28 



feet above the level of the ocean. This is considered 

 by many, both of the learned and unlearned, as a |)roof 

 of an universal deluge. To the many considerations 

 opposing this opinion, tlie following may be added. 

 The atmosphere, and all its contents, whether of water, 

 air, OF other matters, gravitate to the earth, that is to 

 say, they have weight. Experience tells us, that the 

 weight of all these together never exceeds that of a 

 column of mercury of 31 inches height, which is equal 

 to one of rain water of 35 feet high. If the whole con- 

 tents of the atmosphere then were water, instead of 

 what they are, it would cover the glohe but 35 feet 

 deep ; but as these waters, as they fell, would run into 

 the seas, the superficial measure of which is to that of 

 the dry parts of the glohe, as two to one, the seas would 

 be raised only 52 1-2 feet above their present level, and 

 of course would overflow the lands to that height only. 

 In Virginia this would he a very small proportion even 

 of the champaign country, the banks of our tide waters 

 being frequently, if not generally of a greater height. 

 Deluires bevond this extent then, as for instance, to the 

 North mountain or to Kentucky, seem out of the laws 

 of nature. But within it they may have taken place to 

 a greater or less degree, in proportion to the combina- 

 tion of natural causes which may be supposed to have 

 produced them. History renders {)rohal)le son)e in- 

 stances of a partial deluge in the coiM)try lying round 

 the Mediterranean sea. It has heen often* supposed, 

 and is not unlikely th.at that sea was once a lake. 

 While such, let us admit an extraordinary collection of 

 the waters of the atmos[)here from the other parts of 

 the globe to have been discharged over that and the 

 countries whose waters run into it. Or without sup- 

 posing it a lake, admit such an extraordinary collection 

 of the waters of the atmosphere, and an influx of wa- 

 ters from the Atlantic ocean, forced hy long continued 

 western winds. The lake, or that sea, may thus have 

 been so raised as to overflow the low laiids adjacent to 



♦ 2. Buffon Epoques, 96. 



