FOSSILS. 183 



of organised beings after each flood, or in what man- 

 ner were they preserved during its occurrence ? If 

 the Ark was the means provided for this purpose in 

 the case of the last deluge where are now the cave 

 animals, whose destruction, with the exception of 

 one pair, is referred to that cause ; — the hysena ? 

 the rhinoceros ? the elephant ? the polecat ? and so 

 forth : or, can we suppose that these creatures were 

 actually landed from the Ark, that they had multi- 

 plied, and, in process of time, when this island was 

 inhabited, that they became extirpated through the 

 influence of the chase ? or, lastly, are we warranted 

 in believing that there was an exclusive reception 

 into the Ark ; the fauna of the country then inhab- 

 ited by man iDcing preserved ; or, certain animals, 

 such as were consistent with the future state of the 

 earth, with the safety of man, and the intentions of 

 Divine Providence, being alone directed to the ap- 

 pointed protection ? 



Such are a few of the questions which might each 

 bear a lengthened discussion ; every one, by means 

 of his reason and judgment, must reply to them for 

 himself if he be able : but we are persuaded that, 

 considering the indefinite and scanty materials fur- 

 nished us by tradition, and the equally scanty, and 

 scattered, though clear, evidence afforded in nature : 

 no man should arrogate to himself the power of 

 dictating, and deciding on them for others ; or, that, 

 if he ventured to do so, it should not invalidate 

 opinions before advanced to the same end ; nor in- 

 capacitate the mental efforts of future enquirers after 

 truth. 



To he continued. 



