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" We alfo obfcrve, that though the ftrata themfelves are not ar- 

 ranged in the order of the fpecific gravities of the materials that 

 compofe them, the lighter being frequently placed beneath the 

 heavier, yet within each ftratum the materials that compofe it are 

 almoft always arranged according to the laws of their gravitation. 

 I Bergm. Erde, 179. 



■ These phsenomena fully prove that the retreat of the fea from 

 the vicinity of the lofty mountains and elevated platforms that firft 

 emerged was not fudden, but continued for feveral ages, and that 

 the various ftratified fecondary mountains at prefent exifling were 

 formed within it during its retreat, and after the creation of fifh. 

 The mode of their formation now claims our attention. 



To form as juft an idea of the formation of fecondary mountains"' 

 as the nature of an objed infcrutable to human eyes can allow us, 

 we mufl obferve, i". That the greater part of the particles of 

 folid matter contained in the chaotic fluid being depofited before 

 the creation of fifh, the various materials that enter into the com- 

 pofition of fecondary mountains mufl have been furnifhed either 

 by the deflrudion of fuch of the primary as exifled in the fea, 

 but either from want of folidity or the fmallnefs of their mafs 

 were too feeble to refifl its impetuofity when anim.ated by florms, 

 and being by continued fridion reduced to atoms or rolled into 

 tumblers were either difFufed through or hurried along by the 



K. k 2 agitation 



