449 



which this calcareous stratum did not extend; and that a few feet of 

 sandy gravel separated this bed from the stratum of blue clay. It 

 appears, from the matter contained in the cavities of the Essex 

 fossil bones, and from the colour of their substance, that they have 

 lain in a similar bed. This also appears to have been the case with 

 bones of the elephant and teeth of the rhinoceros, from Warwickshire 

 and Gloucestershire. Hence it appears, that these animals lived on the 

 dry land left by the departure of the waters which constituted the ocean, 

 from which the clay stratum was deposited ; and that they were over- 

 whelmed by the deposition from the waters which formed the grave] 

 stratum. 



This deposition, which lies over the blue clay, is formed of strata, ot 

 of patches, of SANDY GRAVEL and SANDY CLAY ; and at Walton and 

 Harwich, in Essex, and in Suffolk and Norfolk, it contains numerous 

 fossil shells, many of which are similar to those of the present day. With 

 these fossil shells are also found fragments of fossil bones, which there is 

 some reason for supposing may have belonged to the mammoth or mas- 

 tadon. Patches of roundish pebbles, doubtlessly formed at the bottom 

 of a sea, exist in great quantities in extensive patches over this stratum 

 of clay. ! . 



Even from this slight and imperfect sketch it appears that the forma- 

 tion of the exterior part of this globe, and the creation of its several 

 inhabitants, must have been the work of a vast length of time, and must 

 have been effected at several distant periods. 



In the first of these periods, the granitic and other primary rocks were 

 separated from the water*. That this separation took place, as is stated 

 in the scriptural record, previous to the creation of vegetables and ani- 

 mals, is evident from no remains of any organized substance having been 

 ever found in any of these substances. 



In the next period we are informed, by Scripture, that the creation of 

 vegetables took place -f-. Almost every circumstance in the situation and 



* Genesis, i. 9. t Genesis, i. 12. 



VOL. III. 3 M 



