Chap, 45.] Spherical Form of tie Eartb. 303 



obje&s on the furface of the earth, but ftill more re- 

 markably on that of the fea. As we depart from 



objeds 



very inftant of its formation ; and this motion being greateft at 

 the equator, the parts there afting againft the force of gravity, 

 they muft have fwollen out, and given the earth an oblate or flatted 

 figure. 



As to its internal fubftance, our globe having once belonged to 

 the fun, it continues to be an uniform mafs of melted matter, very 

 probably vitrified in its primaeval fufion. But its furface is very 

 differently compofed. Having been in the beginning heated to z 

 degree equal to, if not greater, than what comets are found to 

 fuftain, like them it had an atmofphere of vapours floating round 

 it, and which, cooling by degrees, condenfed and fubfided upon its 

 furface. Thefe vapours formed, according to their different den- 

 fities, the earth, the water, and the air; the heavier parts falling 

 firft, and the lighter remaining ftill fufpended. 



Thus far our philofopher is, at leaft, as much a fyftem -maker a* 

 Whifton or Burnet; and, indeed, he fights his way with great 

 perfeverance and ingenuity through a thoufand objections that na- 

 turally arife. Having, at laft, got upon the earth, he fappofes 

 himfelfon firmer ground, and goes forward with greater fecuritr. 

 Turning his attention to the prefent appearance of things upoa 

 this globe, he pronounces from the view that the whole earth was 

 at firft under water. This water he fuppofes to have been the 

 lighter parts of its former evaporation, which, while the earthy 

 particles funk downwards by their natural gravity, floated on the 

 furface, and covered it for a confiderable fpace of time. 



" The furface of the earth," fays he *, " muft have been in the 

 beginning much lefs folid than it is at prefent ; and, confequently, 

 the fame caufes, which at this day produce but very flight changes, 

 muft then, upon fo complying a fubftance, have had very confider- 

 v able effedts. We have no reafon to doubt but that it was then co- 

 vered with the waters of the fea ; and that thofe waters were above 

 the tops of our higheft mountains, fince, even in fuch elevated fi- 

 tuations,we find (hells and ther marine productions in very great 

 abundance. It appears alfo that the fea continued for a confider- 

 able time upon the face of the earth: for as thefe layers of fhelk are 

 found fo very frequent at fuch great depths, and in fuch prodigious 



* Theorie de la Terre, vol. i. p, in. 



quantities 



