172 Natural History, 



speaking, vaults, which covered immense caverns, 

 maintained their elevation above the level of the 

 ocean by the strength of their pillars, which, being 

 of primordial matter, were solid and stable. But 

 the changes which the subterranean fires produced 

 at the bottom of the ancient sea, opened passages 

 for its waters into the interior of the earth; the 

 fermentation produced by this irruption shook the 

 pillars of the primitive earth, which, sinking into 

 its caverns, the old continents disappeared, and 

 their surface descending below the level of the 

 "waters, a general inundation ensued. This was 

 the general deluge. The sea now covered all the 

 globe, except the islands of its ancient bottom^ 

 which increased in number and magnitude, until 

 the weight of the water added to that of the su- 

 perior vaults, crushed the inferior ones, and deep- 

 ened more and more the new bed of the ocean; 

 so that, at last, by a motion rapid, but not violent, 

 all the waters retired from their former bed, and 

 left our continents dry. Secondary mountains, and 

 other irregularities were afterwards formed by vol- 

 canic commotions, and maritime currents and con- 

 vulsions. 



This learned and ingenious theorist professes a 

 firm belief in revelation, and insists that all the 

 principal lines in the Mosaic history are confirmed, 

 and none of them contradicted by the most atten- 

 tive survey of the globe. It may well be ques- 

 tioned, however, whether some parts of his theory 

 can be reconciled with the sacred records; and they 

 are precisely those parts which it is most difficult 

 to reconcile with reason and sound philosophy. 



Next to the theory of M. De Luc appears that 

 of Mr. MiLN, of Great-Britain, which, though less 

 celebrated, is by no means unworthy of notice.^ 



f A Course of Physico-T^heological Lectures on the State of the IVorld^ fr9f» 



tht Creatm to the Deluge^ by Rqbert Mun, A. M. Svo. 1786. 



