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flrated the impofllbility of this paralleHrm, it is unneceflary to ex- 

 amine its confequences ; it only deferves notice that the obliquity 

 of the equator is rather diminidiing than increafing. See La Lande 

 in 44 Roz. 212. Befides, why are thefe bones accompanied by 

 marine remains ? Others, from this nutation of the earth's axis, 

 have fuppofed that its poles arc continually iliifting, and con- 

 fequently that they might have originally been where the equator 

 now is, and the equator wheie the poles now are ; thus Siberia 

 might have, in its turn, been under the equator. But as the 

 nutation of the earth's axis is retrogrellive every nine years, and 

 never exceeds ten degrees, this hypothefis is equally rejetled by 

 aftronomers. 44 Roz. 210. 2 Bergm. Erde Kugel 305. The 

 pyramids of Egypt demonftrate that the poles have remained un- 

 altered thefe three thoufand years. 



The 3d hypothefis is that of Mr. Buffon, to which the unfor- 

 tunate Bailly has done the honour of acceding ; according to him 

 the earth, having been originally in a ftate of fufion, and for many 

 years red hot, at laft cooled down to the degree that rendered it 

 habitable. This hypothefis he was led to imagine from the necef- 

 fity of admitting that the globe was, at leaft to a certain diflancc 

 beneath its furface, originally in a foft ftate ; the folution of its 

 folid parts in water he thought impofllble, falfely imagining that 

 the whole globe muft have been in a ftate of folution, whereas the 

 figure of the earth requires the liquidity of it only a few miles 

 beneath its furface. Epoques, 10. and 35. If he had trod the 



Vol. VI. Mm path 



