AMUSING, yet COMPREHENSIVE· andˇ INSTRUCTIVÉ "COMPENDIUM ;-by which, without detriment to their other studies, the juvenile minds of both sexes might be, as it were, allured, to "Remember their CREATOK" in the days of their youth; and to hold converse with their MAKER through the medium of his works, in that season when the mind is most susceptible of tender impressions, and the young idea - can be most easily trained, with the greatest probability of lasting effect, in the way that it should go. But there is another, and a most numerous class, for whose use this improved edition of The Book of Nature Laid Open is peculiarly adapted-To the numerous MECHANICS and ARTIZANS-TRADESMEN and AGRICULTURISTS-BUSY WORKMEN and OPERATIVE LABOURERS, in the great hive and vineyard of laudable human industry-whatever part they have been called to perform, or by whatever degree, shade, or designation, they choose to be distinguished ;—particularly such as are -scattered throughout our country towns, villages and hamlets,-who not having had the advantage of a Popular Treatise of this kind put into their hands at an early period of their lives,-nor since enjoyed the benefit of a liberal education,—and being still prevented by their isolated situations in the country, from availing themselves of the leotures of those numerous Mechanics' Institutions which are springing up around them in the larger towns,-have, nevertheless, a strong desire to be taught to range in the flowery paths of science,-to have their minds stored with, and their practice guided by, those numerous - useful and incontrovertible facts that are so abundantly diffused through, and many of which have been recently brought to light in, the com⚫prehensive pages of the Book of Nature, To such as these, I say, the present work is particularly recommended, as affording a source of the most rational recreation, and supplying the place of a course of PHILOSO HICAL LECTURES, ON THE MOST -POPULAR AND INTERESTING SUBJECTS, at their own firesides;-as well as to the special patronage of those of the same class, whose local situations in the larger towns give them more frequent opportunities of instruction-who have enrolled themselves in the number of students at these modern institutions, whose increase, if properly conducted and made subservient to the more ample diffusion of useful knowledgewith the corresponding exertions of the pulpit and the press,-backed by the unprecedented, yet growing demand, among our working population, for publications of the first importance and such undoubted utility,-together with other simultaneous movements so observah in our times;-may be considered as harbingers, if not, the r commencement, of that new era in the progress of civilization and refinement, when "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."-To those, it is expected, this humble performance will in due time recommend itself, not only as containing something highly congenial to their turn of thinking, and a useful text book; but, as a friendly monitor, that may occasionally, bring some important truth, or remarkable fact, (calculated to excite present inquiry, or stimulate to new research,) to their remembrance. It would no doubt be highly unbecoming and presumptuous to say, that those who move in the higher spheres, are likely, to be much benefited, by the perusal of a work of such humble pretensions ;-and why should they? They have already, it is to be supposed, had the advantage of, what this, to a certain extent only, is meant to supply, to the juvenile branches of the other classes, as well as the adult among the more laborious part of the community-A LIBERAL EDUCATION ;—and they have also, the means of providing themselves with the - best authors upon any particular subject with which they wish to become acquainted; but, is it not at least possible, that even some of these, may be brought to profit, by a casual glance, at a hint thrown out-or a reference given to some respectable authority-in this NEW COMPENDIUM OF POPULAR PHILOSOPHY ? The researches of the geologist, and the recent discoveries in mineralogy, have added considerably to our stock of knowledge in modern times; and if, in course of our progress among the subterranean regions, directed by the lights of modern science, some new and important fact shall have been brought to light, in regard to which, we shall have no other merit than merely making the circumstance more generally known,-may not, the mere circumstance of giving the discovery more publicity, be the means of bringing it under the consideration of some who would otherwise never have heard of it, and so far, our little work may be found useful in a way, that, at first, we neither could have anticipated or expected ;-while, the hints thrown out in regard to the processes adopted by Nature in the decomposition of the old, and formation of new materials-the approved methods of meliorating the soils-the most suitable materials to be used in the construction of buildings and other useful matters and occasional references, which will be found interspersed throughout the work—must give it a value and an interest, in the estimation of even the most cal-culating, to which it could never otherwise have aspired. Dunbar, October, 1826. CONTENTS OF FIRST VOLUME. CHAP. I. INTRODUCTORY Chapter, containing testimonies and recommendations in favour of the Study of Nature 17 CHAP. II.-Introductory Chapter continued-An important CHAP. IV. Internal Structure of the Earth continued-A CHAP. VI.-Rocks primary-Distinguishing characteristics of : 58 12 77 93 1109 CHAP. VII.-Rocks, Transition and Secondary-Peculiarities of transition rocks-Distinguishing characteristics of Secondary Strata-Sea coast in the neighbourhood of DunbarBasaltic Specimens—Uses of transition and Secondary rocks, & ΤΟ JAMES DAVIDSON, M.D. PROFESSOR OF CIVIL AND NATURAL HISTORY IN THE MARISCHAL COLLEGE, ABERDEEN, WHOSE FAVOURABLE OPINION OF THE BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN, UPON ITS FIRST APPEARANCE IN A PERIODICAL PUBLICATION OF HUMBLE IMPORT, HAS BEEN CHIEFLY INSTRUMENTAL IN DETERMINING THIS NEW MODELLED, MUCH ENLARGED, AND IMPROVED EDITION, UNDER THE TITLE OF POPULAR PHILOSOPHY, &c. IS, WITH SENTIMENTS OF GRATITUDE AND ESTEEM, RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. |