420 
Geology . 
the oldest granite formations, but smaller. If I mistake 
not, Norristown will afford specimens of this. 
These strata or formations are so generally found, and 
in the same situations as incumbent upon or subtending 
each other relatively, that they may be considered as uni- 
versal. 
Their crystallized appearance shews that their particles 
have been either dissolved or very finely suspended in 
water, so that the attraction of crystallization has been free 
to operate : that this water has been deep, so as that the 
lowermost parts of it have not been much agitated during 
the crystallization, which would otherwise have been 
more confused than it is : and indeed the oldest forma- 
tions are the best crystallized. A part of the water cover* 
ing the nucleus must have been taken up as water of crys- 
tallization, in the primitive formations. Again f when 
these were deposited, there were no vegetables formed : 
of course no animals : nay even the sea was unpeopled, 
for there is no trace of any organic remains in these strata* 
Even the Belemnites, the A sterile, the Echini, the Entro- 
chi, the most simple forms of oceanic animal life, do not 
occur till the transition strata appear. Hence the pro- 
priety of denominating these formations, primitive . 
By processes of nature, (beside the consumption of 
water by the new crystallized masses) to us unknown, 
the mass of waters appear to have diminished. The high- 
er parts of the primitive strata or formations became the 
shores to the water superincumbent on their bases and 
middle regions ; the simplest forms of oceanic animals 
came into existence, and mosses and lichens of high lati- 
tude, would generally occupy the surface of the primitive 
strata, gradually decomposed by the alternate action of 
air and water after many ages. 
During this period, while the strata were in a state of 
transition from the chaotic to the habitable state, other 
