11 



entombed, possessing, indeed, many of the anatomical character- 

 istics of animals now existing; but differing so much, in other re- 

 spects, as to require to be considered, as entirely different from any 

 which are known now to exist. Thus you will behold the bones of 

 an animal, of which the magnitude is so great, as to warrant the 

 conviction, that the bulk of this dreadful, unknown animal, ex- 

 ceeded three times that of the lion ; and to authorize the belief, that 

 animals have existed, which have possessed, with all the dreadful 

 propensities of that animal, its power of destroying, in a three-fold 

 degree. You will also view the remains of a being of the magni- 

 tude, at least, of the elephant ; which was armed with tusks, equally 

 dreadful, as a weapon, with those borne by that animal; and pos- 

 sessing, in addition to these, enormously huge grinders, supposed,, 

 to bear the distinctive marks of those creatures, which gain their 

 food, by preying on those of inferior powers and size. The jaws of 

 an animal bearing a near resemblance to those of a crocodile, you 

 will perceive to be armed with teeth, not widely different from those 

 of the shark. In a word, you will be repeatedly .astonished by the 

 discovery of the remains of animals, of which no living prototype 

 is yet found. 



When the mind has dwelt awhile on objects so well calculated to, 

 impress it with astonishment, fresh subjects for conjecture, and most 

 interesting contemplation, will arise. The number of these wrecks, 

 of a former world must, as well as the situations in which they are 

 found, excite the highest admiration. Not in one particular spot 

 not in one region not in one quarter of the globe alone but where- 

 ever this world has been explored. In the greatest subterraneous, 

 depths, in the bowels of mountains, and on heights vastly above 

 the level of the sea, are these wonderful remains to be found. But 



enough 1 have pressed so far on, as to be under the necessity 



of craving your indulgence, for credit, for the proofs of what 1 have 

 already stated,, which I promise satisfactorily to produce.-*-In 



