188 Natural History. 



Finally, the researches of modern geologists 

 have given abundant confirmation to the sacred 

 history, not only with respect to the general de- 

 luge, but also with regard to the age of the earth/ 

 Early in the century, and, indeed, until within a 

 few years, several geological phenomena were 

 considered, by superficial inquirers, as indicating 

 that the creation of the globe we inhabit was an 

 event much more remote than the sacred history 

 represents it; and some theorists even went so far 

 as to profess a belief that it existed from eternity. 

 These opinions were kept in countenance only as 

 long as geology was in its infancy. Every succes- 



took refuge in another system, in which he recognizes the deluge, and 

 only contends for placing it as far back as three thousand five hundred 

 years before Christ. 



y Sir William Hamilton and Mr. Ferber particularly applied 

 themselves to the study of volcanoes, without giving general systems. 

 They affirmed that the indications furnished by subterraneous and vol- 

 canic phenomena, and particularly by the beds of lava, announce the anti- 

 quity of the earth to be far greater than the sacred history represents it. 

 IBut they did not advert to the fact, that all lavas are not composed of the 

 came substance. All have not undergone the same degree of vitrification, 

 and of course are more or less susceptible of decomposition. And even 

 when their composition is the same, much depends on the state in which 

 they are emitted. When poured from the crater in the fermentation of 

 toiling liquefaction, a scoria or dross rises, like broken waves on the sur- 

 face, and is easily pulverized by the air and weather. When the heat is 

 less violent, or when the torrent is cooled in its course, an even and almost 

 impenetrable surface defies the influence of the atmosphere. These philo- 

 sophers do not recollect that Herculaneum, the date of whose destruction is 

 well known, is covered by nearly seventy feet of lava, interspersed with 

 seven distinct seams of friable earth; and the whole covered with good 

 soil; yet all this has been the undoubted production of less than eighteen 

 hundred years, Howard's Thoughts on the Globe. 



In like manner. Count Borch, in his Letters on Sicily and JUalta, pro- 

 fesses to believe that ^tna is at least eight thousand years old, which he 

 infers from the beds of vegetable earth which he discovered between dif- 

 ferent beds of lava. Yet M. Dolomieu, who has greatly distinguished 

 himself by the acuteness and success of his geological inquiries, expressly 

 tells us that such earth does not exist between the beds of lava of which the 

 Count speaks, and thus destroys the foundation of his whole argument. 

 But even if vegetable earth were found in the circumstances supposed, no 

 conclusion relative to its age could fairly be deduced from this fact, as some 

 iavas become fertile much sooner than others. The Chevalier Gioanni, 

 in 1787, found lavas, projected in 1766, in a state of vegetation, while othef 

 lavas, krov^n to be much more ancient, etiil remained barren, Kirwan's 

 Veological £.s:ay:, p. I04, lOJ. 



I 



