OF THE EARTH. 



497 



their inconsecutive positions, with other facts, prove 

 that the land was elevated. Nor is there any reason to think 

 that the quality of the ocean underwent any changes. 

 Thatit was a salt ocean, at least when the red marl was de- 

 posited, we are sure, from the quantity of salt in that stra- 

 tum ; however difficult it maybe to account for the mode 

 in which it there occurs: and that it was a salt ocean 

 in prior states of the earth, we must equally presume, 

 from this and from the early organic fossils. 



How far the temperature has been const ant, and similar 

 to what it is now, I formerly enquired; and need only 

 remark here, that the existence of marine animals in 

 former oceans, proves that there never was any steady 

 or considerable difference between former temperatures 

 and the present one, during the periods of an inhabited 

 earth's repose. But if the elevation of strata was pro- 

 duced by the protrusion of fluid rocks from beneath, 

 it is probable that the Earth did actually experience 

 temporary and considerable vacillations of heat; caus- 

 ing, in particular, important changes in the water and 

 the atmosphere. In such cases, supposing such a revo- 

 lution universal, we must presume thatall life was extin- 

 guished, to be renovated at a future period ; and that 

 this period could not have arrived till the temperature 

 of the surface had again subsided. Under this supposi- 

 tion, we have also an atmosphere, to be reduced to its 

 present condition by the precipitation of its water, and 

 the consequent formation or increase of seas and lakes. 

 In the last of these revolutions geologists may there- 

 fore seek the developement of Chaos, so often discussed ; 

 together with what is more important, hydrostatic ac- 

 tions capable of producing many of the phenomena 

 which have been sought in deluges of more recent date. 

 Respecting the inhabitants of past conditions of the 

 earth, I have shown that the first which can be traced 



VOL. I. K K 



