l5 o NATURAL HISTORY 
between what has been removed, from what has perpetually kept one 
and the fame ftation ; the karn, that is the firm folid rock, feldom 
affords us any inftances of alteration or movement, but every loofe 
unconnected part of the earth has been moved and fhifted ; and foraf- 
much as the tranfpofed bodies are found to be moved more or lefs, 
farther or lefs diftant from their former beds, according to their own 
fpecific weight, and the declination of the plane they moved on, it 
is the general perfuafion of every intelligent tinner, that this change 
of fituation can be owing to nothing but the force of water, and of 
no other water fo likely as that of the univerfal deluge : neither 
are we to think this lefs the voice of truth, becaufe it is fb common 
an opinion ; for indeed the caufe fpeaks fo much for itfelf, that 
in order to confirm the juftnefs of this reafoning, there remains 
nothing more to do, than to point out the correfpondence and cir- 
cumftantial agreement betwixt this affigned caufe, and each parti- 
cular effect and property mentioned before. 
Firft then, In low and level grounds the broil is greater in quan- 
tity and lefs difturbed than on the tops or fides of hills, as being 
but juft moved from its firft fettlement by the vacillating waters of 
the deluge on a plane furface ; whereas on a declivity, and a more 
expofed fituation, the waters had more power to agitate and dif- 
perfe, and confequently the original covering of the lode is much 
leflened in quantity. 
Secondly, The gravitation of thefe ftones (ufually impregnated 
with metal) will, when moved with water, make them defcend 
a fteep hill quicker than down a more eafy defcent, in the fame 
proportion as bodies moved on inclined planes, their velocity being 
in proportion to their own weight, the declivity on which they 
move, and the impediments they meet with there ; but the quicker 
they defcend, the fooner they get at reft, and fix by immerging 
themfelves in the ftiff clay and rubble, and vice verfd. 
Thirdly, The fmaller fhodes were moved to and fro eafily and 
frequently, and confequently much difperfed ; whereas the greater 
and weightier the fhodes were, the more they refifted the agitation 
of the waters, and were lefs removed. 
Fourthly, The fmaller fhodes are ufually found in and near the 
furface, being wafhed downwards, till, by the refiftance of the 
ground on which they are fprcad, they are forced out like the rills 
of brooks into open day, whilft the larger, by their fuperiour 
weight, reft deeper interred, and nearer the lode. 
Fifthly, The more diftant fhodes are found from the lode, the 
more they were difperfed by the water, and confequently became 
fewer in number in any equal fpace, like diverging rays ; and the 
nearer to the lode, the thicker and more frequent they remain for 
the fame reafon. See PI. XVII. Fig. vm. Sixthly, 
