154 



The great and cautious Geologist Saussure, ob- 

 served in various instances, indications of the destruction 

 of mountains by inundations "that near the Rap- 

 tindei, in Siberia, had evidently its sides torn off by an 

 inundation"* 



La Metherie supposes that the fresh water shells 

 and remains of quadrupeds, about Paris, were deposi- 

 ted in their present situation by marine currents. 



Among the numerous indications of the prevalence 

 of currents which present themselves in almost every 

 quarter of the world, no one offers a stronger evidence 

 or proof of their existence and operations, than the im- 

 mense deposites of fossil wood that are found at consid- 

 erable depths in the earth, and in every country upon 

 it. They not only afford the strongest proofs of the 

 existence of currents, but they afford, at the same time, 

 the most striking correspondencies in relation to the pe- 

 riod or time in which they were, in general, deposited, 

 and also of the means by which they were accomplished. 



In America, as I have before remarked, the depo- 

 sites of fossil wood, are, upon an average, from 40 to 50 

 feet below the surface ; and in many instances, below 

 low water mark, in a bed of bluish clay, or mud, re- 

 sembling sea bottom. Below this point, it is not pro- 

 bable that trees could ever vegetate and arrive to ma- 

 turity. The same or very similar facts will be found 

 to exist in Europe, Africa, and probably Asia. 



It is stated that < l trees, much resembling the laurel 



* Kirwan's Essays, p. 380. 



