STUDY IV. t6t 



higheft on the Globe, and the formation of which 

 has not been imputed to the Sea, becaufe they con- 

 tain no depofit to atteft fuch tranfition, the fame 

 Naturalifts employ another fyftem to account for 

 their origin. They fuppofe a primitive Earth, 

 whofe height equalled that of the prefent elevation 

 of the higheft peaks of the Andes, of Mount Tau- 

 rus, of the Alps, &c. which remains fo many evi- 

 dences of the exiftence of that primeval foil : after 

 this, they employ fnows, rains, winds, and I know 

 not what befides, to lower this original Continent 

 down to the brink of the Sea ; fo that we inhabit 

 only the bottom of this enormous quagmire. This 

 idea has an impofing air ; firft, becaufe it terrifies ; 

 and then, becaufe it is conformable to that pifture 

 of apparent ruin which the Globe prefents : but it 

 vanilhes away before this limple queftion, What 

 has become of the earth and the rocks of this tre- 

 mendous ridance ? 



If it is faid, they have been thrown into the Sea. 

 We muft fuppofe, prior to all degradation, the 

 exiftence of the bed of the Sea, and it's excavation 

 would then prefent a great many other difficulties. 

 But let us admit it. How comes it that thefe ruins 

 have not, in part, accumulated ? Why has not the 

 Sea overflowed ? How can it have happened, on 

 the contrary, that it (hould have deferted fuch im- 

 menfe tracks of land, as are fufficient to form the 



VOL. I, M greateft 



