102 RELATIONS OF THE EARTH. 
Nor have we reason to believe that at any former 
period the dominion of man over the earth was 
more extensive than at present. The remaining 
four-fifths of our globe, though untenanted by 
mankind, are for the most part abundantly 
stocked with animated beings, that exult in the 
pleasure of existence, independent of human 
control, and no way subservient to the necessi- 
ties or caprices of man. Such is, and has been 
for several thousand years, the actual condition 
of our planet ; nor is the consideration foreign to 
our subject, for hence we may feel less reluct- 
ance in admitting the prolonged ages or days of 
creation, when numerous tribes of the lower 
orders of aquatic animals lived and flourished, 
and left their remains imbedded in the strata 
that compose the outer crust of our planet.'' 
BakewelFs Introduction to Geology, 4th edit. 
p. 6. 
