopher has observed, our planetary system 

 was gradually evolved from a primeval condition of matter, 

 and contained within itself the elements of each subsequent 

 change, still we know, that every physical phenomenon 

 which has taken place, from first to last, has emanated from 

 the immediate will of the Deity. 



VALEDICTION. 



With these remarks I take farewell of the intelligent 

 reader, who has accompanied me through this attempt to 

 combine a general view of geological phenomena, with a 

 familiar exposition of the inductions by which the leading 

 principles of the science have been established. And if I 

 have succeeded in explaining in a satisfactory manner, how, 

 by laborious and patient investigation, and the successful 

 application of other branches of Natural Philosophy, the 

 " Wonders of Geology" have been revealed ; — if I have 

 removed from but one intelligent mind any prejudice 

 against scientific inquiries, which may have been excited 

 by those who have neither the relish nor the capacity for 

 philosophical pursuits ; — if I have been so fortunate as to 

 kindle in the hearts of others, that intense desire for the 

 acquisition of natural knowledge, which I feel in my own, 

 — or have illumined the mental vision with that intel- 

 lectual light, which once kindled can never be extinguished, 

 and which reveals to the soul the beauty, and wisdom, and 

 harmony, of the works of the Eternal, I shall indeed re- 

 joice, for then my exertions will not have been in vain. 



