34 PRELIMINARY INQUIRIES. 



" The ideal map given by Ileer of the Atlantis represents a continent as large as Europe pre- 

 cisely in that portion of the Atlantic Ocean which is now the broadest and deepest, viz., from 

 two to three miles in its deepest portions." * 



Notwithstanding this, the facts appear to me clearly to show that during the miocene epoch 

 there must have been a laud communication between Europe and America. It is well ascertained 

 that the floras of America and Europe were the same in the miocene age, and that the miocene 

 tA'pe still continues in America, but not in Europe. At the same time, and notwithstanding 

 the bearing of these facts in favour of an Atlantis, it is not impossible that a " north-west pass- 

 ao-e," sufiicicnt for the purpose of intercommunication may have existed, although not directly 

 across the Atlantic ; it may have been by Greenland ; it would only require a very trifling change 

 in the level of the land to establish a communication between America and Europe by the North 

 Pole. 



We must remember that the Polar climate at the time was genial. Frost and snow were 

 unknown, and the northern district of Iceland, and several parts of the Arctic lands, such as Disco 

 Island, on the west coast of Greenland, lat. 70" N., although at the present tune entirely without 

 trees, were densely wooded in the tertiary period. Fragments of trees are preserved in the lignite 

 or " Surturbrand " of Iceland, and as they are still covered with bark they cannot have reached it as 

 drift-wood. This vegetation agrees with that which in the miocene ejjoch covered the whole EuroiDcan 

 continent, and a portion of the sijecies composing it have their analogues in North America." 



That route was amply sufficient to supply America, without another across the Atlantic ; 

 and, therefore, had we only to consider the miocene epoch, I should join the ranks of the oppo- 

 nents of the theory, simplj' on the groimd that it was unnecessary. But if not a necessity before 

 the glacial epoch, it becomes a necessity after it. The Polar climate was then no longer as mild 

 as that of Madeira, nothing temperate could pass by the Polar route, and yet many instances occur 

 of the same species being found both in Eiu-ojDe and North America, which must have found 

 their way from the one to the other, subsequent to the glacial epoch ; and if such a communi- 

 cation existed after the glacial ejjoch, it is an unavoidable coroUary, that it also existed pre- 

 vious to that epoch, viz. in the miocene times, when the extent of dry land was increasing in- 

 stead of diminishing, as was the case after the cold had begun to retire. 



If such an extension of land between Europe and Asia formerly existed, where was it placed 

 and what were its limits ? The first position which has claims to be considered is in the line 



Tyi-rhenia. This kingdom, witli the whole of its forces Atlantis sank into the ocean. This is the reason why, at 



united, tried to subjugate, in one campaign, your and our present, that sea is difficult to pass and explore, the deep 



country, and all the districts inside the straits. At that mud which the island formed in sinking being an obstacle 



time, O Solon, your nation shone out from all others by to navigation.' 



bravery and power. Taking the lead by courage and in " Thus far the curious passage in ' Timreus,' a satisfac- 



the arts of war, be it as leaders of the Hellenes, be it noccs- tory explanation of which histo'-ians, philologists, and 



sarily isolated by the withdrawal of the allies, it was placed naturaUsts, have hitherto attempted in vain. That this 



in great danger, but it defeated the attacking army, and tradition is entirely imaginary woidd be bold to assume, 



erected triumphal monuments. It also prevented those since we have shown that its most important substratum 



who had as yet preserved their independence from becom- is sound, and that at one time a continent did exist in the 



ing subjugated, and generously freed all the otliers living Atlantic Ocean." — UyG'ERyVcrsunkcHc InselAdantis. Wien, 



inside the Pillars of Hercules. But, when at a later period 1860. Copied from Translation in " Seoman's Journal of 



severe earthquakes and great floods took place, the whole Botany." January, 1865, p. 23. 



of your united army was swallowed up during one evil day *" Elements of Geology," by Sir Charles Lyell. 



and one evil night, and at the same time the island of London, 1865, pp. 265-272. 



