XVIII.

many regions, and with all the additional mould and LETTER matter which the decaying remains of the Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms have been every year steadily and successively adding to the variegated mass. Thus there is no incongruity between the Mosaic account and these Geological facts.

This venerable and invaluable outline of the Primordia of our Globe begins with a general declaration, that the Earth originated from the Creation of God.50 Its first unformed, dark, and void state, is noticed with the waters upon it; upon which the Spirit of ELOHIM is represented to have been in active operation. The results of His agency are not detailed, nor is any chronology affixed to this period of our terrestrial formation; nor is any account given of the geological constructions that ensued. Our science is therefore left at full liberty to investigate and delineate, what it may discover to have been the actual process, by which the construction of our Planet was accomplished.

The Mosaic Chronology begins with the formation of Adam, and with the six preceding days or periods, which commenced with the production of light. What interval occurred between the first creation of the material substance of our Globe, and the mandate for light to descend upon it-whether months, years, or ages, is not in the slightest degree noticed. Geology may shorten or extend its duration, as it may find proper. There is no restriction on this part of the

59 As the word Bara, created, has an obvious affinity with Bar, a Son, and probably was derived from it, the pleasing idea of filiation is connected with Creation, in the natural etymology of the term used by the Sacred Historian to express it. This is in gratifying unison with the repeated intimations of Divine revelation, that the Creator deigns to consider Himself as the Father of His earthly

creatures.

LETTER subject. In this portion of Time, or Eternity, we XVII. may place the formation of our elementary matter

the composition and arrangement of the vast central and interior contents, whatever they may be—and, indeed, the production of all things to which light was not essentially necessary. This element in its luminous and fiery actions, may have been used as an important instrument in the composition, crystallization, or concretion of the Primordial rocks; but on this point I will not attempt to theorize; I will only add that the use of vegetation, and the commencement of animal life, would also require such a preparation of the surface in the points where these were to appear, as would suit their growth and sustenance.

After announcing the production of the Atmosphere, the separation of the Seas, and the creation of the Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms, the Mosaic Record makes no further allusion to the state of the Earth, until the catastrophe of the Deluge. This interval was at least a period of one thousand six hundred and fifty-six years; and therefore allows that space of time for all the formations between the Primordial and the Tertiary, beyond what was necessary and provided for the localities where the Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms began. The violent changes which occurred at the Diluvian ruin, seem to be most connected with the Tertiary Geology. Yet even as to this revolution, Moses says no more in express terms than that the fountains of the great deep were broken up. All additional matter, as to the terrestrial alterations at this epocha, can be but inferences from the other facts he mentions. Thus the Sacred Historian gives the largest latitude for the investigations and deductions of geological science; and presents nothing to our view, that is likely to be hostile to the actual truths

XVIII.

which may ultimately be established, by that union LETTER of genius, knowlege, correct reasoning, and sound judgment, from which the great laws and principles of Geology will be, as those of Astronomy have been, so successfully, discovered and determined. We have only to take care not to confound diffusion with creation; and therefore to remember that the first production of Animals and Vegetables were in such part or places only as was most fit. It is most probable that this was in some suited locality only, and that they were left to the appointed laws of their being, to disseminate themselves gradually according to their respective natures and qualities. A due recollection of this principle of natural diffusion, according to their respective powers and dispositions, will preserve your mind from many of those extravagant hypotheses and speculations which seem to have superseded the nursery and fairy tales of the Continent, only to resemble and to rival them. But I hope that this Panorama of Creation which I have imperfectly endeavoured to delineate, will preserve your mind from the phantasms of Philosophy, as well as from those of ignorant Superstition. Each has its follies and its idols, from which the sound judgment will endeavour at all times to keep free. To separate the Deity from His works, is to surrender our intellect to error and to evil, and not less to discomfort. Look, then, upon Nature as His intelligent and benevolent production; and enlarge your mind by surveying it in all its richness, grandeur, and diversity. This will make your ideas of Him more sublime, and your feelings to Him more grateful, affectionate, and duteous. To lead you to this happy result, and to assist you to arrive at it, has been the great motive and

XVIII.

