28i Life in the Deep Sea. 



near the Sea in the Sand, the dryness of which had kept the body 

 in a state of preservation until the Sand had formed an incrustation 

 round it, in this it may have been assisted by the Alteration of 

 Water from the Sea, which is known in that Country to contain 

 much calcareous matter, as is visible in the formation of the white 

 coral ; in many places the spring Water has the same effect, which 

 probably was an agent on the present occasion, as the Sea appears 

 to have gained considerably upon the Sand in that Quarter by its 

 annual progress ; that part which was originally dry became sub- 

 mersed, and now forms the Rocks upon the Shore, out of which 

 these ' Galibies' or human Bodies have been cut (this being the 

 name given by the French Chemists). 



" At Gibraltar I have observed many bones in the Lime stone 

 of which that Rock is composed that resembled those of the human 

 Body, but upon examination they were discovered to be of the 

 Monkey Tribe. I have also observed there the constant increase 

 of Matter occasioned by the Alteration of Water from the Rock, now 

 if one of those Animals happened to die under this Alteration, the 

 deposited Matter would soon form an incrustation round the body, 

 altho' this could not take place at Guadaloupe in the same manner 

 as at Gibraltar, I still consider them as analogous to each other, as 

 the same effects are I believe produced in many parts of England. 



" I submit these my ideas with much diffidence, well knowing 

 that upon the Stone being inspected more able conjectures will be 

 formed by those better competent to decide the question. 

 " I have the honour to be your Lordship's 



" Most obedt. humble Servt. 



"Alexe. Cochrane. 



" The Ilonble. Lord Melville, etc. etc, etc." 



LIFE IN THE DEEP SEA.* 



There is a curious tendency in the human mind to allow itself 

 to be misled by negative evidence. It arises chiefly from the 

 conservative spirit of indolence which does not like to be dis- 

 turbed in its repose, and which is better satisfied to believe that 

 things do not exist, because we have not found them, than to 

 undertake the labours of a fresh search. There is likewise a readi- 

 ness to establish a scientific orthodoxy upon insufficient evidence, 

 and to resent, as a pestilent heresy, whatever facts, opinions, 

 or conclusions militate against the canons of credence which 

 have been arbitrarily laid down. A good philosophical training 

 removes prejudices, and establishes a readiness to believe upon 

 sufficient proof being adduced, propositions that contradict its 

 previous ideas. But while professed students of science feel 



* The North Atlantic Sea Bed. Part I. By E. C. Wallich, M.D., F.LS., 

 F.G.S. Van Voorst. 



