X0TE5 AXD QUERIES, 



consistency M-hich strict logic demands, and are not therefore superior to or- 

 dinary hypotheses. From its nature, Geology can never attain that degree of 

 certainty which characterizes the mathematical and other sciences ; neverthe- 

 less, as far as possible, strict logic may dictate all its facts. That this is not 

 the case now I will endeavour to show. 



Supposing that a man should for the first time behold the various strata in a 

 well, or appearing slantingly in an ordinary dyke, it is probable he would 

 imagine three thmgs : — 1st, which was the oldest ; 2, which was the earliest 

 formed; and 3rd, were they originally placed as they now appear. These 

 three questions strike me as 'forming the basis of geological science, as leading 

 to the various ramifications into wliich this interesting inquhy is afterwards 

 developed. 



As regards the question of antiquity it is judged, and rationally enough, that 

 the rock which is universally found as the basis of every otlier is the oldest ; 

 and this because it is absui-d to suppose that the upper rocks and beds were 

 first formed, and that the under-one was then miracidously (using this term of 

 course in its highest sense) placed under them. Tiiis idea is quite un-needed, 

 because the phenomenon can be explained in a simple and highly probable 

 manner. Granite is this rock, and as it has never been found, wliich is for 

 obdoiis reasons improbable, that auy other rocks dip into it, no doubt as 

 to its antiquity can rcDiain ; and this is absolutely confii-med upon considering 

 that it is an igneous rock, and hence must have existed prior to its neighbom's. 

 The reasons of this are well known, or I should have given them. 



To determine the periods of the formations of various rocks, every one will 

 allow that we can only judge, if we judge at all, by the rate of time the like 

 operations progress at in the present age. Xow, I maintain that this is a very 

 doubtful rule upon which to rear theories, or assumed-facts, of such moment 

 as have been laid down by geologists : and I find that Dr. Brewster agrees 

 with me, whose remarks upon this subject I shall take the liberty of quoting. 

 He says, in "More "Worlds than One," "It is taken for granted that many of 

 the stratified rocks were deposited in the sea by the same slow processes which 

 are going on in the present day ; and as the thickness of the deposits now pro- 

 duced is a very small quantity during a long period of time, it is inferred that 

 nine or ten miles of strata must have taken millions of years for their forma- 

 tion." I apply this scepticism to every rock either above or below the earth's 

 surface since the commencement of human history. It cannot be said what 

 time sedimentary deposits have taken to form, inasmuch as their present pro- 

 gress is no criterion. This may be denied, but the denial cannot be substan- 

 tiated ; whereas it is quite easy to suppose that such deposits have been formed 

 very quickly. Hence this geological assumption is at the best an hypothesis, 

 and in my opinion by no means a probable one. There is a logical flaw about 

 it which renders it at once a matter of doubt. And i£ this notion of the high 

 antiquity of the earth is put aside, there need be no controversy respecting the 

 length of the days of creation : each day may coincide in dui'ation with those 

 of the present period. The world is in the Mosaic account said to have been 

 created, and other changes foUow, when we hear of the first day, from which I 

 judge that all was effected within this period. But, to keep to the philoso- 

 phical part of the question, I do not think that the antiquity of the world, 

 which geologists presume, is at aH substantiated, to say nothing of the use, 

 and consequently wisdom of such an act. 



The author I have quoted further remarks, " The diy land upon oiu' globe 

 occupies only one-fourth of its whole superficies, all the rest is sea. How 

 much of this fouith part have geologists been able to examine ? and how small 

 seems to be the area of stratification which has been explored ? TVe ventiu'e 

 to say not one-fiftieth part of the whole, and yet upon the result of so partial a 



VOL. II. M M 



