of the EARTH. 221. 



been modified by this procefs, is called a cryjial ; one whofe in- 

 ternal arrangement of parts is determined by it, is faid to be 

 of & fparry JlruEJure ; and this is known from its fracture. 



$dly, THERE are, in all the regions of the earth, huge mafles 

 of calcareous matter, in that cryftalline form or fparry ftate, in 

 which perhaps no veftige can be found of any organized body, 

 nor any indication that fuch calcareous matter had belonged to 

 animals j but as, in other mafles, this fparry ftructure, or 

 cryftalline ftate, is evidently aflumed by the marine calcareous 

 fubftances, in operations which are natural to the globe, and 

 which are neceflary to the confolidation of the ftrata, it does 

 not appear, that the fparry mafles, in which no figured body 

 is formed, have been originally different from other mafles, 

 which, being only cryftallized in part, and in part ftill retain- 

 ing their original form, leave ample evidence of their marine, 

 origin. 



WE are led, in this manner, to conchide, that all the ftrata 

 of the earth, not only thofe confifting of fuch calcareous maf- 

 fes, but others fuperincumbent xipoii thefe, have had their ori- 

 gin at the bottom of the fea, by the collection of fand and 

 gravel, of fhells, of coralline and cr.uftaceous bodies, and of 

 earths and clays, varioufly mixed, or feparated and accumu- 

 lated. Here is a general conclufion, well authenticated in the 

 appearances of nature, and highly important in the natural hi- 

 ftory of the earth. 



THE general amount of our reafoning is this, that nine 

 tenths, perhaps, or ninety-nine hundredths of this earth, fo far 

 as we fee^ have been formed by natural operations of the globe, 

 in collecting loofe materials, and depofiting them at the bottom 

 of the fea ; confolidating thofe collections in various degrees, and 

 either elevating thofe confolidated mafles above the level on 

 which they were formed, or lowering the level of that fea. 



THERE is a part of the folid earth which we may at prefent 

 neglect, not, as being perfuaded that this part may not alfo be 



found 



