OF SELBORNE. I]/ 



me with wonder. If one looks into the 

 writers on that subject little satisfaction is 

 to be found. Ingenious men will readily- 

 advance plausible arguments to support 

 whatever theory they shall choose to 

 maintain ; but then the misfortune is, every 

 one's hypothesis is each as good as ano- 

 ther's, since they are all founded on con- 

 jecture. The late writers of this sort, in 

 whom may be seen all the arguments of 

 those that have gone before, as I remember, 

 stock America from the western coast of 

 Africa, and the south of Europe ; and then 

 break down the Isthmus that bridged over 

 the Atlantic. But this is making use of a 

 violent piece of machinery : it is a difficulty 

 worthy of the interposition of a god ! 

 Incredidm odiT 



