[ 673 3 
ti'on to criticize the works of others, efnecially thofe 
of fo learned a gentleman, as the above-mentioned 
academician, for whole merit and talents I have a 
particular refpeCt, except where the cleared con- 
viction, in oppofition to his opinions, forces me to 
fo dilagreeabie a talk. 
I. The Orthocera' ites is one of thofe fhells, which 
are never found in the recent date, and is to be claffed 
among Conchce pelagic of the naturalids, which 
never approach the diore, but continue always at 
great depths of the fea contrary to the littorales y 
which frequent the fliores and (hallow places • and 
hence, when found fodil, are eafiiy to be matched 
with recent fpecimens. 
Pelagian or ocean diells are frequently found 
fodil very near the furface, as every naturalid knows, 
which proves, that fuch places have formerly been 
the.feadhore Hence it is clear, that the caufe, which 
tranfported them thither, acted fuddenly ; which 
agrees perfectly with the account of the deluge given 
by Mofes in the holy feripture ; and, at the fame 
time, overturns the lydem of Monf. de Buffon, and 
the author of Telliamed, who pretend, that the earth 
was for many ages covered with water, and that in 
that long courfe of time it was, that the fhells,- which 
we now find fodil, were gradually produced; hence 
that they are to be confidered as the remains of in- 
numerable fuccedive generations of marine bodies, 
formerly the only inhabitants of the globe. The 
greated depths of the fea, as yet founded, have been 
found to be about 3000 fathoms, and the ordinary 
depths are about iyo; which makes it evident, that 
Were the theories of thefe gentlemen true, fuch foffil 
diells 
