BOOK I. (Chapters I. to XIII.)
Reading edition
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.
CHAPTER I
Geology defined—Its relation to other Sciences Page 1
CHAPTER II.
Oriental and Egyptian Cosmogonies—Doctrines of the Greeks and Romans bearing on Geology 4
CHAPTER III.
Historical progress of Geology—Arabian Writers—Italian, French, German, and English geologists before the 19th century—Physico-theological school 17
CHAPTER IV.
Werner and Hutton—Modern progress of the science 46
CHAPTER V.
Prepossessions in regard to the duration of past time, and other causes which have retarded the progress of Geology 61
CHAPTER VI.
Agreement of the ancient and modern course of nature considered—Changes of climate 73
CHAPTERS VII. VIII.
Causes of vicissitudes in climate, and their connection with changes in physical geography 92, 114
CHAPTER IX.
Theory of the progressive development of organic life at successive periods considered—Modern origin of Man 130
CHAPTER X
Supposed intensity of aqueous forces at remote periods—Erratic blocks—Deluges 153
CHAPTER XI.
Supposed former intensity of the igneous forces—Upheaval of land—Volcanic action 160
CHAPTER XII.
Causes of the difference in texture of older and newer rocks—Plutonic and Metamorphic. action 175
CHAPTER XIII.
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 180