71 



now south of the tropics, if brought up to the northern hemi- 

 sphere, would cause the sun to appear to rise on the left instead 

 of, as in the former situation, on the right : probably such effect 

 was the origin of the above notion of the Egyptian priests. 



The observations of the ancient philosophers have been lost 

 in the lapse of ages ; however, we have great advantages in our 

 present investigations ; the records of the past have been laid 

 down and preserved by a power beyond the reach of human 

 control : we may recall the past and anticipate the future by 

 means quite independent of the conflicting and imperfect evi- 

 dences of human record. 



With regard to the actual time since the creation of the sy- 

 stem, it is a question so totally beyond our reach, that it is as 

 useless as it is unreasonable for us as finite beings to enter upon 

 the subject ; all that we can legitimately speculate upon is the 

 nature of the dry crust we call land. The comparatively recent 

 origin of the existing organized beings appears abundantly evi- 

 dent, and there is a still more decided proof that the whole of 

 the present dry land as it becomes oxidated at the north pole, 

 will come to an end ; and unless a corresponding dry land con- 

 tinue to rise from the southern hemisphere, towards which the 

 living system may retrograde, the world must come to an end, 

 independent of the existence of the globe itself as a body in 

 space. 



There are many philosophers who admit in its full extent the 

 doctrine of final causes as evinced in the structure of a plant or 

 an animal ; or, in other words, who readily grant that all the 

 various parts and organs conduce to one definite purpose ; yet 

 they are reluctant to allow that the earth itself is under any other 

 guidance than an irregular and confused igneous element. We 

 have no reason to suppose that the laws which govern the whole 

 body of our planet are not directed by the same wisdom as that 

 displayed in the external world. Every part of the surface of 

 the globe is adapted to the wants of man, and the inferior cre- 

 ation by which he is surrounded ; it is not the result of chance, 

 or of any imaginable fortuitous circumstances, but the produc- 

 tion of a season, — it has its beginning and ending, like animated 

 nature. 



