GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS. 199 
been found in the diluvium at Robin Hood’s bay, near Whitby, 
at Scarborough, Bridlington, and several other places along the 
shore of Holderness. 
How is it possible, then, to explain the general dispersion of 
all these remains, but by admitting that the elephant as well as 
all the other creatures whose bones are buried with them, were 
the antediluvian inhabitants of the extensive track of country 
over which we have been tracing them, and that they were all 
destroyed by the waters. It appears to me just as reasonable 
to doubt that the town of Pompeii was the habitation of human 
beings, as to suspend our belief on the conclusion which I have 
drawn. 
But among: the different fossil remains of animals which I have 
^ o 
mentioned, those of man were never yet discovered. This cir¬ 
cumstance contributes to establish the position, that the human 
race did not exist in those countries in which the fossil bones of 
animals have been discovered, at the period when these bones 
were covered up, as there cannot be a single reason assigned why 
man should have entirely escaped. 
Hence it follows that no remains are found, no antiquities of 
the numerous ages preceding the scriptural account of time, 
no fragments of buildings, no public monuments, no models, in¬ 
scriptions, utensils, or artificial works of any kind have ever been 
discovered, which might bear testimony to the existence and 
agency of man ; and yet it is a fact, which may be gathered from 
an examination of the strata of the earth, that revolutions and 
catastrophes must have occurred at wide intervals of time, of 
slow progressive advancement to its present state, and of the 
existence of various orders of created beings which successively 
occupied its surface, before it was fitted for the abode of man. 
And now, may I be permitted to conclude by requesting 
those who may differ from me in opinion, to endeavour to confine 
themselves to the discussion that will shortly ensue on the laws and 
economy of nature, dismissing from their minds all preconceived 
opinions, and entering on the inquiry not in the spirit of a bigot, 
suffering a cloud of fears and hopes, desires and aversions to hang 
around their understandings. Our object this evening is to in¬ 
quire what is true, not what is the finest theory. Truth is like 
a native rustic beauty, most lovely when unadorned and seen in 
the open light of day. Whenever it is thoroughly discussed, it 
will not fail to come out like tried gold from the fire. Reason, 
then, and free inquiry are the only effectual antidotes of error. 
Give them full scope and they will uphold the truth, by bring¬ 
ing false opinions, and all the spurious offspring of ignorance 
and prejudice before this severe tribunal, and subjecting them 
