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Transcriber's Notes: Words in italics in the original are surrounded by _underscores_. Depending on the font, there is one character that may not be visible. It is a superscripted "5". Other notes follow the text.
OF THE BRUTE CREATION, AND OF VEGETABLES, MINERALS, _&c. &c._
London: PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETOR, AND SOLD BY H. D. SYMONDS, PATERNOSTER-ROW.
Article I. _On the Formation of the Planets_ 69
Article II. _From the System of Whiston_ 115
Article III. _From the System of Burnet_ 128
Article IV. _From the System of Woodward_ 131
Article V. _Exposition of some other Systems_ 137
Article VII. _On the Production of the Strata, or Beds of the Earth_ 183
Article VIII. _On Shells and other Marine Productions found in the interior Parts of the Earth_ 219
Article IX. _On the Inequalities of the Surface of the Earth_ 262
We should certainly be guilty of a gross absurdity if, in an age like the present, we were to enter into an elaborate discussion on the advantages to be derived from the study of NATURAL HISTORY; the ancients recommended it as useful, instructive, and entertaining; and the moderns have so far pursued and cultivated this first of sciences, that it is now admitted to be the source of universal instruction and knowledge; where every active mind may find subjects to amuse and delight, and the artist a never failing field to enrich his glowing imagination.
It would have been singular if, on such a subject, a number of authors had not submitted the produce of their observations and labour; many have written upon Natural Philosophy, but the Comte de BUFFON stands eminently distinguished among them; he has entered into a minute investigation, and drawn numberless facts from unwearied observations far beyond any other, and this he has accomplished in a style fully accordant with the importance of his subject. Ray, Linnæus, Rheaumur, and other of his cotemporaries, deserve much credit for their classing of animals, vegetables, &c. but it was BUFFON alone who entered into a description of their nature, habits, uses, and properties. In his Theory of the Earth he has displayed a wonderful ingenuity, and shewn the general order of Nature with a masterly hand, although he may be subject to some objections for preferring physical reasonings on general causes, rather than allowing aught to have arisen from supernatural agency, or the will of the Almighty. In this he has followed the example of all great philosophers, who seem unwilling to admit that the formation of any part of the Universe is beyond their comprehension.