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cles of all o'Aefs the moft abundant, and fome particles of the 

 other earths ; by thefe compound and ilightly concreted earths 

 the furface of plains were originally covered. In procefs of time 

 thefe earths undoubtedly received an abundant increafe from the 

 decompofition of primitive mountains, but this being an event of 

 a pofterior date need here be only curforily mentioned. 



The next important event neceflary to fit the globe for the 

 reception of land animals was the diminution and recefs of the 

 chaotic fluid in whofe bofom the mountains were formed, and , 

 the confequent difclofure of the dry land. This event was the 

 natural confequence of the operation of the preceding volca- 

 nos, by thefe the bed of the ocean was fcooped, moft proba- 

 bly as we fhall hereafter fee, in the Southern hemifphere. But no 

 change or tranfpofition of the folid materials depofited from the 

 chaotic fluid could lower its level, unlefs the inferior nucleus of 

 the globe could receive it within its hollow and empty caverns ; 

 this admittance it gained through the numerous rifts occafioned 

 by the antecedent fires ; at firft rapidly, but afterwards more 

 flowly, in proportion as the perpendicular height of the fluid was 

 diminifhed, and thus the emerged continent confifting of moun- 

 tains and plains was gradually laid bare and dried, and by drying,, 

 confolidated. 



The difclofure of the adual continents, as I have juft hinted^ 



appears to have been gradual. The trads at firft uncovered were 



Vol. VI. I i thofe 



