16 



HYPOTHESIS. 



. HYPOTHESIS OF REGULAR DEPOSITES. 



Hypothesis. The memory is aided by hypothesis ; as the fancy is there- 

 by made a profitable auxiliary. Hypothesis must never be at 

 mSfaccord variance with fact ; and must be changed from time to time, 

 with fact. gQ ag to accord with all new discoveries. The following hy- 

 pothesis will be adopted in this text-book ; but I am not bound 

 to support it any further, than to prevent any discordance be- 

 tween it and well attested facts. 



Primitive All the primitive formations were deposited, and the lower 

 coMtaTilThe part of the argillite, in the form of concentric spheres, like the 

 all'oThers"^ coats of an onion. These deposites contained the materials of 

 which all outer formations were afterwards made. Soon after 

 Were brok- these deposites were made, they were broken up through sever- 

 al northerly and southerly rents, by a very great force exerted 

 immediately beneath the lowest of the primitive strata. In 

 this semi-indurated and broken state, materials were readily 

 furnished for the outer strata. There may have been several 

 serera?^^ great explosions ; but this is sufficient for our present pur- 



4imes. pose. 



