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we have already indicated, utterly inadequate to account for 

 even so mucli as the existence of a small lagoon isle, wliose 

 surface is covered with forest vegetation, and standing ahove 

 the level of the utmost range of the surf upon it's shores. Yet 

 the fact of a vast number of sucli islands existing not only 

 iu the Pacific, but also in the Indian Ocean and adjacent in- 

 tertropical seas, at or nearly at one and tlie same height, 

 does demand a theory for it's explanation, because the' irregu- 

 larity of subcrustian volcanic action, evidently unfits it for 

 being; admitted as havincc been the o-eneral cause of so much 

 uniformity of effect, and this, leads us to state, what we be- 

 lieve to be, at once a true and an adequate cause, or theory» 

 iiamely that the level of the general ocean has suddenly sub- 

 sided, in consequence of the subsidence of one, or more, or 

 all, of ifs beds towards the centre of the globe, so leaving all 

 the previoasly waterwashed lagoon and other reefs standing 

 thenceforth as islands elevated above ifs new level, and the 

 probability is as we shall have occasion to observe, that such 

 general subsidence of the ocean level lias taken place oftener 

 thau once or twice. In the course of our subsequent remarks 

 we shall have occasion to state this opiniou more in detail, and 

 solve the apparent difllculties , which may be alleged to stand 

 in the way of it's adoption. We now go on to agree with Mr. 

 Darwin", that the range which includes the New Hebrides, So- 

 lomon's Archipelago, New Ireland &c. is indeed a well marked 

 band of elevation, but difler in toto from his assumption, that 

 it furnishes evidence hearing at all favourably on his theory. 

 Our reasons shall be submitted presently. We od not see any 

 grounds assigned for calling upon us to believe that the lagoon 

 reef, seen and described by captain Cook, had ever been any 

 other than a lagoon reef, and therefore may believe that no 

 island had ever existed and been submerged in it. The last' 

 sentence of this paragraph we need not stop to notice, after 

 what we have already adduced against the assumptions which 

 it includes, being admitted as truths. 



