264 fHE ORT of the EAR 



height at which it had fubfifted during the collection and indu- 

 ration of the land which we inhabit. 



Now, if, on the one hand, we are to fuppofe no general 

 power of fubterraneous fire or heat, we leave to our theory no 

 means for the retreat of the fea, or the lowering of its furface ; 

 if, on the other hand, we are to allow the general power of 

 fubterraneous heat, we cannot have much difficulty in fuppo- 

 fing, either the furface of the fea to have fubfided, or the bot- 

 tom of the ocean, in certain parts, to have been raifed by a 

 fubterranean power above the level of its furface, according as 

 appearances mall be found to require the one or other of thofe 

 conclufions. Here, therefore, we are again remitted to the hi- 

 ftory of nature, in order to find matter of fad by which this 

 queftion may be properly decided. 



IF the prefent land had been difcovered by the fubfiding of 

 the waters, there has not been a former land, from whence 

 materials had been procured for the conftrudion of the prefent, 

 wh?n at the bottom of the fea ; for there is no veftige remain- 

 ing of that land, the whole land of the prefent earth having 

 been formed evidently at the bottom of the fea. Neither could 

 the natural productions of the fea have been accumulated, in 

 the ihape in which we now find them, on the furface of this 

 earth ; for how ihould the Alps and Andes have been formed 

 within the fea from the natural productions of the water ? Con- 

 fequently, this is a fuppofition inconfiftent with every natural 

 appearance. 



THE fuppofition, therefore, of the fubfidence of the former 

 ocean, for the purpofe of difcovering the prefent land, is befet 

 with more difficulty than the fimple erection of the bottom of 

 the former ocean ; for, firft, There is a place to provide for the 

 retirement of the waters of the ocean ; and, 2^/y, There is re- 

 quired a work of equal magnitude ; this is, the fwallowing up 

 of that former continent, which had procured the materials 

 cf the prefent land. 



ON 



