269 

 i 

 appearing to be much less general and extensive than might be 



supposed, arising, probably, from each firmly-consolidated stratum 

 protecting the subjacent strata from the pressure of the accumu- 

 lating, superincumbent, mass. Other strata would be formed by the 

 coalescing particles of iron, and of argillaceous earth. These now 

 constitute the substances commonly called iron-stone, and which, 

 from their compactness and great degree of specific gravity, have 

 been supposed by many mineralogists to owe their origin to fire. 



The strata of deposited vegetable matter, being thus secluded 

 from the air, by alternating layers of dense and compact stony 

 matter, would proceed, uninterruptedly, through the bituminous 

 fermentation ; during which it would be constantly permeated by 

 water impregnated with various saline, earthy, and metallic parti- 

 cles, derived from the several strata through which it had filtered. 

 Under the influence of these circumstances its conversion into coal 

 would be completed. Thus would a substance, particularly adapted 

 to the purposes of combustion, be formed from the eluvies of the 

 devastating deluge, and would be providentially heaped up in the 

 subterranean storehouses of nature, to be discovered in after-ages 

 by the curiosity and industry of man, when the spread of civiliza- 

 tion, by laying waste the vast forests which covered the earth, 

 should have considerably diminished the stock, whilst the increased 

 modes of consumption should have augmented the demand of 

 fuel. 



When the very limited powers of our judgment are considered,, 

 which frequently are not even sufficient to satisfy us, respecting 

 the immediate or proximate cause of several of the most common 

 natural phenomena, we should be very cautious in proposing any 

 hypothesis, respecting the operations of nature, unless the regular 

 concatenation of cause and effect can be plainly traced ; and the 

 supposed final end is in exact accordance with our best ideas of 

 utility and wisdom. This caution is particularly necessary, if the 



