18 PRINCIPLES OF GEOLOGY. 



Stainmoor, which supports large masses of granite; and the top of Carrock 

 fell, from which so large a quantity of sienite has been removed, demon- 

 strate that our proudest hills were overflowed ; and as to the extent, 

 all countries acknowledge the wide-spreading visitation : the deluge 

 covered the whole earth. 



The deluge is a great feature in the natural history of the earth, and 

 it is highly desirable to fix the period of its occurrence : not to estimate 

 how many centuries have passed away since it happened, nor how long 

 it remained upon the earth ; (such knowledge must be gathered from 

 other sources ;) but its relative place in the succession of phenomena 

 which have visited the earth : for, in my mind, those geologists have 

 been ill-advised, who, in the present state of science, affect to form a 

 chronology of nature for comparison with the records of history. But 

 the order and series of events may be read in the books of nature, and 

 by inspection of them, two propositions are demonstrable. 



' First : That the deluge happened after the stratification of the earth 

 was completed. The proof is easy : whoever will examine gravel-pits 

 will be soon convinced of its truth. For in some part or other, the 

 diluvial accumulations contain fragments of every known rock ; masses 

 of the old rocks carried many miles and dispersed over the more recent ; 

 and again, pieces of the more recent washed upon those which are more 

 ancient. Either of these examples is sufficient, because it proves that all 

 the strata were completed before the period of the deluge. 



Secondly : The deluge happened after parts of the earth were dry, 

 and inhabited by land animals. On this point the evidence is so plain, 

 simple, and convincing, that he must be indeed strongly armed in scep- 

 ticism who does not yield to its force. For we find in gravel accumu- 

 lated by the deluge, the bones of many land animals, as the elephant, 

 hippopotamus, horse, ox, deer, &c. Therefore, it is perfectly plain, that 

 such animals lived before the flood. 



What a noble field of inquiry does this comprehensive truth open 

 before us ! To study the remains of a multitude of creatures which have 



