Ch. XIX.] RECAPITULATION. 273 



away all anterior incredibility from the fact of a recent 

 deluge*.' 



For our own part, we have always considered the flood, if 

 we are required to admit its universality in the strictest sense 

 of the term, as a preternatural event far beyond the reach of 

 philosophical inquiry, whether as to the secondary causes em- 

 ployed to produce it, or the effects most likely to result from 

 it. At the same time, it is evident that they who are desirous 

 of pointing out the coincidence of geological phenomena with 

 the occurrence of such a general catastrophe, must neglect no 

 one of the circumstances enumerated in the Mosaic history, 

 least of all so remarkable a fact as that the olive remained 

 standing while the waters were abating. 



Recapitulation. We shall now briefly recapitulate some of 

 the principal conclusions to which we have been led by an exa- 

 mination of the volcanic districts of Central France. 



1st. Some of the volcanic eruptions of Auvergne took place 

 during the Eocene period, others at an era long subsequent, 

 probably during the Miocene period. 



2ndly. There are no proofs as yet discovered that the most 

 recent of the volcanos of Auvergne and Velay are subsequent to 

 the Miocene period, the integrity of many cones and craters not 

 opposing any sound objection to the opinion that they may be 

 of indefinite antiquity. 



3rdly. There are alluviums in Auvergne of very different 

 ages, some of them belonging to the Miocene period. Many 

 of these have been covered by lava-currents which have been 

 poured out in succession while the excavation of valleys was in 

 progress. 



4thly. There are a multitude of cones in Auvergne, Velay, 

 and the Vivarais, which have never been subjected to the action 

 of a violent rush of waters capable of modifying considerably 

 the surface of the earth. 



5thly. If, therefore, the Mosaic deluge be represented as 

 universal, and as having exercised a violent denuding force, all 



* Anniv, Address to the Geol. Soc., Feb. 18th, 1831. 

 VOL. III. T 



