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is the evidence of new creations ? Geology points to several. 
But until it be finally settled that the igneous theory is properly 
quenched by the aqueous ; or whether the aqueous itself have 
any pretensions to the dignity of upholding the science at all : 
in short, whether the science, as taught and commonly under- 
stood, have a leg to stand upon ; until then — until its prin- 
ciples are a little more settled — until, in fact, it has sown its 
wild oats, we may be allowed, at least, to entertain grave 
doubts as to the credibility of its teachings when sanctioning 
plurality of creations. I think they can be very differently 
accounted for. 
To my mind, the error, the grand fundamental error of our 
geological head-quarters, is not recognizing the former geo- 
graphical position of the earth's surface, whereby the buried 
botany and zoology, and the periods when they flourished, 
have been grievously misinterpreted. 
As I have said before, the great divisions of life are there ; 
but for the most part, in the earlier formations, different from 
later forms. Why so ? They are the forms of a tropical land. 
How then came they into these climates ? for sure it is, they 
neither do nor could flourish here now. What is there 
wanting wherewith we cannot supply them ? There must be 
something. So there is — a vertical sun. According to the 
distribution of the sun's glorious rays, so is vegetation, so 
is animal. 
It has been customary to account for climatal changes 
chiefly by atmospheric alterations, brought about by the great 
currents of the ocean taking a new course ; by sea usurping 
the place of land, or land that of sea. But with our northern 
sun, alterations could never account for the lion and tiger in 
our forests, nor the palms and tree-ferns of the tropics on our 
uncongenial soil. Hitherto, every change of surface on the 
globe has been attributed to upheavals and subsidences — an 
upward and downward movement in the same spot — even to 
the reversing large tracts of country. And the geological 
mind has been satisfied with it — 'has given its best attention to 
it — has become saturated with it — has assumed hypotheses, 
and drawn inferences, very much to its own satisfaction — 
children of imagination, bright and delusive. 
We can understand the sudden coming on of an icy period. 
Let the gulf stream be deflected from our shores, and a raising 
of the land take place — a climate might be produced wherein 
life must give way under its intensely glacial aspect. Ice and 
snow which no summer's sun could melt — or whose rigour 
could be. even mitigated — would reign undisputed. But so 
long as our latitude is unchanged, how can we have the heat 
