Principles of Geology

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE PROGRESS OF GEOLOGY, WITH A SERIES OF ESSAYS TO SHOW THAT THE MONUMENTS OF THE ANCIENT STATE OF THE EARTH AND ITS INHABITANTS, WHICH THIS SCIENCE INTERPRETS, CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD BY A PREVIOUS ACQUAINTANCE WITH TERRESTRIAL CHANGES NOW IN PROGRESS, BOTH IN THE ORGANIC AND INORGANIC WORLDS.Contain:- Geology defined-Its relation to other Sciences - Oriental and Egyptian Cosmogonies-Doctrines of the Greeks and Romans bearing on Geology - Historical progress of Geology-Arabian Writers-Italian, French, German, and English geologists before the 19th century-Physico-theological school - Werner and Hutton-Modern progress of the science- Prepossessions in regard to the duration of past time, and other causes which have retarded the progress of Geology- Agreement of the ancient and modern course of nature considered-Changes of climate - Causes of vicissitudes in climate, and their connection with changes in physical geography- Theory of the progressive development of organic life at successive periods considered-Modern origin of Man- Supposed intensity of aqueous forces at remote periods-Erratic blocks- Deluges- Supposed former intensity of the igneous forces-Upheaval of land-Volcanic action- Causes of the difference in texture of older and newer rocks-Plutonic and Metamorphic action- Supposed alternate periods of repose and disorder-Opposite doctrine, which refers geological phenomena to an uninterrupted series of changes in the organic and inorganic world, unattended with general catastrophes, or the development of paroxysmal forces.