NOTES AND QUKRIES. 
451 
perusal of geological writings as a principal mode of obtaining a knowledge of 
tliis science, I appreliend tliat you consider my observations somewhat 
"hookisli," to use a t('riu sanctioned bv Locke. As to tlie supposed iliiliculty 
iiow rapidly i)reei])ilaled rocks sboukt contain myriads of organic remains, I 
never asserted that tin's need be sni)i)<)sed. The stratilied rocks may liave been 
very rapidly formed, after which t he earth may have undergone such revolutions 
as to account for the various jieriods supjioscd, eonsecpient upon tiie presence 
of certain fossils and remains, and the individual appearance of tliesc in various 
strata. This woidd end)race tlic lirst five verses of the Mosaic narrative, and, 
geologically, the so termed pre-adanute ^)eriods. There is no occasion to 
imagine the first five and following verses ot the Mosaic narrative as describing 
events immediately consecutive, as other writers have observed ; and it is 
l)robable that the harmony of the two records renders this necessary, in- 
asnuicli as the conjecturablc events of the Deluge eamiot be supposed to 
account for the fact of certain fossils and remains being exclusively found in 
certaui strata. 
I think that you will now consider my former observations less unfavourably 
than before. They certaiidy did want some explanation, wliicli I li;ive now en- 
dea\ oured to fiu-nish. There is certainly nothing, even in the lunnblest truths 
of geology, to excite merriment ; nevertheless, absurd conclusions with regard 
to this or any science deserve no more. — I. A. Davies. — We print Mr. Davies 
remarks in fuU, but without comment, having laid down a rigid nde, from 
which in no case shall we dei)art, namely, of not euteruig mto any controversial 
conununications. We abide by our former remarks. 
Thk Fre-Adamite Ages. — Sm, — I believe that geologists have not yet 
decided how many distinct revolutions of animal existence tiie earth had seen 
prior to the era of man. Now, inasmuch as we camiot say how many and 
what species of strata were simultaneously uppermost, I do not see how this 
question can be decided. The various fossds found in the three great series of 
rocks cannot, in my opinion, decide the point, inasmuch as the various strata 
uppermost at various times remain unknown. And as aninquu-y analogous to, 
and perhaiis somewhat coimeeted with this, the sujjposed knowledge of rocks 
beyond the range of our ex])erieuce should be noticed. We cannot, from the 
nature of the case, say positively how rocks unseen by human eye are situated 
with respect to one another, for which reason I cannot make much of tlie 
various tlieoretical sections of the earth's crust which geologists sometimes 
frame, and with which they, in my opinion, more mystify than enlighten theii- 
readers. It is true that we may make probable conjectures concerning these 
nuitters, but absolute certainty is out of the question, until direct evidence has 
been obtained ; which of com-se can never be the ease. Yet we may be more 
certain with regard to other phenomena of unseen rocks. Granite, or the 
granites, for example, may, from theii- obvious quantity, perhaps according to 
appearance exceeding that of any other rock, and then- possessing certain 
chemical and, especially as regards dnraliility, mechanical principles, be regarded 
as the oldest and lowest rocks, forming the imaer side of the earth's crust ; 
and being, consequently, in direct connection with the matter of volcanos. — 
1. A. Davies. — There is no reason to suppose that there have been any given 
number of distinct revolutions of animal existence ; the changes have been 
gradual and successive, without any general and total break. The arbitrary 
divisions for scientific grouping must not be mistaken for real gaps in the order 
of nature. 
Okigin of the Metajioephic Hocks. — Sia, — I think that the difiBculty 
rcsjiecting the origin of these rocks is considerably reduced upon the adoption 
of an hypothesis, made use of by Dr. Lardncr, respecting their gradual ])recipi- 
tation upon those of an igneous nature. By this it stands to reason that they 
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