IfJ-^t- THE PROBABLE CAUSES OF THE DELUGE. C^p 



the fea-Hiore ? Doubtlefs by having been produced 

 by a fuperior tide, and left to dry by an unreturning 

 fea. Almoft all grtat ranges of mountains run north 

 and fouth : the Cordilleras of the Andes ; the Moun- 

 tains of the INIoon in Africa ; the Dofranes, Cau- 

 cafus, Appenine, Allegany, &:c. &c. the Alps and Py- 

 renees excepted. 



As comets vifit our fyftem in all directions, why ' 

 might not tliat in queftion haVe its motion from north 

 to fouth, and, dragging the fea after it, determine the 

 mountains to thofe points of the compafs ? Froin 

 whence come the (hells and illli. bones we meet with 

 on the top of the higheit mountains ? We have not dlf- 

 covcred any power in nature difpofed to work Inch 

 tjuantUies of them through the bowels of the earth > 

 and fuperftlclon has not yet been fo mad as to carry 

 them thither : they are not a fortuitous aflemblage of 

 .atoms alTumIng fuch forms, not /it/'us naturae, bur 

 iofia fidt\ ihells and fifli bones, fuch as we meet witli 

 on the fea-lliore. We find them alio deep buried in the 

 bowels of the earth', far from the fea. We find then\ 

 in rocks, and often converted into Hone \ nay, why 

 may not tlie fat of hlh, joined with vegetable fub- 

 lUnces, form the bitumen of coal ? We have experi- 

 ments that warrant fuch a fuggeftlon. Now, if ever the 

 fea was dragged over the furface of the earth by the at- 

 tra^llon of a comet, thefo effefts mull; naturally follow. 

 In digging into the bowels of the earth, we have itill 

 llror.ger evidence that the flood was occafioned by tlie 

 near approach of a comet. It is well afcertained thitt 

 the united attraction of every^ atom of the earth forms 

 that earth into a dcnfe ball, and not any paiticular at- 

 tratlion to its centre. All matter being therefore af- 

 fected by this power, in proportion to its denfity, one 

 might conclude that the heaviefl bodies would He deep- 

 cft, and the lightelt near the furface \ but this is by 

 no means the cafe : coal is lighter than ftone ; variou:; 

 minerals lie upon light earths, Sfc. cvidcntlv provinL.' 



Vol. V. t ' D A " 



