[ 45 ] 
appears in accounting for fuch an event, to doubt of 
the authority of thofe facred books. 
Many ingenious hypothefes have been already 
formed on this fubjedt ; but they all feem liable to 
moffc infuperable objections : and therefore I make no 
lcruple to venture another into the world, which 
appears to me free from fuch difficulties as they are 
involved in, and more fimple. I am willing, how- 
ever, it ffiould fall to the ground, as foon as there 
appear any reafonable and weighty objections to it. 
I only with that the hints contained in this paper 
may be a means of leading fome perfon of greater 
abilities to a more perfedt difcovery ; and that it may 
always be remembered, that the foffil fhells found in 
ail parts of the earth, are a fufficient proof of the 
truth of its having been at fome time or other entirely 
covered with water, however fallible any attempt to 
account for the deluge may be. 
Dr. Burnet, in his theory, has given fuch an account 
of the deluge, as Dr. Keill has ffiown to be very 
improbable, and unphilofophical. He has firft de- 
fcribed the primseval earth fo as to diveft it of all 
beauty and elegance, and then has afcribed the deluge 
to fuch caufes, as are not only fomewhat inconfiftent 
with that part of his theory, where he fuppofes the 
earth to be well watered and moiftened with dew ; 
but are alfo inefficient to account for the waters 
flowing over the tops of the mountains : fince on the 
breaking of his imaginary (hell, it is impoffible to 
fuppofe that the waters of the abyfs, even on fuch a 
concuffion, ffiould flow up high enough upon thofe 
parts that were left elevated, fo as to cover the moun- 
tains that now fubfift. 
Mr. 
