343 
MODERN PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, 
Soluble glass is capable of many other ap- 
plications, and particularly as a cement ; for 
this use it is superior to all those which have 
hitherto been employed, for uniting broken 
glass, porcelain, &c. 
It may be used in place of glue or isinglass, 
in applying colours, although when emjdoyed 
by itself, it does not make a varnish which 
will preserve its transparency when in contact 
with air. — Mechanic's Magazine. 
THE 
STUDY OF SCIENCE, 
A FAMILIAR INTRODUCTION 
TO THE 
PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 
As, among our readers, there may be some who have not had opportunities of becoming ac- 
quainted with the recent elaborate researches and ingenious speculations of learned men 
in the several departments of Natural Philosophy, we have determined to devote a certain 
number of pages monthly, to form a series of lectures in the several branches of science, by 
way of a familiar introduction to the study of Natural Philosophy with modern discoveries. 
GEOLOGY. 
Geology is a greek word, compounded of 
ge, the earth, and /o^os, a discourse. While 
it is obvious that it constitutes a very import 
ant and attractive study, it is equally plain 
that it is attended with considerable difficul- 
ties ; in consequence, especially of our inabi- 
lity to penetrate far below the surface of our 
globe, and in fact the restriction of our exami- 
nations to only a portion of the land. We stand 
on the borders of oceans and rivers, or look 
into ravines, mines, and the clefts of moun- 
tains, like insects that skim the surface or pace 
the rim of a small vessel of water, or traverse 
the little mole-hill in the foot-path. 
We might here advert to some of the sys- 
tems which have been framed to explain the 
present appearances of the surface or, as it 
has been called, the crust of the earth ; but 
statements of this nature will be better defer- 
red till some of the principal facts which have 
been observed shall have been stated. Great 
diversities of opinion have prevailed on many 
points among geologists; and although our 
knowledge of tacts is continually increasing, 
we cannot be said to have yet advanced be- 
yond the surface of the science. 
Naturally, one of the first subjects of remark 
is the position, relative situation, and general 
character of the rocks thatconslitute thestruc- 
ture of the earth. They not only differ tiom 
each other in their essential elements, but in 
their figure, magnitude, and position , as well 
as in other circumstances. They lie in strata 
or beds, and layers. The word stratum, of 
which strata is the plural, signifies bed, and is 
used to express the order of rocks. Hence, 
when a mountain, or series of rocks, is com- 
posed of a similar and undivided mass, it is 
Bgid to be unstratified ; which, however, is com- 
paratively rare. The crust of the earth, regard- 
ed as a whole, is disposed in layers or beds of 
earth, stone, and various materials, and is, 
therefore, stratified. These strata are, in one 
respect, regular ; in another, extremely irre- 
gular. In the order in which they occur, no- 
thing can be more regular ; but in the direc- 
tion or inclination in which they are found, the 
utmost irregularity prevails. 
Before giving a delineation of the order of 
rocks, we must remark, that, although this ex- 
hibits the law or rule as to the succession of 
strata, they following each other invariably 
after this manner, yet all are not found in 
every, or indeed together in any entire series, in 
any one situation. Many ofthe particular 
classes are always absent ; and there may be 
only two or three present. Butthe lawofsuc- 
cession is never violated ; that is, those which 
sustain others are never u ppermost and recum- 
bent upon them, and vice versa. If one, two, 
or more of a series is missing, the rest in going 
downwards are all rocks of the classes below 
the one in question ; or upwards, those which 
belong to a superincumbent series. In this 
respect, therefore, there is no confusion. 
The position of the strata, however, is ex- 
tremely irregular. Some are horizontal, some 
almost or quite perpendicular ; and the dip or 
inclination of others is diversified at every pos- 
sible angle. To a superficial observer, this 
disarrangement appears accidental, and he is 
naturally disposed to regard the directions, in- 
clinations, and frequent convolutions of the 
masses as mere confusion, as if all had been 
thrown together by some mighty povverintoa 
disorderly mass. This very disorder, however, 
is an unquestionable proof of design and wise 
superintendence, — a design v^hich pervades 
the universe as well in its apparent contingen- 
cies, as in its most consecutive arrangments 
and nicest adaptations. If all the strata or 
layers of rocks on the earth’s surface had been 
placed horizontally one above the other, it is 
evidentthat we could only have become ac- 
quainted with the superior series ; and beds of 
coal, salt, metals, and othersubstances which 
belong to the inferior strata, could never have 
been available. Upon the supposition, too, 
that these layers had been wrapped round the 
nucleus or solid body of the globe like the 
coats of an onion, the earth would have pre- 
sented nothing to the eye but a monotonous 
plain ; innumerable varieties of animal and 
vegetable life could not have existed; and the 
fertility which now results from the descent of 
dew, the formation of springs, the gathered 
