On the Physical Facts contained in the Bible. 239 
Limit OF THE SPRUCE FIR. 
In Stavedalen, Sdndre-Ourdal, Valders, : ; 8140 
Strandseterkampen in Ringeboe, Guldbrandsdalen, . 2530 
Near Foérres-Vand in Tellemarken, 2 j 2450 
Gousta Fyjeld, Tellemarken, 3030 
On the north side of the mountains hehrcan Geuriditen and 
Holden Lake, Inderoens Fogderie, ‘ ; 2000 
South side of the same mountains, A 1590 
Between Limingen Lake and Joma-Fjeld in n' Nummedals: 
Fogderie, Nordre- -Trondhjems-Amt, : t 1770 
On the Physical Facts contained in the Bible compared with 
the Discoveries of the Modern Sciences. By MARCEL DE 
SERRES. 
The greater part of those who have meditated on the Sacred 
Writings, have turned their attention rather to the religious 
ideas contained in them, than to the accuracy and importance 
of the physical facts exhibited in their pages. Finding in 
these books, superior to all others that have been written, 
truths essential to the destiny and vocation of man, they did 
not think that they ought to seek in them light or informa- 
tion respecting the material world, which has been given to 
us as a subject for our researches and investigations. They 
have thought the less of this, because in the eyes of some of 
them such a consideration appeared alike futile and super- 
fluous. 
To make amends for this oversight, we shall concentrate 
our examination on the physical facts contained in the Bible, 
and which the sciences have made known to us only a short 
time antecedent to the present. This we are the more called 
upon to do, because we have here studied the Sacred Writings 
only in one point of view, namely, with regard to the positive 
notions they give us respecting the whole of creation. We 
cannot too often repeat, that, in the examination on which we 
are about to enter, we have looked upon Scripture with the — 
eye of a natural philosopher, not of a theologian ; the ma- 
terial world has alone attracted our regard. 
The most important point, relative to the creation, and of 
which we have still no knowledge but from the Bible, is the 
