Sect. IV.] Ccologi/. 5291 



fermentation produced by this irruption shook tli(^ 

 pillars of the primitive earth, Avhich sinking into 

 its caverns, the old continents disaj)peared, and 

 their surface dcscendin<j^ below the level of the wa-' 

 ters, a general inundation ensued. This was the 

 general deluge. The sea now covered all the globe, 

 except the islands of its ancient bottom, which in* 

 creased in number and magnitude, until the weight 

 of the water, added to that of the superior vaults, 

 crushed the inferior ones, and deepened 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 conti- 

 nents dry. Secondary mountains, and other irn-- 

 gularities, were afterwards formed by volcanic com- 

 motions and maritime currents and convulsions. 



This learned and ingenious theorist professes a 

 firm belief in revelation; and insists tiiat all the 

 principal lines in the Mosaic history are confirmed, 

 and none of them contradicted, by the most at- 

 tentive survey of the globe. It may well be que- 

 stioned, however, wliether some parts of his theory 

 can be reconciled with the sacred records; and they 

 are precisely those parts which it is most dilficult 

 to reconcile with reason and sound philosophy. 



Next to the theory of M. de Luc appears that 

 of Mr. Milne, of Great Britain, which, though less 

 celebrated, is by no means unworthy of notice*. 

 This gentleman declares himself a warm friend to 

 jevelation, and professes to have formed a system 

 in strict conformity with the sacred history. In 



* A Course of Physico-Thcologicnl Lectures on the State of th: 

 World, from the Creation to the Diluge, by Rob^nt Milne, A .M. 



