378 On the Mosaic account of the Creation. 



since beds of coals are found to lie in concavities varying 

 greatly in extent, from a few to many miles, and containing 

 numerous strata of coal alternating with sandstone, clay, &c. 

 which afford a formation analogous to an ancient sea-bed; 

 since marine substances are found in the adjoining strata ; 

 and since numerous sea shells, and even bones of marine 

 animals are found in imperfect coal, as in that of Pomiers 

 in Dauphiny, although none remain recognizable in perfect 

 coal; a strong argument of probability seems to arise, that if 

 the substance of coal is of vegetable origin, we are to seek for 

 that origin in marine vegetation, and not in terrestrial ; that 

 the beds of coals, in their extensive concavities, were perhaps 

 immense accumulations of fuel, &c. loaded with the various 

 animal substances which shelter among them; and which 

 were overwhelmed by vast aggerations of the loose soils of the 

 sea in the course of its retreat, and were left for decomposi- 

 tion by the chemical action of the marine fluid which they 

 contained, and with which the enclosing and compressing 

 soils were saturated." 



" And this," he continues, " may guide us to a final expla- 

 nation of the phenomena which caused M. D'Aubuisson to 

 doubt whether he ought to connect coal with intermediate, or 

 with secondary formations ; in the statement of which doubt, 

 he approximates so nearly to the Mosaical geology. The inter- 

 mediate class (he observes with Werner) pertains to an epoch 

 when a revolution took place in nature, which, according to 

 the evidence of the numerous indications which we see, was 

 perhaps the most violent of those that happened during the 

 formation of the mineral crust of the globe. There is, indeed, 

 great uncertainty in fixing the limits between this class and 

 those which adjoin it ; but I think that they will be assigned 

 with sufficient exactness, if we say that the intermediate class 

 is composed of the same rocks as the primitive, but alterna- 

 ting with some others containing relics of organic beings, 

 and a particular sandstone. We may perhaps farther say, 



