GEOLOGY. 
undoubted evidence exists, of its having ex- 
tended over a much wider surface ; audit 
is the opinion of many of the most eminent 
geologists, of its having covered the whole 
of the earth. As the necessity of ascer- 
taining this latter circumstance is much 
urged, by those who have endeavoured to 
form correct opinions respecting the mode 
in which this globe was originally formed, 
it will be proper here to notice some of the 
evidence which has been adduced respect- 
ing this circumstance. 
Herodotus relates, that, according to the 
priests of Vulcan, the whole of Egypt, ex- 
cept in the neighbourhood of Thebes, had 
been covered with water. Herodotus him- 
self, also, noticed the existence, even in his 
time, of lakes of salt water in different parts 
of Egypt, as well as of the saline matter, 
mingled with the vast tracts of sand with 
which that country is covered ; which ob- 
servations are confirmed by the accounts 
that have been given, by those who have 
examined these parts in modern times. 
The diminution of the ocean is also render- 
ed in the highest degree probable, from va- 
rious facts related also by Strabo, Pliny, 
Diodorus the Sicilian, and several other 
early writers ; and in the present day, the 
observations of Pallas, Celsius, Linnaeus, 
and others, seem to establish the fact, of 
the diminution and sinking both of the Bal- 
tic and of the Caspian Seas. 
On the other hand, innumerable facts 
may be adduced which seem to prove, that 
the water has actually increased, in its pro- 
portion, over the dry land. From the rela- 
tions of Plaucus, Bryden, Barral, Fortis, 
and others, there can no doubt exist of the 
Mediterranean Sea having very much en- 
croached on its shores ; temples, and other- 
edifices of different descriptions, which are 
known to have been erected at consider- 
able distances from the sea, being now bu- 
ried beneath its waves. In explanation of 
this varying evidence, it is necessary to 
state, although it may not affect the general 
question, that it cannot be doubted, that 
whilst the land is gaining on the sea, in 
some parts, similar encroachments are ob- 
servable in others, of the sea on the dry 
land. Instances of this, on the small scale, 
may be observed on almost all flat, and on 
many precipitous shores; on the former, 
large embankments of sand are sometimes 
suddenly thrown up by considerable and 
violent inundations, and which, in conse- 
quence of alteration in the shape of the 
coasts, and of the direction of currents. 
may still remain, and appear to manifest ail 
increase of the dry land : on precipitous 
shores, the reverse of this is observable ; un- 
dermined by the continual and powerful ac- 
tion of the waves, large masses are perpe- 
tually falling, and, broken by their fall and 
by the action of the water, are so reduced 
as to easily allow of their removal by the 
waves: thus is occasioned a considerable 
reduction of the level of the shore; and 
thus an opportunity is given for the exten- 
sion of the w-aters of the ocean on such par- 
ticular spots. The balance, however, of 
this seemingly contradictory evidence, is 
undoubtedly in favour of the opinion, that 
the water has considerably diminished, and 
is, perhaps, lessening at the present pe- 
riod. 
Indubitable evidence of the water having 
stood over the tops of mountains, which are 
at present much above the level of the 
ocean, is yielded, by the circumstance of 
various organized beings, former inhabitants 
of the water, being imbedded in these moun- 
tains, and even in their summits. . Those 
who contend that the whole of the earth 
has been covered with water, have re- 
course to the testimony afforded by the 
several chemical and physical properties, 
discoverable in the component parts of 
the loftiest mountains ; and which prove, 
in their opinion, that all these substances 
have obtained their origin from the waters 
of the ocean, which they suppose ' to have 
invested the whole earth. This mode of 
the formation of rocks will not, however, 
be admitted by every geologist, to be suffi- 
ciently ascertained, to allow of its being ad- 
duced as an evidence on the present occa- 
sion. That they have been thus produced, 
there appears, however, to be the greatest 
reason for supposing; but as their origin 
still remains a question with many, the tes- 
timony, on this occasion, must be propor- 
tionally weakened. 
In the following sketch of some of the 
most interesting and important systems of 
the formation of the world, several facts 
will be noticed, from which additional evi- 
dence will be adduced, of not only the for- 
mation of the rocks from the contents of 
the primitive waters, but also of the waters 
having totally covered the earth ; and since 
most of the important geological tacts will 
come into consideration, whilst taking a 
view of the different systems which have 
been offered of the formation of the world, 
and of the several changes which it has un 
dergone, it is proposed to appropriate the 
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