GEOLOGICAL ENQUIRY. 35 
matter, and of the various changes through 
which it has advanced, from the creation of its 
component elements to its actual condition ; the 
second, embracing the past history of the animal 
and vegetable kingdoms, and the successive 
modifications which these two great departments 
of nature have undergone, during the chemical 
and mechanical operations that have affected 
the surface of our planet. As the study of both 
these branches forms the subject of the science 
of Geology, it is no less important to examine 
the nature and action of the physical forces, 
that have affected unorganized mineral bodies, 
than to investigate the laws of life, and varied 
conditions of organization, that prevailed while 
the crust of our globe was in process of for- 
mation. 
Before we enter on the history of fossil 
animals and vegetables, we must therefore first 
briefly review the progressive stages of mineral 
formations ; and see how far we can discover 
in the chemical constitution, and mechanical 
arrangement of the materials of the earth, 
proofs of general prospective adaptation to the 
economy of animal and vegetable life. 
As far as our planet is concerned, the first act 
of creation seems to have consisted in giving 
origin to the elements of the material world. 
These inorganic elements appear to have re- 
ceived no subsequent addition to their number. 
