45:1 



knowledge will enable them to form a more correct judgment on these 

 points, I will only remark, that supposing the creation to have been per- 

 formed in the order related in Genesis, and at particular periods, as is 

 there stated, it becomes only necessary to consider these periods as 

 occurring at considerable indefinite lengths of time, to prove an exact 

 agreement between that particular history and those phenomena which 

 appear on examining the stratification of the earth. But quitting con- 

 jecture, I shall conclude with placing before you a recapitulation of the 

 more important of those phenomena, which seem to demand more par- 

 ticular attention. 



I. The outer part of this globe, examined to as great a depth as 



circumstances have permitted, appears to be formed of numerous 

 strata differing from each other in their composition, many of 

 them containing remains of organized bodies, and all of them 

 appearing to have been formed by deposition from water. 



II. These strata which appear once to have been continuous, have 



been broken through their whole depth, and so dislocated, that 

 some masses of the lower strata, now form considerable eleva- 

 tions on the surface, and in many of these the superior strata 

 are carried away. 



III. Coal and traces of vegetables, with some particular marine ani- 

 mals, are found in the lowest strata that have been yet examined. 

 In the other strata, up to the surface, the remains of the inhabi- 

 tants of the water only are met with. Near to, and on the sur- 

 face, only, are found the fossil remains of various land-animals; 

 but, no where have yet been discovered any fossil remains of 

 man. 



IV. In some of the earlier strata, THE CUBROCHAL LIMESTONE, the 

 remains of animals are found, the cap and turban encrinite, &c. ; 

 but no similar fossils are seen in any of the succeeding superior 

 strata, nor are any similar animals found in our present seas, 



