FIRST OBSERVATIONS. 
43 
It is therefore the distinctive merit of 
modern geology, that it has*earned its title 
to the applause of the wise and good, in 
spite of strong opposition and mistrust; the 
latter originating in a jealous fear for the 
honor of other truths, deservedly dearer to 
the applauders, than all the world contains 
besides. 
We will not further allude to the theories 
of the world-makers which have thus 
raised our science to a “.bad eminence,” 
but endeavour simply to delineate an out¬ 
line of the plain undeniable facts written in 
the earth beneath. 
The first observation of the enquirer will 
be that the subsoil is not every where com¬ 
posed of the same substance; next, that 
there is variety in the arrangement as well 
as in the materials ; thirdly, that the varia¬ 
tions have some law and order ; fourthly, 
that different portions of the subsoil are not 
only characterised by difference of mineral 
character and position, but by a diversity in 
the forms of organic fossils which they 
contain. 
The proof of succession in the order of 
deposits is complete, not only as it is de- 
