ary rocks from a state of solution in the water of 

 lakes and seas ; or from the ruins of mountains 

 and elevated plains, that have been carried down 

 by rains, rivers, and springs, in a state of chaotic 

 mixture. Plants are formed from sap, and ani- 

 mals from blood, in which all their organs are 

 confounded, until developed by the powers of 

 life. And if it be true that the planets have been 

 formed from the aggregation of phosphorescent 

 nebulous matter, in which all the elements, active 

 and passive, are mixed up, and confounded, it 

 presents the most important physical conditions 

 of the ancient chaos. The successive destruction 

 of the world by alternate submersions and con- 

 flagrations, and its renovation from a state of 

 dissolution, was another doctrine of antiquity, 

 that may have originated from a confused notion 

 of the perpetually destroying and regenerating 

 influences that make up the history of universal 

 chemistry, geology, life, and death. 



The first philosopher who introduced an exact 

 method of studying nature among the Greeks, 

 was Thales of Miletus, who was descended from 

 Phoenician parents, and flourished about six hun- 

 dred years before the commencement of our era. 

 This illustrious founder of what has been called 

 the Ionian school, after travelling through the 

 East, for the purpose of acquiring knowledge 

 among the renowned magi of Egypt, returned to 

 his native country, where he laid the foundation 



