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All thefe changes happened at leaft three thoufand fix hundred 

 years ago, and I fee no reafon to think that the general level of 

 the ocean has fince been altered, but that of the continents fecms 

 to have varied confiderably, being in fome places higher and in 

 others lower than anciently. 



The deprefllon of continents originates from two caufes, the 

 firft is the diminution of the waters that anciently pervaded them ; 

 the fecond is the Aiding away of the inferior argillaceous ftrata ; 

 to fay nothing of caufes merely contingent, as earthquakes and 

 inundations. 



After the deluge, the earth on which it rcfted 150 days, and 

 from which it very flowly retired, muft have been drenched with 

 water ; vegetation quickly enfued, and twenty centuries ago moft 

 countries are known to have been covered with trees, and many 

 until a much later period ; in thefe circumftances an infinity of 

 fmall rivulets muft have been formed, which poured their Itreams 

 into the great rivers arifing from their confluence j while the furface 

 of the earth was protedted by forefts from the immediate influence 

 of the fun, the moifture replenifhing its interior muft have remain- 

 ed. Again, as we fee the craggy fummits of many of the higheft 

 mountains, now decompofing, being corroded by air and moifture, 

 we muft fuppofe that the fame caufes have operated in the moft 

 ancient times, and that previous to their adlion thefe fummits were 



much 



