NATURAL HISTORY. Id 



the creation. For as the surface of the earth was at 

 iirst much softer than it is now, of consequence the 

 same cause which at present produce but slight altera- 

 tions for many centuries, were then capable of produc- 

 ing very great revolutions in a few years. It is very 

 evident, in my opinion, that the dry land, and even 

 the summits of the highest mountains, were formerly 

 cuvirc-d with the waters of the sea ; because shells and 

 other marine animals are still found upon the very tops 

 of mountains. It appears too that the waters of the 

 sea have remained a great number of years upon the 

 surface of the earth ; for such immense banks of shells 

 have been discovered, as to render it impossible for so 

 great a number of animals to have existed at the same 

 time. This circumstance proves pretty clearly, that, 

 though the materials on the surface of the earth wore 

 then easily disunited by the water, yet these transpor- 

 tations ceuld not be suddenly effected. Even though 

 it should be supposed, that, at the deluge, all the shells 

 were transported from the bottom of the ocean and de- 

 posited upon the dry land ; yet, besides the difficulty 

 .hlishing this hypothesis, it is evident, . that as 

 shells are found incorporated in marble, and.in the rocks 

 of the highest mountains, we must likewise suppose 

 that all the^e marbles and rocks w,ere formed at the 

 same time, and that too when the deluge took place ; 

 and that before tills grand revolution, there were nei- 

 ther mountains, nor marbles, nor rocks, nor clays, nor 

 matter of any kind like that with which we are now 

 acquainted. 



But without dwelling any longer upon this particular 

 I shall confine myself to well authenticated facts. It 

 is certain, that tli waters of the sea have, at one pt- 

 riod or other, continued for a succession of ages upon 



