PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. 



V 



The Third Edition of this work was re-published in America, in 

 18^9, by Professor Silliman of Yale College, Connecticut, the dis- 

 tinguished Editor of the American Journal of Science. It was com- 

 menced without any previous communication or acquaintance with 

 the author. The reasons for the re-publication were stated in the 

 Professor's preface, an extract from which is subjoined. The author 

 will be satisfied if the present work should be thought deserving of 

 the commendation given by the American editor, of being " a com- 

 prehensive Treatise on Geology, which the student will be willing, to 

 read, and able to understand." 



Hampstead, near London, 

 April Id, 1833. 



Part of Professor Silliman's Preface of the American re-print of 

 the Third Edition, 



The Editor believes that he is performing a service to his country, 

 by encouraging the re-publication of a work conspicuous for attract- 

 iveness, — for perspicuity, — for a style generally vigorous and cor- 

 rect, — often eloquent and beautiful; and for an independence of spi- 

 rit, which carries the Author straight forward to his object, certainly 

 without any servile regard to previous systems. While bestowing 

 this merited commendation, we do not mean to say that we fully 

 adopt all the Author's theoretical views, although most of them ap- 

 pear to be philosophical and just, and some of them are peculiarly 

 happy. 



Speaking in the character of a public instructor of youth, I beg 

 leave to add, that my immediate motive for recommending the re- 

 publication was, that I might place in the hands of my own classes, 

 a comprehensive treatise on geology, which they would be willing to 

 read and able to understand. 



Caution. — In 1829, a book was published in duodecimo, entitled An Introduc- 

 tion to the study of Mineralogy, by J. R. Bakewell." Several friends of the Au- 

 thor of the present volume have informed him, that they were induced, by the 

 name, to purchase the book ; he therefore thinks it necessary to state, that he has 

 no connection with the writer of that book, and he has reason to believe that the 

 name was assumed to mislead the public. 