LETTER object of this literary Correspondence. May it fulfil my earnest and anxious wish! True felicity will not otherwise be attained.60

60 It will make Creation more interesting to you, if you recall to your recollection the noble hymns upon it, of Milton, in his Paradise Lost, and of Thomson, appended to his Seasons; which you used to repeat to me as we strolled along the fields from Epsom towards Horton. If we contemplate Nature with such impressions, we shall feel the indications which it gives us of its CREATOR. Its occasional effect on myself, with the recollection of some passages in one of David's compositions, led to the attempt of the following HYMN on the beauty and benevolence so manifested in Creation.

HYMN on CREATION.

WITH all thy powers, my Soul! thy KING proclaim
And praise the EVERLASTING'S awful name.

O hymn the Source of Life! thy parent bless ;

And feel that Greatness words can ne'er express.

Hosanna to the Lord of endless time!

In blest Eternity, the GoD sublime!
Honor, and power, and majesty, enthrone
Thy glorious Being with light's radiant zone.
The heavens their vast expansion spread from Thee:
The stormy clouds as Thy dread chariots flee:
Thy presence moves upon the whirlwind's wing:
Like awful flames, Thine angels on their King
Obedient tend, and at Thy mission dart
From sphere to sphere, Thy mandates to impart :
From Thee its mighty frame our Earth derives,
And still in wondrous harmony survives!

Yet tho His terrors oft compel our fear,
His goodness loves to bless our favored sphere.
Our globe revolving as He guides, the skies
Smile with the sun-crown'd day; stern Winter flies,
And bids the Spring assume her lovely green;
Then floral beauties grace the sylvan scene;
Soft playful zephyrs animate the glades,
While giant trees expand their grateful shades.
How sweet to listen, on some verdant swell,
To the gay songsters chirping round the dell!
To see them, proud of life, of love and mirth,
Wheel from their nests, and skim along the earth;

Delight

Delight inspires their wings, joy tunes their breast;
The home of happiness, their social nest.

With soothing wildness, and mysterious views,
The Forests court the meditative Muse;

Their darkening paths, with awe unearthly fraught,
To sacred feelings solemnize the thought;
We seem in worlds unlike our own to tread ;

Then most attractive when most strange and dread.
But thus in every form or hue it takes,

A grateful sympathy Creation wakes.

How sweet to climb some gentle hillock's mound,
And trace the bounteous streams which cheer the ground!
Where'er we gaze, still Beauty, on the scene,
Smiling, reposes with her cherub mien;
She breathes her image to the human heart,
In every region of life's varied mart.

What goodness shines in each created thing!
Form, motion, color; all, new pleasures bring.
Aërial nature emulates the earth,

And to delight still gives continual birth.
In shapes attractive to the cultur'd taste,
The fleecy clouds on generous missions haste,
And feed th' expecting buds with genial showers.
Thus gracious love pursues the circling hours.

We cannot move, but ever to our sight
Some happy creature manifests delight.
The lowing herd in placid comfort gaze;
The tender flock with mild affection plays;

The sportive steed bounds fearless o'er the mead,
Where soft-wing'd myriads frolic and recede.
E'en in the desert, rugged, scorch'd and drear,
Some tribes of gladden'd animals appear.
The crafty Tiger springs with savage grace;
The noble-visag'd Lion loves to race;

The fierce-ey'd Pard pursues his gay employ,
And all the wild betrays the pulse of joy.

How welcome are the shades of gradual NIGHT,
Parent of ease, repose, and soft delight!
Lov'd pause of labor! Sorrow's earthly balm!
All Nature's solace! Reason's happiest calm!
Thy rest suspends impetuous Passion's spell;
And Wisdom on thy couch desires to dwell.

LETTER

XVIII.

But