*vi PREP A'd-fe 



plied by fome ingenious writers, of different 

 nations, as will appear from the books already 

 mentioned. The profpect has widened, and 

 \ve cannot poffibly, henceforth, afcribe the 

 origin of the many rock and ftone beds to a 

 iingle caufe; whether our favourite iyftem 

 be an-immediate creation, or a general flood, 

 or a general and fucceffive conflagration ; 

 nor are we to liften to philofophers, who 

 boldly could tell us, fome years ago, that 

 porphyry is a red mafs, filled with petrified 

 points of echinites; that columnar balalt- 

 mafles are tubular corals ; that angels and 

 devils have been the iubaltern architects of 

 the mountains, and many other fuch ab 

 furdities, 



$u* Ipfe mlfernma vidl. 



The hitherto-neglecled native place of 

 g& 'foffils, to ufe the phrafe of Shake* 

 fpeare, gives the lie direEt to fuch magifterial 

 nonfenfe, and tells aloud to every one> 

 who is willing and able to hear, that Na*- 



ture, 



