‘in Reply to F, R——s. 263 
Ver.8—4. The solar system became illuminated by the 
sun, which had hitherto been a dark body. ‘* The hght here 
mentioned,”’ says Dr. Geddes, may even from the context it- 
self be readily supposed to be but an imperfect and partial light, 
such as we often see in a foggy day; which light would gradually 
increase in proportion as the air was expanced and rarefied, until 
on the fourth day it received the utmost degree of brightness 
from the unclouded appearance of the sun.’ ‘Thisindeed seems 
to be the only sense in which it is possible to understand the 
existence of light before the appearance of the sun. The com- 
mon interpretation of the “ days” of the creation is thus ren- 
dered more tenable than it can otherwise hecome. 
Ver. 5, Termination of the first period. 
Ver. 6—7. The atmosphere becoming less dense, is called 
an expanse, in which the aérial waters or clouds now float in 
separate masses. 
Ver, §. Termination of the second period. 
Ver.9. The higher regions of the earth emerge from the 
universal ocean, never again to be covered by it until the era 
of the deluge. 
Ver. L1—12. “ Grass and seed-bearing herbs and fruit- 
bearing trees created.” Moses only alludes here to the vegeta- 
ble creation on dry land, He makes no mention of marine 
plants, corals, madrepores, &e. or testacea, 
Ver. 13. Termination of the third period. 
Ver. 14, &c. The heavenly bodies now first shine clearly on 
the surface of the earth. 
Ver. 19. ‘Termination of the fourth period. 
Ver. 20—21. Whales and fishes produced in the sea, and 
birds on the land. 
Ver. 23. Termination of the fifth period. 
Ver. 24,&c. Creation of land quadrupeds, 
Ver. 25, &c. Creation of man, 
Your correspondent will of course treat this interpretation 
with contempt, unless he showld happen to think it favourable 
to his own hypothesis: but I have little doubt of its appearing 
to unprejudiced persons the most probable mode of explaining 
the cosmogony. 
I have the honour to be, 
Sir, 
} Your obedient servant, 
Bristol, April 11, 1816. J, C. PricHarD. 
R4 LVI. Mr. 
