Vi 



PREFACE. 



all except a few philosophers, so wrapped up was 

 it in technical terms, absurd speculations, and fan- 

 ciful hypotheses. But the age of speculation has 

 passed ; facts are now sought after, and every- 

 thing is brought to the test of utility. The inti- 

 mate connexion of geology with agriculture, mi- 

 ning, architecture, and engineering, is too obvious* 

 to escape the notice of the least observing ; and / 

 the practical advantages hence resulting will con- 

 tinue to secure to the science the attention of every 

 intelligent citizen. 



In preparing this little work, I have endeavoured, 

 as far as possible, to divest the subject of technical- 

 ities, and, avoiding theory, to present facts in a fa- 

 miliar and popular way. Beginning with the prop- 

 erties of matter, I have proceeded briefly to de- 

 scribe those chemical laws, which are chiefly con* 

 cerned in the production of geological phenomena, 

 thus preparing the way for the intelligent under- 

 standing of what follows by those who have had 

 no opportunities of becoming acquainted with these 

 branches of science. It has been my aim, by in- 

 troducing a simple arrangement suited to the pres- 

 ent state of our knowledge ; by avoiding all hypo- 

 thetical considerations ; and by illustrating impor- 

 tant facts by means of plates and woodcuts, to ren- 

 der the science attractive to all classes of readers, 

 and to produce a treatise which might be used with 

 advantage in schools and other seminaries of learn, 

 ing. 



In the second part, embracing nearly half of the 

 work, will be found perhaps the fullest description 

 of the geological formations and mineral resources 

 of the United States hitherto published in any sys- 



