492 ON THE SUCCESSIVE FORMS 



and we are also sure, in such cases as that of Italy and 

 the Isle of Wight, that they are of a very remote date: 

 but we can neither fix the former point nor conjecture 

 what intermediate ones there may have been. Re- 

 specting the latter, we trace them in different parts of 

 Europe, apparently of the higher dates; and over all 

 the Pacific ocean, or more, of many different ones : 

 some of which probably equal those in antiquity, as 

 we perceive that others are modern, and some quite 

 recent. And this is all that can yet be determined : 

 while the only safe conclusion therefore, belonging to 

 this view, is the following. It is probable that these 

 partial revolutions commenced immediately after the 

 disclosure of the strata under the general revolution 

 last described, that they occurred in many different 

 places, and that they have been continuing to occur 

 to this day, in different places at different times : all 

 the appearances being essentially the same, as the 

 causes also are ; while the differences are mere dif- 

 ferences of casualty, depending on the nature, places, 

 and extent of the strata thus elevated or disturbed. 

 And lastly, it is further probable, that these elevations 

 or partial revolutions were mere continuations of those 

 actions which disclosed the secondary strata : whence 

 we are entitled to expect that the most remote will be 

 the most numerous and extensive, as also that these 

 characters will determine, or aid in determining, the 

 question of antiquity as to those partial revolutions. 



At this point the present investigation stops : what 

 remains to be said on the other revolutions of the pre- 

 sent earth, will find its place in examining the altera- 

 tions which a progressive state of waste is now causing 

 on the surface. 



General Remarks on the past Conditions of the Earth. 

 As the evidences and details necessary for the pre- 



