36G 
SECOND REPORT —1832. 
cosmogonical tenets of the philosophical schools with our sub¬ 
ject, and indicated the allusions in the writings of historians, 
geographers, and naturalists, to some of the more striking 
phenomena of geology ; those especially which, by the occur¬ 
rence of marine remains in the midst of our continents, attest 
the displacement of the ocean from the regions which it must 
once have covered; even at this early period we should have 
seen volcanic agency referred to, as affording the most probable 
explanation of these striking facts, and the elevation by these 
forces of considerable tracts, such as that near Methone, point¬ 
ed out as analogous cases. 
On the revival of literature and science, w T e might have ob¬ 
served that Italy, the earliest and most active country in that 
bright career, by no means neglected this subject. Numerous and 
interesting are the anticipations of subsequent discoveries in this 
science, which may thence be gleaned. From the age of Boc¬ 
caccio the subject had there received frequent attention, and 
long before a similar spirit had extended to other countries we 
find Steno in possession of many of the fundamental facts of 
geology,—a distinct recognition of various successive forma¬ 
tions ; of the dislocations and fractures of the strata; of the 
orderly distribution of organic remains, &c.: but to these sub¬ 
jects I can now only briefly allude; and I regret this the less as 
I have years ago submitted to the public a concise statement 
of these historical particulars, and the outline I then offered 
has been far more ably filled up by subsequent writers, especi¬ 
ally by Mr. Lyell, to the early chapters of whose important work 
I would particularly refer those who may desire satisfactory in¬ 
formation on this part of our subject. 
I will only therefore allow this earlier period of the progress 
of geological science to detain us a very few moments while I 
point out the claims of one most distinguished philosopher, the 
universal Leibnitz, who honoured this branch of physical specu¬ 
lation by tievoting to it a portion of his attention, and antici¬ 
pated, with the prophetic sagacity of a powerful mind, its future 
progress, and the very methods of investigation which would 
most effectually contribute to its successful development. I am 
induced to pause on the consideration of the geological treatise 
of this most eminent writer (his Protogcea ), because I am per¬ 
suaded that its merits have been seldom sufficiently appreciated, 
and admit of being most prominently exhibited by being brought 
into immediate contact with the subsequent discoveries of our 
science. 
In the 4th section of his Protogcea, Leibnitz presents us w’ith 
a masterly sketch of his general views; and perhaps, even in 
