which spread it out upon the ocean-bed. There the spoils of the land are added to the defunct shells and skeletons of marine life, the astonishing amount of the works of men, and the millions of human skeletons which, through more than fifty centuries, have been swallowed up in the watery deep. At the time which inviolable justice has fixed, "the sea shall give up her dead." Can it be thought improbable that the operations which are now in progress, in the dark abyss, and at its greatest depths, are subservient to the righteous proceedings of that day, the finishing of the mystery of God as to this one portion of his ways;-the termination of man's existence as an animal-species upon earth, but his resurrection to an immortal life, a new sphere of being, the possession of a more exquisite organization, which, in a manner inconceivable to our present faculties, will be incomparably more effective for the highest purposes of mind than that which we now possess?-We trace the monuments of change to early and still earlier conditions, carrying us back to the grand simplicity of elementary creation: and we are permitted to contemplate the all-surrounding proofs that our globe only waits the will of the Almighty Being, to develope its mechanical and chemical forces; and, if that will have so ordained, "the heavens,” the atmospheric constitution, "shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

The design of geological studies is to acquire a satisfactory knowledge of the substances (airs, water, earth, stones, and metals,) which in different combinations and arrangements, form the accessible parts of the planet assigned by the Almighty Creator for our present dwelling

2 Pet. iii. 10.

place; and of the changes through which they have passed and are passing; with a view to the enlargement of human knowledge, the promotion of our present happiness, and the celebration of His perfections" of whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things."

It is obvious that this is an attractive field of investigation, promising not only to be productive of intellectual pleasure, but to bring many and great benefits to the arts of usefulness and comfort in life, and to furnish interesting discoveries of the power, wisdom, and goodness of HIM who exists independently and by necessity of nature, possessed of all perfections, the designing cause and active sustainer of all other beings, and to whom it is equally our duty and our happiness to render the highest veneration and love and homage.

It is not less obvious, that this study cannot be undertaken, with any reasonable hope of success, without the aid of some other branches of natural science. Indeed, to so high a point have the pursuits of Natural History and Natural Philosophy been raised in our day, that it is no longer possible for one department to be cultivated, with the hope of success and so as to avoid the danger of falling into egregious mistakes, without some acquaintance with the others. This fact has been both proved and elucidated, with equal force of reasoning and elegance of manner, by a lady of extraordinary attainments, in her work entitled The Connexion of the Physical Sciences.

The substances which compose the external part of our earth, and which present themselves sometimes in a simple state but generally in various forms of composi tion, must be ascertained by their external appearance; and such knowledge is the science of the Mineralogist. But their inward nature, and the states of union in which we find them, must also be known; together with the principles or laws, as they are usually called, which reg

ulate those states of union, preventing or separating some, favouring and effectuating others: and this cannot be without Chemical knowledge. In the production of geological formations and their subsequent changes of position, the common law of gravitation and other regular modes of attraction and repulsion, have performed and are always performing an important part: the investigation of those modes of action cannot be attempted, with the least hope of success, but by the application of mathematical Dynamics. The larger number of the earthy and stony masses which we have to study contain, in immense multitudes, the skeletons, the coverings, whether adherent integuments or such as supply the place of habitations, and various other remains of animals; and the substance, or mineral matter moulded upon the substance, of vegetable species, trunks, stems, leaves, and fruits it is therefore indispensable to the right understanding of geological facts, that a competent knowledge should be obtained of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy, and of Botany according to a Natural System.* It must further be remarked, that the best books and the richest cabinets are not sufficient to convey complete ideas; but to closetstudy must be added personal inspection of the face of a country, of sea-cliffs and beaches, of mountain-sides, rocky precipices, land-slips, and ravines; besides every kind of artificial excavation; and this labour, in travelling and exploring, must be carried to an extent greater

"It is now admitted on all hands, that no man can be qualified to enter any of the highest walks of science, who is acquainted with only one branch of natural knowledge; and the mutual dependence of them all is now so positively demonstrated, that the philosopher of our days can no longer be allowed to remain satisfied with those inquiries which belong exclusively to any single branch, but must extend his investigations over the whole range of sciences, and illuminate his path by the varied combinations of them all." Prof. Buckland's Vindicia Geologica; his Inaugural Lecture, 1819; p. 10.

OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.

17

than can be expected from most individuals, though there are eminent men who have personally achieved wonders in this respect. There are Geologists who have devoted severe and self-denying toil, exposure to great perils, and vast expense, through the best years of life, to this object; and, with a noble disinterestedness, they communicate the results of their untiring exertions. Those results are, by themselves and other qualified persons, brought together, scrutinized, compared, connected; and then, by publication, exposed to the renewed criticism of the scientific world: so that, in the issue, ample knowledge has been obtained, and that knowledge resting upon rigorously examined evidence, of the geological conditions of Europe generally; of large districts in North and South America, India, and Central and Western Asia; and of some portions of Africa, Australia, and the Isles of the Pacific Ocean.

It may not unreasonably be alleged, that few persons are qualified to this extent. To this objection we reply,

1. Though they may be few, compared with the general population of any country, yet, if we take the ag gregate of persons possessed of the qualifications required, in an eminent degree, we shall find them to rise to a very high amount, in Europe and the European settlements throughout the earth. Here might be mentioned a long line of illustrious names, both British and foreign, whom it would be a delight to honour; but I deny myself the pleasure of so doing, because, though the catalogue of those whose names instantly rise in an admiring and grateful memory would be very considerable, many of high and probably equal merit would be omitted, and thus no little injustice would be inflicted.*

"Whoever

* I venture to adapt to this topic the words of Leclerc. attempts this study should well understand what a task he undertakes, and by what laws he must be governed or else he will be a most infeli

2. It is no extravagance to affirm that the distinguished men to whom I allude, and who have given us the details of their travels and labours, are entitled personally to the fullest credit of their testimony upon the facts and scenery which they describe. Yet, if any person, moved, I doubt not, by honourable and even religious principles, should allow a painful suspicion still to lurk in his mind, let him consider that the individual veracity of persons of the finest talents and the greatest advantages of education, and whose integrity is unquestionable, is not our only guarantee; but that the number of explorers and observers is great, that they belong to different nations and parties, and are subject to be influenced by various interests and prepossessions, so that the correction of any involuntary mistake is sure and speedy; but if superficial observation, or negligent statement, or designed misrepre、 sentation, were to occur, the detection would be prompt and the penalty severe, in a public forfeiture of character and confidence. From some measure of knowledge and some care in observation, I feel myself bound in duty to profess my thorough persuasion, that the firmest reliance may be placed on the reports and descriptions for which we are indebted to the most distinguished geologists of our time.

citous critic [geologist ;] and, instead of reaping that high honour which men of real erudition [and science] have obtained from this art, he will become contemptible and ridiculous. I think I hear my reader asking me, Whether I myself look for any portion of this honour?—I will only venture to say, that I do not PROFESS this arduous and hazardous study, though I highly honour those who do profess it, and have long read their writings with great pleasure, from which perhaps some tinge-may have adhered to me." From a larger quotation out of his Ars Critica, in Pye Smith's Scripture Testimony to the Messiah, Vol. III. p. 25, third ed. Yet, if any should suspect me of being captivated by novelty and ensnared by a precipitate disposition, I take leave to say that these are not to me the studies of yesterday, and that I have professed and taught the leading sentiments of this volume, within my own circle of connexions, for at least five and thirty years.