GRADUAL REDUCTION OF TEMPERATURE. 



of the ocean, and over them would subside also the solid matter 

 sustained in a state of comminution in the waters. The remains 

 would thus be buried in strata sensibly horizontal, and, being 

 covered up by the earthy and mineral matter which would subside 

 from the waters, they would be protected from the destructive 

 action of air and water thereafter, and would thus be preserved 

 to future generations as records of the past history of the earth. 



In the interval of tranquillity following each such deluge, 

 creative power was again brought into operation, and the earth 

 was repeopled with animated creatures, and reclothed with vegeta- 

 tion ; but in all cases the animals and plants composing the new 

 kingdoms of nature, though agreeing with those recently destroyed 

 in their classes and generic characters, differed from them alto- 

 gether in their species. In short, a new kingdom of nature was 

 produced, but constructed upon the same general principles. 



194. By researches made in the crust of the earth, and careful 

 analyses of the constitution of its strata and of the animal remains 

 contained in them, geologists have ascertained, with a high degree 

 of probability, if not with absolute moral certainty, that subse- 

 quently to the first appearance of the forms of animal life, which, 

 as has been stated, took place after the fourth great convulsion of 

 the globe, there were at least twenty-eight successive convulsions 

 of a like nature, each of which was attended with the complete 

 destruction of the animals and plants which existed upon the 

 globe, their remains being buried in the manner already stated 

 under the sedimentary deposits made by the new oceans which 

 followed the crisis. 



The actual occurrence of these several convulsions, and of the 

 existence of the successive animal and vegetable kingdoms, 

 differing one from another in the species of which they were 

 constituted, has been proved by geologists by two species of 

 evidence, one depending on the condition of the stratification, by 

 which it has been shown that many of these catastrophes were 

 attended with the elevation of systems of mountains which still 

 exist upon the surface of the earth, while others, though not 

 indicated by mountain ranges, are rendered evident by certain 

 discordances and disturbances in the state of the strata. These 

 catastrophes have also been indicated by the discovery of the 

 buried remains of each of the several animal and vegetable 

 kingdoms here mentioned. 



195. In fine, after the latest of the catastrophes, when the last 

 strata of the tertiary formation were deposited, the most recent 

 exertion of creative power took place, and the globe was peopled 

 with the tribes which now inhabit it, including the human 

 race. 



