CHAP. V.

observation alone, to the true order of events as PART III. they are reported in the record. The able observer perceives, 1. a primitive period, in which primitive rocks were tranquilly formed; 2. a period of violent and sudden destruction; 3. a long interval, in which the calcareous formations were more or less tranquilly deposited in the sea; And, 4. he has elsewhere noted the retreat of that sea1. Here, then, are all the true periods, which the Mosaical record enables us to arrange in their proper order, and to assign to their proper dates. But, through neglect of that guide, imagination interferes; and the periods, thus correctly stated, are afterwards multiplied by the insertion of conjectural revolutions, in order to account for the variety of effects, which those four periods, in fact, alone produced.

Let us, therefore, proceed to examine, with some attention, the reasons which have prompted those conjectural insertions; and to investigate, in their detail, the principal phænomena, which have seduced the mineral geology to require more revolutions, than it can be supplied with from the Mosaical.

But, first of all, it must consent to renounce, and for ever to relinquish, all those revolutions, which it had invented merely to contrive the first

See above, p. 277, 8.

X

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PART III. formation, or primitive composition, of the mineral system of the earth, by the chemical modes of dissolution, precipitation, and crystallization, in an elementary Chaos; such process being absolutely denied, disclaimed, and derided, by true philosophy, and flatly contradicted in history, by adequate witness of the fact, as has been fully shown in the two preceding parts of this disquisition. Our inquiry concerning revolutions, must be exclusively limited to such phænomena as bear unequivocal characters of mechanical action, or, if of chemical, of such as has been exercised in the decomposition of first-formed or created substances, or in their recomposition; it cannot extend to any thing but that, in which alteration or real revolution, of parts or place, is distinctly and incontestably manifested.

CHAPTER VI.

CHAP. VI.

THE first great difficulty, which the mineral PART III. geology has created for itself, occurs in that amazing and principal phænomenon, the remains of animals of all species and climates, which are discovered in exhaustless quantities in the interior of the earth; so that the exuvia of animal species now subsisting only within the torrid zone, and those of species which no longer exist at all, are found confusedly huddled together in the soils of the most northerly latitudes. "In examining the "mineral masses in the interior of the earth,

says the mineral geology, the observer is "astonished at the prodigous quantity of the "fragments of animals and vegetables which it " contains. He will recollect the order, in "which organic beings are distributed upon "the surface of the globe; some, can only live " in the bosom of the sea, others, in fresh-water;

some, are only to be found within the torrid zone, "while there are others, which would perish "the moment they should be removed from the frigid zone; in a word, each species appears as

PART III.

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"if it were fixed to an element, or climate, proper and peculiar to it. Whereas, in the strata "of the earth, every thing is dislocated; the "remains of animals which can exist only in "the depths of the ocean, are found kneaded "into rocks which form the summits of moun"tains; the bones of those which can live only

66

in the torrid zone, are found buried in the "frozen soil of the polar regions. Almost every "where he will find relics of animals and vegetables, different from those which now "exist. Every thing will indicate to him, "that the place of his habitation has undergone great changes and great revolutions1."

The mineral geology, contemplating these relics, and reflecting upon the places in which they are found, immediately demands a revolution different and distinct from either of those intimated by Moses, in order to account for their presence in the places where they now lie. But why does it need that other revolution? solely, because it reasons thus upon the evidence before it: These exuvia of equatorial 'animals, are found in northern latitudes; therefore, their ancient owners must have died in those latitudes; therefore, they must have lived

1 D'AUBUISSON, tom. i. p. 8.

in those latitudes1. And yet, they could not PART III. have lived in those latitudes, unless a revolution

has taken place, either in the nature of the species, or in the climates of the earth. But, no such revolution is shown in the Mosaical record, or can accord with its recital, therefore, other revolutions, in one or other of these, must be assumed, to supply the chasm in the Mosaical

record.

Thus it reasons; in perversion of all logic, and in exclusion of the true explication of the phænomenon. For, unless there is no such thing as change of place, and unless the eruvia of all the game consumed in London, are proof that the grouse and hares died there, and therefore that they lived there; the mere presence of the fossil eruviæ, is no evidence whatever that the animals owning them died where they are found; consequently, it is no evidence whatever that they lived where they are found: and, if that is the case, all the rest of the argument, which was devised only to account for their living there, vanishes at once into air.

The first, simple idea, which the phænomenon in question raises in a plain understanding, untinctured with system, is an idea of disorder and confusion, not one of order; and it would

'CUVIER'S Geol. Disc. JAMESON, p. 258. Ed. N. York. D'AUBUISSON, tom. ii. p. 513.

CHAP. VI.