238 
Dr Fleming on the Geological Deluge. 
iji the history of animals, yet produced, which justifies, or ren- 
ders probable the diluvian hypothesis. The whole science of 
zoology is opposed to it. Nor is phytology friendly to the 
cause. 
If ever a mighty torrent of fresh or salt water committed those 
ravages on rocks and valleys, which it is represented to have 
done, the soil and land-plants must have been the first victims 
of its fury ; and in our gravel, lakes and peat-bogs, we should 
now find the woods of tropical forests commingled with those 
which temperate regions produced, as they 44 floated backwards 
and forwards by the flux and reflux of the mighty currents then 
in motion,” until they rested in the hollows of the surface, upon 
the retiring of the waters. The existence of land-plants, at pre- 
sent, on the surface, and the absence of the wreck referred to, 
attest the non-existence of this supposed catastrophe. Perhaps the 
plants have 44 re-established” themselves, and 44 repeopled” the 
desolated region ? Where was the spot in which they enjoyed 
exemption from the fury of the diluvian waters ? It must have 
been within the limits of their geographical distribution ; and as 
each district must have had a separate sanctuary corresponding 
to the distribution of the species, the mighty torrent must have 
met with many checks in its progress. It may be added, that 
the animals when they returned to repeople the valleys of de- 
nudation, must have been scantily supplied with herbage ; and 
centuries must have elapsed before the washed, waterworn rocks 
could furnish a support to the vegetable tribes. 
Perhaps the advocates of the diluvian hypothesis, in the ab- 
sence of all support from physical science, may give it as their 
opinion, that the Deity, immediately after the catastrophe, 
created new soil, re-created the plants, and re-created a part of 
the species of animals which had been destroyed. Is not the 
silence of Moses fatal to the conjecture ? Would he have failed 
to record in the sacred volume this second magnificent display 
of creative power ? Perhaps, in this case, there is much need to 
be reminded of the caution of the poet : — 44 Nec Deus intersit 
nisi dignus vindice nodus.” 
From the preceding statements, I feel myself warranted to con- 
clude, That the occurrence of the geological deluge , in its effects, 
such as the advocates of the diluvian hypothesis describe, is, like 
