TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have beenplaced at the end of the book.
The cover image, with the title and author superimposed on the original cover, was created by the transcriberand is placed in the public domain.
Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book.
ESSAY
ON THE
THEORY OF THE EARTH.
ESSAY
ON THE
THEORY OF THE EARTH.
By BARON G. CUVIER,
PERPETUAL SECRETARY OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE, PROFESSOR ANDADMINISTRATOR OF THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY,
&c. &c.
WITH
GEOLOGICAL ILLUSTRATIONS,
BY
PROFESSOR JAMESON.
FIFTH EDITION,
TRANSLATED FROM THE LAST FRENCH EDITION, WITH NUMEROUSADDITIONS BY THE AUTHOR AND TRANSLATOR.
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH; AND
T. CADELL, STRAND, LONDON.
MDCCCXXVII.
Printed by P. Neill.
PREFACE
TO THE
FIFTH EDITION.
Geology, now deservedly one of the mostpopular and attractive of the physicalsciences, was, not many years ago, held inlittle estimation; and even at present, thereare not wanting some who do not hesitateto maintain, that it is a mere tissue of ill observedphenomena, and of hypotheses ofboundless extravagance. The work of Cuviernow laid before the public, contains initself not only a complete answer to these ignorantimputations, but also demonstratesthe accuracy, extent, and importance ofmany of the facts and reasonings of this de[vi]lightfulbranch of Natural History. Can itbe maintained of a science, which requires forits successful prosecution an intimate acquaintancewith Chemistry, Natural Philosophyand Astronomy,—with the details andviews of Zoology, Botany, and Mineralogy,and which connects these different departmentsof knowledge in a most interestingand