The Natural Uiflofy 



fall fliort of proving what they are 

 aliedged for ; I then proceed to lay 

 down my own, and offer thofe Rea° 

 fbns which have ihduced me to be- 

 lieve that thefe are the Very ExmU 

 of Animals, and all owing to the Sea. 



I would not be thought to infinuate 

 that the Opinion of thefe Gentlemen 

 carries no fliew of Truth, nor Unibrage 

 of Reafon of its fide. 'Tis not to be 

 fuppofed, tl^at Perfons of their Learn- 

 ing and Abilities would ever have 

 efpoufed it, were it not in fome mea- 

 fure plaufible: and had not at leaft 

 a fair appearance of probability. The 

 very finding thefe Bodies included iri 

 Stone, and lodged in the Earth toge- 

 ther with Minerals, was alone enough 

 to move a Sufpicion that thefe were 

 Minerals too : the finding them even 

 to the very bottom of Quarries and 

 Mines : in the moft retired and in- 

 ward Parts of the moft firm and folid 

 Rocks : in the deepefl: bowels of the 

 Earth, as well as upon the furface of 

 it : upon the tops of even the higheft 

 Hills and Mountains, as well as in the 

 Valleys and Plains: and this not in 

 this or that Province only, not only in 

 one or two Fields, but almoft every- 

 where ; 



