



ON THE PRIMITIVE FOUNDATION. 409 



to the original arrangement, when the confusion of chaos 

 was reduced to order, and at the command of their 

 Creator, the waters under the heaven were gathered to- 

 gether into one place, and the dry land appeared. 



That water was the principal agent in all these opera- 

 tions, there can be no doubt, 



But there was unquestionably another agent, of a most 

 powerful character, and that was fire. This is the cause 

 that produces volcanoes, or burning mountains, with 

 their explosions, eructations and convulsions. I have 

 not, however, dwelt upon them, because there are none 

 of them within the limits of my survey. 



Thus, water and fire acting separately, by what is 

 called the moist way and the dry way, have wrought and 

 are yet working memorable effects on the superficial 

 crust or external covering of our earth. Jointly, or 

 acting in connexion, their operation is tremendous. 



Difficulties have been raised concerning the subsidence 

 of the primitive ocean. I have published, nine years 

 ago, my opinion that it must necessarily have diminished 

 very considerably, for several reasons: 1. A great 

 draught must have been made upon it to form the at- 

 mosphere. , 2. Another, and a very great portion of it, 

 entered into the constitution of crystals, where it is so- 

 lidified and embodied, 3. The bodies of vegetables ab- 

 sorb and confine a portion of it. 4. The bodies of ani- 

 mals consolidate or contain much more. 



Geologists have, nevertheless, called in the aid of 

 other causes. 



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