159 



the elephant and rhinoceros being found, in great mas- 

 ses, in Siberia, mixed with different marine sub- 

 stances ; whereas, no animals, or other substances, 

 belonging to the northern regions, have ever been 

 found in southern climates." 



From the circumstance of the immense deposites, in 

 Siberia, of the fossil remains of elephants, of rhinos- 

 ceri, and other animals, peculiar to southern Asia, 

 his conclusions are supported by a more than common 

 degree of plausibility ; for certain it is, that an almost 

 incredible quantity of the remains of those animals is 

 found buried beneath the surface of the earth, in the 

 high northern regions of Siberia. That they were ne- 

 ver common to that climate, is pretty certain. That 

 they never migrated there voluntarily, and so oppor- 

 tunely as to be all destroyed at the same time, and all 

 buried together, is equally as certain. That they were 

 never carried there by the winds, is still more certain. 

 But, that they were carried there by currents, and those 

 too, flowing across the continent of Asia, is not only 

 pla'^ible, but conclusive ; no other medium or means 

 presenting itself by which a work, of such extent and 

 magnitude, could have been accomplished; that of an 

 absolute miracle excepted. 



With respect, however, to the conclusions of Mr. 

 ICirwan, <" that by the breaking up of the fountains of 

 the great deep, we are to understand, an irruption of 

 waters from the southern ocean," by which the great 

 rl -,( \va^ produced, for the purpose of purging the 

 earth of its impurities, aud by which, with few excep- 



