106 Facts from the Arcana of Nature. 



proximity of a comet might have formerly sufficed to shift 

 it, causing Noah's deluge. Professor Brande observes, " In 

 whatever manner the Earth may have taken its existing form, 

 there are abundant proofs that its surface has been the theatre 

 of many great revolutions. The masses of sand and gravel, 

 and beds of limestone, composed of shells and corals, which 

 are found in the interior of continents, and even to the sum- 

 mits of the highest mountains, plainly show that the present 

 land was once immerged deep under the waters of the ocean. 

 The remains of animals and plants belonging to tropical 

 countries found in the highest latitudes indicate an entirely 

 different disposition of climates from that which now exists." 

 Such convulsions having occurred periodically throughout 

 the vast antiquity ascribed to our Earth by geology, evidence 

 former changes in her centre of gravity, and consequent axis 

 of rotation ; and, therefore, demonstrate an uncertainty as 

 to the position upon the Earth's crust now of the original 

 poles, supposed by the Newtonian theory to be flattened by 

 its velocity of rotation, in its primitive condition of an 

 incandescent and molten mass of matter. The present age 

 is one of scientific investigation into principles of causation, 

 and mere recapitulation of the unsupported, if not exploded, 

 hypotheses of our early philosophy, based upon very imper- 

 fect knowledge, do not meet the importance of ascertaining 

 the truth, involving the future tendencies of the agencies 

 brought to light. 



The observant geologist and student of nature have in 

 Victoria many opportunities for noting the comparatively 

 small deposit, apparently marking the last geological con- 

 vulsion (universally referred to Noah's Deluge) upon certain 

 localities, disclosing to shallow excavations the proximity 

 of primitive formations, however deep, sedimentary strata 

 of the most recent type may be proved elsewhere. Such 

 observations furnish evidence that the amount of deposition, 

 or even denuding action, of cataclysmal convulsions, is not 

 uniform, or sufficient in all cases to give force to the very 

 common objection against ascribing to ancient edifices, such 

 as those Sir C. Lyell assumes " approach nearest to immor- 

 tality, — cones, the pyramid, the tumulus, and the cairn," an 

 antediluvian origin ; that the very existence of such ancient 

 relics must have been obliterated from view by the neces- 

 sarily great depth of sedimentary deposit. 



Anomalies are occasionally presented to our imperfect 

 knowledge in the aspect and constituent earthy matter and 



