NEW PUBLICATIONS. 243 



between the formation of the primary rocks, and the termination of 

 the deposits of the coal rocks, was so loaded with carbon as to 

 have been incompatible with the existence of land animals. 



First, as it regards the contemporaneous appearance of carbon 

 and organic bodies — on this point, we say, that there is no element 

 so well entitled to the character oi primary^ as carbon. In New- 

 England and New-York, it exists in combination with lime, form- 

 ing with it limestone, which, if position is proof, is one of the 

 oldest of our rocks. Immense beds of this material are every 

 where associated with granite, hypersthene rock, and gniess, and 

 under these conditions, which by no rational interpretation can be 

 referred to the era of the sedimentary rocks containing fossils ; in- 

 asmuch, too, as these beds are often revealed by their destruction, 

 where they appear locked in between beds, or masses, declared 

 on all sides, as the primary rocks of the globe, and hence the lime- 

 stone beds, their associates, have the same title to the appellation 

 of primary, as any of the deeper rocks composing the earth's crust. 

 What is there in limestone, which, as a rock, makes it incompati- 

 ble with the primeval condition of the earth? Why should it not, 

 like granite, form a constituent part of the primeval globe? We 

 wish it to be understood, then, that what the author asserts in 

 regard to the contemporaneous appearance of carbon and organic 

 1 beings, has no foundation in facts. The geology of New York 

 'bears us out in an unqualified contradiction. 



Having disposed of one of the points at issue, we proceed to the 

 second, viz : that a far greater quantity of carbonic acid existed in 

 the atmosphere in the interval between the primary schists, and the 

 termination of the coal formation, than in the subsequent periods. 

 On this point, we feel a greater difficulty in finding the direct 

 proof which is calculated to silence a caviler, than the first ; for 

 many persons seem ready, and even determined to believe any 

 thing, provided, it is sufficiently marvellous. 



As our author, however, has based his doctrines on statements 

 which pass for truth in England, all we have to do, is to make 

 known what has been discovered in this country j which, when 

 iinterpreted by his own rule, if it does not establish a position di- 

 rectly the opposite, will, at least, take away the whole force, 

 point, and bearing of his argument. 



It is assumed, for instance, that all the carbon now taken up 



