THE EARTH. 31 



which lying regularly one above the other, seem 

 all to resemble the sediment formed at different 

 times by the ocean. Hence, by the irregular 

 force of its waves, and its currents driving the 

 bottom into sand-banks, mountains must have 

 been gradually formed within this universal co- 

 vering of waters ; and these successively raising 

 their heads above its surface, must, in time, have 

 formed the highest ridges of mountains upon 

 land, together with continents, islands, and low 

 grounds, all in their turns. This opinion will 

 receive additional weight by considering, that in 

 those parts of the earth where the power of the 

 ocean is greatest, the inequalities on the surface 

 of the earth are highest : the ocean's power is 

 greatest at the equator, where its winds and tides 

 are most constant; and, in fact, the mountains 

 at the equator are found to be higher than in any 

 other part of the world. The sea, therefore, has 

 produced the principal changes in our earth : 

 rivers, volcanoes, earthquakes, storms, and rain, 

 having made but slight alterations, and only such 

 as have affected the globe to very inconsiderable 

 depths." 



This is but a very slight sketch of M. Buf- 

 fon's Theory of the Earth ; a theory which he 

 has much more powerfully supported, than hap- 

 pily invented ; and it would be needless to take 

 up the reader's time from the pursuit of truth in 

 the discussion of plausibilities. In fact, a thou- 

 sand questions might be asked this most ingeni- 

 ous philosopher, which he would not find it easy 

 to answer j but such is the lot of humanity, that 



47 



