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leverage of this, on end of an extended radius, acting on the 
centre of gravity of the fluid sphere, or oceanic envelop of 
the globe, causes such centre to become eccentric from that 
of the solid sphere, and thus accomplishes a physical con 
vulsion, and change of place of the oceans and continents, 
with a, primary devastating flood or deluge;. I hold that the 
equilibrium of the globe as poised in space, is so finely 
adjusted (by Him " who weighs the mountains in scales and 
the hills in a balance "), that its centre of gravity is suscep- 
tible of change, by occurrence of the varied natural pheno- 
mena previously denoted, including alterations in density 
of sections of the material of the earth, arising from chemical 
affinities of contained matter inducing combustion, gaseous 
emanation, 01 combinations in HQYt forms; passage of fluids 
— molten rock, water, &0, — from internal compartments to 
others ; displacement — catastrophic-ally by earthquake, or 
.placidly by the constant tide wave, continuously transferring 
films of oceanic volume, and its amassing in certain areas ; 
as well as by the disproportionate accumulation of congealed 
matter at either pole. In a rotatory spheroid, change of 
centre of gravity is necessarily by mechanical law, change of 
axis. But leverage of an extension of radius, by a weight 
of material on its extremity, is in itself a farce capable of 
re-adjustment of the position of the sphere as regards her 
inclination or tilt. Hence ensues a movement altering 
relative positions of any given points of defined longitude 
on the earth's contour with reference to their meridianal angles 
of intersection of the plane of the ecliptic. Hence 1 submit 
that precession of the equinoxes is the sequence, and in no 
•way the causa of polar accumulations ; and hence that no 
calculation of a period of revolution of the ecliptic can bo 
based npon hypotheses of that being a primary movement, 
which is but a sequence of a force dependent on natural 
laws, constantly operating, but with variable intensity. 
The phenomena termed Hie precession of the equinoxes is 
stated by astronomy, to consist in a minute annual decrease 
in the time occupied by the sun in reaching the several 
points or meridians of longitude marking one complete 
revolution, while there is an apparent increase of longitude 
in the position of celestial orbs in relation to the extension 
towards space of the polar axis. Astronomers account for 
this by certain abstruse hypotheses, apparently supported by 
mathematical demonstrations, though based on merely con- 
jectural data of fanciful amounts of perturbing influences of 
the sun, moon, or planets. These bodies while moving 
through space in view of the earth, are assumed to be so 
