Sect. IV.] Ccolosiy. . 229 



tions were destroyed, and room was given for new 

 combinations of a dirterent kind. The first result of 

 this regeneration was the production of calcareous' 

 earth, from which species every other kind of earth is 

 formed. Tins deposition of calcareous matter being 

 equal every where, produced a regular nucleus in 

 our globe, equally covered with water, and free 

 from valleys and mountains. In this situation, ac- 

 cording to our theorist, a new comet of high degree 

 approached near enough to our globe to influence 

 its destinies. By the force of its attraction it 

 changed and slackened both the annual and diurnal 

 motions of the planet, displaced the axis and the 

 equator, altered likewise the points at which the 

 spheroid was compressed or elevated; and by these 

 means displacing the waters, caused the emersion 

 of the iirst continents. The surfaces of these con- 

 tinents became unequal, from the change of level, 

 and from the sudden retreat of the waters. The 

 whole mass, however, was yet composed of calca- 

 reous matter. The first action of atmospherical 

 powers, and of solar rays, occasioned a sudden ir- 

 ruption of all the vital forces, so long suspended 

 and concentred. In this explosion of life every 

 particle of native soil was vklficd, and numerous 

 races of vegetables and animals were produced, in 

 such numbers, and of such sizes, t^at putrefaction 

 and fermentation ensued. Some meteoric pheno- 

 mena having set fne to this monstrous heap of pu- 

 trefied bodies, the horrid conflagration extended 

 every where, even under the sea, and was the cause 

 of most tremendous earthquakes, that broke all 

 the strata (which, till then, had been horizontal. 



