Letters on the Physical History of the Earth, Addressed to Professor Blumenbach

fragment, he considers that no apology is needed, so long as those sentiments have not-and he trusts they have in no degree-blinded his judgment to

the merits of the illustrious successors of De Luc,

the heirs and improvers of his discoveries.

LONDON, May 10, 1831.

Fundamental point in Geology established by De Luc—Geological

Chronometers-Residence of the Sea upon extensive portions of

our Continents for a considerable time immediately before the last

Connection between the Mosaic Narrative of the Deluge and Geolo-

gical Phenomena..

33

SECTION IV.

:

Two Periods in the History of the earth—one prior, the other poste-

rior to the existence of our Continents—In the latter Period there
is a fixed Chronology: in the former, a series of Geological Events

may be traced, in which we discern only a succession of subor-

dinate epochs, without determination of time—Summary view of

that series—Origin assigned to the Mineral Strata and to the

Atmosphere—Successive changes in the nature of our Mineral

Beds; disturbances which they have suffered—Causes of those

two great Phenomena of Geology indicated—Proofs of changes,

at several epochs, both in the Liquid of the Sea, and in the

Agreement of Cuvier and Alex. Brongniart with De Luc in his

General Statement of Geological Phenomena, and his Views re-

specting the Causes and Operations that relate to them....

76

SECTION VI.

Mosaic Days, to be considered as Indefinite Periods-Arguments in

support of that Opinion-Ancient and Modern Authorities—Con-

nection between the Mosaic Narrative of the Creation, and

Geological Phenomena

86

SECTION VII.

General Inferences-A true Theory in Geology not undiscoverable-

Approximations to such a Theory by De Luc.....

118

SECTION VIII.

Moral importance of Geology-Means of facilitating its study indi-

On the Phenomena characterizing the Causes that have formerly

operated upon the Terrestrial Globe ; and particularly on those

which fix the date of the Origin of our Continents

1

LETTER II.

Analysis of Geological Phenomena, leading to a determination of

their Origin ..

41

LETTER III.

On the History of the Earth, from the origin of what is now observed

upon it, down to the production of the Strata of Sand-stone 81

On the History of the Earth, from the time of the formation of the

calcareous strata, to the last period in which the Sea remained in

its ancient Bed; a long space of time, which comprises, in parti-

cular, the Origin of Volcanic Eruptions and of Coal Beds; the

formation of the strata of Chalk and Rock Salt; and the History

of the Quadrupeds, of which we find the remains in our strata.... 137

Of Volcanic Eruptions

137

Of Coal Beds

Of the Strata of Chalk

Birth of our Continents—Proofs of the little distance of that epoch 182

History of the Earth since the birth of our Continents...

190

LETTER VI.

A Physical Commentary on the eleven first Chapters of Genesis .... 230

APPENDIX.

Containing Remarks on some erroneous representations relative to

the Author, in a work entitled, “A Comparative Estimate of the

Mineral and Mosaical Geologies”...

273

ERRATA.

32,

Introduction, Page 19, line 24, note, after elevation, omit inverted commas.

18, note, add inverted commas after England.
105, note, for “ as the matter shall require," read “at all

times, as the matter shall require."
114, 20, after animals, read Lectures on the History of the

Natural Sciences.
Letters,
15, last line but one, for Section II. Although interchanges of

land, read Section IV. page 71, line 4.
38, 9, add inverted commas, note, notwithstanding, however.
107, 14, for these read our continents.

Livres

Letters on the Physical History of the Earth, Addressed to Professor ...