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of the earth not revolving exactly with the earth itself, but revolving differ- 
ently, bear the same evidence to a divergence of 18| degrees. Putting these 
facts together, there is a basis on which calculations may be arrived at, 
establishing the fact that there has taken place a change of the equator of 
the earth. It is very singular that Sir Charles Lyell has shown that the 
island of Jamaica bears fossil evidence of having had at one time the same 
temperature with Vienna. How was it possible that these two places could 
have nearly the same temperature, unless the equator lay differently then 
from now ? If that be the case, I undertake to demonstrate from it the fact 
of a universal deluge. I hope, if it is considered desirable, an opportunity 
may be given to me to lay my views at greater length before this Institute. I 
ought to have mentioned that the change of axis, acting in its effects, prin- 
cipally at the poles, would have caused a rush of water round the world which 
would be more violent in the more northerly than in the equatorial regions ; 
and the atmosphere would have been affected in a similar manner : the drift 
formation demonstrates that to have been actually the case. Professor Geikie 
gives a detailed account of the boulder-formation of Scotland, where, some- 
times for 100 feet in depth, the stratum is full of stones and boulders mixed 
together with clay, as he expresses it, “pell-mell, higgledy-piggledy” — so 
thick and dense that, in railway operations, the navvies have no greater 
difficulty than in dealing with that formation. How was that great mass 
mixed up ? Without water it would have been clearly impossible ; and that 
it could have been done in the course of millions of ages by slow deposit is also 
impossible, because it is not stratified, but is mixed up altogether. It must 
have been stirred about, and swept along violently, by a tremendous force, 
and deposited by being allowed to settle all at one time. 
Dr. Coleman. — I cannot agree with Mr. Henslow, who appears to suggest 
that we may, in our discussion, argue the question apart from inspiration. 
I hold by the old system, that the Book of Genesis is inspired, and we 
must teach that boldly ; and if there appears to be any inconsistency between 
science and Eevelation, we must wait until the same God who revealed the 
Book of Genesis shows the consistency of the two. 
Eev. T. M. Gorman. — A small work on the Principles of Chemistry , 
published in 1721, attempts to account for certain geological phenomena by 
the hypothesis of a primeval ocean. In one part I find the author saying — 
“ At this day (in Sweden) the timbers and ribs of vessels and galleys have 
been discovered in places which are now forty or fifty yards above the level 
of the sea ; and that hooks, rings, and hawsers, with many other indications 
of a port, and of inhabitants, have been found even on the mountains. 
And it is certain,” he continues, “ that the Baltic is still gradually sub- 
siding towards the north, at a rate of four or five yards in depth in less than 
seventy years. So that in many localities, within the last hundred vest's, 
the plough has supplanted the oar, and the sower has taken the place of the 
fisherman. I myself,” he proceeds to say. “ have seen the marine spots, and 
have heard old men conversing about them. Tn Lapland, at the extremity 
