I 



1814.] - Essay on the Theorj/ of the Earth. 145 



in these fresh-water formations, or in alluvial formations. TJie 

 remains of all the unknown genera occur immediately above the 

 coarse shell limestone, while tlie bones of those animals that still 

 continue to exist upon the earth are only found in the very latest 

 alluvial depositions. 



From these and various other similar facts, which we have not 

 room to notice here, Cuvier concludes that the surface of the earth 

 has been repeatedly covered by the sea; that several successive 

 races of inhabitants have been destroyed ; and that all these revo- 

 lutions took place before the continents which we at present know 

 were inhabited by the human race. He does not mean to insinuate 

 that mankind were not created till a period subsequent to these 

 great catastrophes. They may have existed in some remote islands 

 which were afterwards overwhelmed, and the few human beings 

 who escaped the devastation may have afterwards spread themselves 

 over the face of our piesent continents. But that man did not exist 

 at the time of these revolutions in our continents he thinks evi- 

 dent from the well known fact that human fossil remains are no- 

 where to be found, though they are as well fitted for a lengthened 

 existence as the bones of quadrupeds, birds, and fishes, which are 

 found in abundance. 



He shows, from a variety of circumstances, that the present 

 human race cannot be of older date than the period assigned in the 

 Old Testament to the deluge ; that human history and establish- 

 ments must have originated at that period; and that the traditions 

 of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Indians, and Chinese, point uniformly 

 to a deluge about that period, which must have swept almost the 

 whole human race from the earth, and thus destroyed all civil in- 

 stitutions, learning, and civilization. Cuvier conceives, with Deluc, 

 that, at the jjcriod of the deluge, the sea overwhelmed the ancient 

 continents, and left its own bed uncovered. This change of situ- 

 ation accounts for the total want of human remains in our strata. 

 These remains are buried at the bottom of the ocean, and will make 

 their appearance if, in consequence of any similar future catas- 

 trophe, the bottom of the ocean be again laid bare. 



Mineralogists will readily perceive that the beds wliich chiefly 

 occupy the attention of Cuvier constitute the very latest of the 

 formations. Tliey in a great measure escaped the attention of 

 Werner, no doul)t in consequence of the nature of the country 

 wliich he inhabits. The environs of Freyberg being primitive, 

 such formations were not to be expected. They lie over the chalk, 

 which constitutes one of the latest of the VVernerian formations. 

 But now that they have been noticed and exi'mincd, there is every 

 reason to expect that they will be traced in other parts of the 

 world as well as Franco. Indeed, this opinion is already in some 

 measure verified. JMr. Webster has shown that they constitute a 

 considerable portion of the south-east of England. It has been 

 announced, also, in one of the French jAirnals, that they have 

 been found in Silesia, in Spain, and ill the South of France. 



Vol. HI. N'^u. K 



