Researches in theoretical geology.
De la Beche, (Henry Thomas)
Frontis., text-figs., publisher's dark green cloth, original printed label (gilt on blue; price 8s), trifle worn; inscribed by the author "W. Warrington Smyth from her friend" (by this date de la Beche has separated from his wife), London, Charles Knight, 1834
xvi, 408.
"By undertaking a census of the strata De la Beche also hoped to transform the basis of geological philosophy. His Researches in Theoretical Geology (1834) had agreed with Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology (1830-33) in advocating close study of processes in action, but it went on to argue, against Lyell, that this would often point up differences between the present and the past. De la Beche accepted, as did most contemporaries, evidence that the earth was gradually cooling, and that its history had been marked by large-scale catastrophes. Not willing to limit government geology to mapping and collecting, he encouraged his men to use minutely detailed studies of individual localities to reconstruct specific ancient environments. Fossils were not merely to be used for international correlation, but as keys for reconstructing the characteristics of unique places in the past" (ODNB).
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