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But we have particularly to contemplate more sudden and exten- 
sive changes, wrought by a deluge extending its power over the whole 
surface of the earth. It is beyond the powers of the human mind to 
conceive the prodigious changes which must have been effected during 
this grand revolution. Receive then, with suspended judgment, this 
slight sketch of some of the probable events of that awful period. 
By the spread of this overwhelming torrent over the whole sur- 
face of the globe, forests must have been prostrated, mountains 
broken down, and the waters of the rivers blended with those of 
the ocean. During the stay of the waters on the face of the earth, 
vast changes must also have been effected. Long-continued sub- 
mersion must have rendered the earth so soft and yielding, that 
the pressure, united with some degree of agitation of this immense 
bed of water, must have completed the subversion of the forests by 
which the earth must have been nearly covered. Even during the 
passing away of the waters, considerable changes would be accom- 
plished. Whilst the waters were separating from the land, the 
librating torrents would form for themselves new channels ; their 
beds, when cleared of their waters, would display vast and extended 
valleys ; and their sides, mountains of an alpine height. 
By the continuance of the waters, the upper surface of the strata 
of subverted vegetable matters would necessarily become covered 
by a muddy deposition, which would subside from the body of 
water, by which it had been overwhelmed. On the passing away 
of the water, the light substances which had floated on its surface, 
amongst which would be various animal remains, would be deposited 
on the muddy stratum which was already laid on the subjacent 
mass of vegetable matter. Thus would be formed a soil, which on 
the passing away of the waters, would again promote a rapid and 
luxuriant vegetation. 
Such a tract would necessarily long remain free from the in- 
terference or culture of man ; and previous to the complete de- 
