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But we have particularly to contemplate more sudden and exten- 

 sive changes, wrought by a deluge extending its power over the 

 whole surface of the earth. It is beyond the powers of the human 

 mind to conceive the prodigious changes which must have been 

 effectedduring this grand revolution. Receive then, with suspended 

 judgment, this slight sketch of some of the probable events of that 

 awful period. 



By the spread of this overwhelming torrent over the whole sur- 

 face of the globe, forests must have been prostrated, mountains 

 broken down, and the waters of the rivers blended with those 

 of the ocean. During the stay of the waters on the face of the 

 earth, vast changes must also have been effected. Long-continued 

 submersion must have rendered the earth so soft and yielding, that 

 the pressure, united with some degree of agitation of this immense 

 bed of water, must have completed the subversion of the forests by 

 which the earth must have been nearly covered. Even during 

 the passing away of the waters, considerable changes would be ac- 

 complished. Whilst the waters were separating from the land, 

 the librating torrents would form for themselves new channels : their 

 beds, when cleared of their waters, would display vast and extended 

 valleys ; and their sides, mountains of an alpine height. 



By the continuance of the waters, the upper surface of the strata 

 of subverted vegetable matters would necessarily become covered 

 by a muddy deposition, which would subside from the body of 

 water, by which it had been overwhelmed. On the passing away 

 of the water, the light substances which had floated on its surface, 

 amongst which would be various animal remains, would be depo- 

 sited on the muddy stratum which was already laid on the subja- 

 cent mass of vegetable matter. Thus would be formed a soil, 

 which on the passing away of the waters, would again promote a 

 rapid and luxuriant vegetation. 



Such a tract would necessarily long remain free from the inter- 



