Book I. (Chapters I. to XIII.)

Analysis of the Contents of

The Principles of Geology.

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
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CHAPTER II.

Oriental and Egyptian Cosmogonies—Doctrines of the Greeks and Romans bearing on Geology

CHAPTER III.

Historical progress of Geology—Arabian Writers—Italian, French, German, and English geologists before the 19th century—Physico-theological school

CHAPTER IV.

Werner and Hutton—Modern progress of the science

CHAPTER V.

Prepossessions in regard to the duration of past time, and other causes which have retarded the progress of Geology

CHAPTER VI.

Agreement of the ancient and modern course of nature considered—Changes of climate

CHAPTERS VII. VIII.

Causes of vicissitudes in climate, and their connection with changes in physical geography
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CHAPTER IX.

Theory of the progressive development of organic life at successive periods considered—Modern origin of Man

CHAPTER X

Supposed intensity of aqueous forces at remote periods—Erratic blocks—Deluges

CHAPTER XI.

Supposed former intensity of the igneous forces—Upheaval of land—Volcanic action

CHAPTER XII.

Causes of the difference in texture of older and newer rocks—Plutonic and Metamorphic. action

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