158 
WERNERIAN SYSTEM. 
decrensing depth of the fluid. “ As the water diminished in 
height, it motion increased, its destroying power reached the 
surface of the earth, the crystalline shoots were destroyed, and 
thus the first mechanical productions were formed." 
Partial return Ifie retirement, however, which had beeun, was not without 
ot tile llmd . . ° . 
interruption, for extensive masses of rocks free from organic 
remains, and for the greater part of a crystalline structure, are 
found reposing upon the ends of the strata supposed to have 
been first deposited ; and it is inferred, that they were produced 
by a partial return of the investing fluid, after it had so far 
subsided as to admit of mechanical action on the consolidated 
masses beneath ; but not to such a depth as completely to 
expose them ; and still before the creation of animals and 
vegetables. 
, Kftieat by 
whicli tlie 
transition 
rocks were 
f'oriiicd. 
Rapid return 
of tlie waters 
above the 
highest lands. 
A retreat of more importance, and attended with several 
remarkable events, is then supposed to have commenced. The 
summits of the original depositions were unveiled j the dry 
land began to appear ; and the quantity of mechanically 
suspended matter being much increased, the depositions of iliis 
period,-— the transition-rocks — receive from its abundance a new 
character : and the creation of organic beings having now taken 
place, remains of these are also mingled with the substance of 
these rocks. 
The retirement of the fluid continued with increasing agita- 
tion, and the earth had now progressively become inhabited by 
animated beings, in greater numbers, and of various kinds ; the 
quantity of their remains in the depositions of the next succeed- 
ing peiiod, the “ conformable-flcetz-rocks," is consequently 
more considerable, and these are found to rise from the lowest 
rank'of animated beings, to those of superior order. 
But after a retreat, which appears to have reduced the waters 
nearly to their present level, and to have been of such duration, 
that the land disclosed Iiad been inhabited for a considerable 
length of time, a mighty revolution is supposed to have taken 
place ; the waters rising again with tumult and rapidity above 
the highest summits of the land, overwhelming the various 
beings that occupied its surface, and mingling their remains in 
confusion 
