133 
Again, suppose that Europe, Asia, and America sunk 
nearer to the earth's centre by 10 or 12 miles, the whole bed 
of the ocean which was not covered more than 4 or 5 miles 
with water would then probably become dry land, whilst the 
now dry land would be ocean. If the then dry land were to 
sink whilst the then ocean beds were to remain stationary, 
the change of sea and land would be again produced. Thus, 
if these continued sinkings took place, all the changes of 
land and sea, which are visible on the earth's surface could 
be accounted for. 
Let us now take another view of the case. Let us suppose 
that at the present time the beds of the Atlantic and Pacific 
Oceans were to be forced upwards, and to the amount that 
the Alps were raised during a recent geological epoch. The 
water now lying above the Atlantic and Pacific beds would 
spread over the surface of the earth, and would cover the 
lowlands in various parts of the world, and would con- 
sequently cause these to appear as though they were sinking, 
whereas they might really be stationary as regards the 
central datum. All these changes, be it remembered, taking 
place slowly, but with varying intensity according to the 
causes producing them, a continued rise of the ocean beds 
would cause the whole of the dry land to be submerged, and 
a transferral of water to be produced. The elevation again 
of portions of the submerged continents would again transfer 
the water to other parts of the world ; and thus, by a 
continued elevating process, all the changes of sea and land 
might be produced. It is highly improbable, that supposing 
either this or the former case to have occurred, that the 
continents would have risen, and in the same shape as at 
present. If either an elevating force be at work, or if there 
be a process of depression going on, then both these effects 
must have a cause, and this cause must work according to 
the conditions which produce it, the greatest force being 
