24 JExperiments and Ohfervations, ^c. 



in the creation of coal mines has made for after ages. I consi- 

 der it as a proof of the duration of this globe for many thoufand 

 years to come. It is evident that the vegetable tribes flourilhed 

 lono" before men were fufficiently numerous to make war upon 

 them ; left to themfelves for centuries, they grew, flourifhed, 

 faded and died, and by their death and putrefaftion, covered 

 the earth with a rich mould, from which men and other animals 

 have hitherto drawn their fupport. This, however, muft gradu- 

 ally diminifli ; vegetable fubftances are not fuffered as for- 

 merly to cover every part of the earth ; to die and putrify on 

 the fpot on which they grew ; animals take more from it than 

 they return ; every rain draws down a part of it to the hidden 

 caverns of the earth; every ftream and rivulet hurries it into 

 the fea ; every fire preys upon it ; every breeze is impregnated 

 with its fpoils. Let us not, however, tremble for the fate of 

 pofterity ; the foffils which the fea afford, the vaft quarries of 

 marble, chalk, Gypfum, marie, which all derive their origin 

 from the fame fource, not only reftore the lofs which the water 

 occafions, but, agreeably to this fyflem, compel the air to depofit 

 the fpoils of the vegetable world, and the fires which have con-- 

 fumed the old, to animate new plants. 



