OF SELBORNE. 117 



me with wonder. If one looks into the 

 writers on that subject little satisfaction is 

 to be found. Ingenious men will readily 

 advance plausible arguments to support 

 whatever theory they shall choose to 

 maintain ; but then the misfortune is, every 

 one's hypothesis is each as good as ano- 

 ther's, since they are all founded on con- 

 jecture. The late writers of this sort, in 

 whom may be seen all the arguments of 

 those that have gone before, as I remember, 

 stock America from the western coast of 

 Africa, and the south of Europe ; and then 

 break down the Isthmus that bridged over 

 the Atlantic. But this is making use of a 

 violent piece of machinery : it is a difficulty 

 worthy of the interposition of a god ! 

 *■* Increduhis odi" 



