GEOLOGICAL POSITIONS. 81 



affected by it, it never could have been in full force, even for a single 

 century, without occasioning a cliff. 



17. As no such cliffs exist, from top to bottom of the whole chalk 

 formation, except those now in progress on the sea shores, the sea 

 never could have acted upon the chalk for any length of time, except 

 on its present level, as compared with the chalk. 



18. We are thus forced to the conclusion that to whatever elevation 

 the chalk may extend, (and it is upwards of 1000 feet in England,) 

 the whole mass was either raised at one time from the bosom of the 

 deep, or the deep was depressed, at the same individual period, so far 

 below its former level. 



19. No stratum now reposing on the chalk above the level of the 

 sea could have been deposited in the sea, since the present cliffs were 

 begun. 



20. The whole series, therefore, of what are usually termed Tertiary 

 Strata, reposing on the chalk, were formed in the sea previous to the 

 elevation of the chalk, and were elevated along with it, at the very 

 same period. 



21. Assuming 900 yards as the mean extent of decay on the chalk 

 coasts of both sides of the British Channel, (as indicated in the thirteenth 

 position,) a waste of eight inches per annum gives four thousand years 

 as the age of the chalk as a dry land. 



22. As eight inches is above the general average decay of chalk cliffs 

 at their present height, so it nrnst have been greatly below the real 

 amount during the first two thousand years of the operation, and may 

 be considered as a fair general average of the whole. 



23. As the action of the Falls of Niagara in the midst of the great 

 marine formation of North America, brings us exactly to the same 

 period of about four thousand years ; as we are, in neither case, able to 

 extend the calculation much beyond that period ; and as both coincide 

 so exactly with what Sacred History and the traditions of all nations 

 have handed down to us, we may look upon these latter as being most 

 fully confirmed, as to the great and preternatural event to which they 

 both bear witness. 



24. As we know of no law of nature by which the chalk formation, 

 and the tertiary strata reposing upon it, could have been raised, at one 

 time, above their native element, we must conclude that this effect was 

 the result of a preternatural power, and of an Almighty decree. 



25. We are thus forced to admit a more powerful Agent into our 



VOL. II. NO. II. M 



