4 



A DISCOURSE 



through the wliole terrestrial globe, the ingenious Dr. Woodward attri- 

 butes to a total dissolution of the materials which constituted the ori<rinal 

 fabric of the antediluvian w^orld, When the commotion of the waters be- 

 ginning to calm and relax, the disunited floating particles promiscuously 

 blended, sunk down, and subsiding according to tlicir specific gravities, 

 settled in the beds and strata we now every where find. But of this, 

 and other effects of the deluge, see the learned doctor's Essay ^ 



I begin with what commonly first presents itself under the removed 

 turf, and which, for having never been violated by the spade, or received 

 any foreign mixture, we will call virgin-earth ; not that of the chemists, 

 and the searchers after the philosopher's stone, but what is found lying 



Ft. In. 



. ^ Brought over 45 0 



15. Marl, still more gross 2 6 



16. Very fine vitrifiable sand, mixed with fossil and sea-shells, which had no ad- 



herence with the sand, and whose colours and polish were perfect l 6' 



17. Very small gravel, or fine marl powder 2 0 



18. Marl, in the form of hard stone 3 6 



19. Coarse powdered marl 1 6 



20. Hard stone, calcinable like marble 1 6 



21. A gray vitrifiable sand, mixed with fossil shells, particularly oysters and mus- 



cles, which had no adherence with the sand, and which were not petrified 3 0 



22. White vitrifiable sand, mixed with the like shells 2 0 



23. Sand streaked red and white, and mixed with the like shells 1 0 



24. Larger vitrifiable sand, mixed with the like shells 1 0 



25. A fine gray, vitrifiable sand, mixed with the like shells 8 6 



26. Very fine fat sand, with very few shells 3 0 



27. Brown free-stone 3 0 



28. Vitrifiable sand, streaked red and white 4 0 - 



29. White vitrifiable sand 3 0 



30. Reddish vitrifiable sand • 15 0 



Total depth 101 0 



^ In the year I695, Dr. Woodward published his celebrated work, entitled, "An Essay 

 towards a Natural History of the Earth," of which Mr. Evelyn has given us a very just 

 and concise account. The doctor's theory met with many warm opponents, which obliged 

 him to engage deeply in the defence of it ; and so fondly was he attached to his doctrine, 

 that he founded a lecture in the university of Cambridge to be read there in defence of it, 

 which he endowed with a salary of one hundred pounds per annum. The ingenious and 

 learned Dr. Middleton was appointed the first lecturer. 



