304 Spherical Form of the Earth. [Book VI. 



objects, On the ocean, .they feem to fubfide gradually 

 below the vifible horizon. Ships at a diftance on the 

 water are not vifible in their hulls - t at a greacer dif- 

 tance, their mainfails difappear , and at a greater ftill, 

 their topfails ; which could not be, if they failed on a 

 plain. But that the earth is really globular was at 

 length practically demonftrated by the adventurous 

 project of failing round it, which has feveral times 

 been accomplifhed. 



This fad being premifed, let us confider in what 



quantities, it feems impoflible for fuch numbers to have been fupport- 

 ed all alive at one time; fo that they muft have been brought there 

 by fucceflive demolitions. Thefe ihells alfo are found in the bodies 

 of the hardeft rocks, where they could not have been depofited all 

 at once, at the time cf the deluge, or at any fuch ir.ftant revolu- 

 tion ; fince that would be to fuppofe, that all the rocks in which 

 they are found were, at that inftaht,in a ftate of difiblution, which 

 would be abfurd to aflert. The, fea, therefore, depofited them 

 where ever they are now to be found, and that by flow and fuccef- 

 five degrees. 



" It will appear, alfo, that the fea covered the whole earth, from 

 the appearance of its layers, which lying regularly one above the 

 other, feera all to referable the fediment formed at different times 

 by the ocean. Hence, by the irregular force of its waves, audits 

 currents driving the bottom, into fand- banks, mountains muft nave 

 been gradually formed within this univerfal covering of waters; 

 ami thefe fucceffively railing their heads above its furface, n:uft, 

 in time, have formed the higheft ridges of mountains upon land, 

 together with continents, iflands, and low grounds, all in their 

 turns. This opinion will receive additional weight by considering,' 

 that in thofe parts of the earth where the power of the ocean is 

 greateft, the inequalities on the furface of the earth are higheft r 

 the ocean's power is greateft at the equator, where its winds and 

 tides are moft cor.ftant; and, in fact, the mountains at the equator 

 are found to be higher than in any other part of the world. The 

 fea, therefore, has produced the principal changes in our earth : 

 rivers, volcanoes, earthquakes, ftorms, and rain, having made but 

 flight alterations, and only fuch as have affedled the globe to very 

 inconfiderable depths." 



GOLDSMITH'S Hiftory cf tbe Earth end animated Nature, 

 Vol. I. p. 22, &c. 



manner 



