t the influence of moral causes.

It is in the philosophy of nature that the natural history of this earth
is to be studied; and we must not allow ourselves ever to reason without
proper data, or to fabricate a system of apparent wisdom in the folly of
a hypothetical delusion.

When, to a scientific view of the subject, we join the proof which has
been given, that in all the quarters of the globe, in every place upon
the surface of the earth, there are the most undoubted marks of the
continued progress of those operations which wear away and waste the
land, both in its height and width, its elevation and extention, and
that for a space of duration in which our measures of time are lost, we
must sit down contented with this limitation of our retrospect, as
well as prospect, and acknowledge, that it is in vain to seek for any
computation of the time, during which the materials of this earth had
been prepared in a preceding world, and collected at the bottom of a
former sea.

The system of this earth will thus appear to comprehend many different
operations, or it exhibits various powers co-operating for the
production of those appearances which we properly understand in knowing
causes. Thus, in order to understand the natural conformation of this
country, or the particular shape of any other place upon the globe, it
is not enough to see the effects of those powers which gradually waste
and wear away the surface, we must also see how those powers affecting
the surface operate, or by what principle they act.

Besides, seeing those powers which are employed in thus changing the
surface of the earth, we must also observe how their force is naturally
augmented with the declivity of the ground on which they operate.
Neither is it sufficient to understand by what powers the surface is
impaired, for, it may be asked, why, in equal circumstances, one part is
more impaired than another; this then leads to the examination of the
mineral system, in which are determined the hardness and solidity,
consequently, the permanency of those bodies of which our land is
composed; and here are sources of indefinite variety.

In the system of the globe every thing must be consistent. The changing
and destroying operations of the surface exposed to the sun and
influences of the atmosphere, must correspond to those by which land is
composed at the bottom of the sea; and the consolidating operations of
the mineral region must correspond to thos