20 
THE BOOK OF THE GREAT SEA-DRAGONS. 
vaded; happy indeed they that the Iconoclast no longer 
deals with the works of Men’s hands, but trifles with the 
adamantine Monuments of a Divine Power. 
The Fashion will come shortly to an end. Then no 
more shall we stumble over cyphers at every step, nor 
shall the ear start at unwelcome sounds, nor the wit be 
insulted by contemptible things, but the Groves of Aca- 
demus, and the Gymnasia murmur to the converse, or 
exhibit the athlete of Philosophy, in naked dignity, an¬ 
tique and noble all. 
Plate XXIII. In presenting the fourth Species of a 
Genus we have chanced to find, we therefore make none 
other boast. It has been seen that Miss Anning previously 
discovered three several Genera, and was content with the 
simple fact. America is called not after the finder, and 
these Taninim have been appropriated in the same way: 
but Miss Anning nevertheless found them, and the Author, 
spare the egotism, O Reader, discovered their longitude, 
and added another Province to the Realm. 
Many a Tome, a Language, an Idea, a Sum has he 
pursued to their last decimal, in quest of that Terra In¬ 
cognita of Dead Times, that Ultima Thule of the wise 
Babylonians, Egyptians, Assyrians, and Indians, in the 
Ocean pre-Adamite; Many Lands traversed, and mon¬ 
sters handled, but to find them strange. The traditionary 
pictures of the Temple Bel and the actual ones of Mis- 
raim, and Ganges, are accounted fabulous because their 
Cipher is unknown. We have lost the ante-diluvial 
measure of Time, about which Usher has led us into so 
many lamentable follies, the Secrets of the Heavens, and 
the Science of the Inner Man. 
But a Star arises out of Jacob, by whose blessed light 
we cross the Silent Seas of Time, and explore the Soli¬ 
tary Countries of the Past. It is possible even to the 
Initiated in the Greater Mysteries, to re-vivify the whole 
Universe that is gone. If it were not a prophanity we 
could tell thee, beloved reader, of this terrestrial Ball, 
a startling tale, and of the shining Spheres. Often at 
midnight, quenching animal Life, we listen to the din of 
Chaos, the rustle of the living Wind over the Primaeval 
Deep, the whisperings of many Spirits. The Red Man 
and his Dominions pass, the Vasty Wings of Jupiter 
upon the Globe Earth quiver, the Dread Anark one 
enters the Scene, and the Universe darkens. Cowing 
Visions of mingled Heaven and Hell close with a rainy 
shroud palling the departed Earth; the “Abomination 
of Desolation” is revealed, the Grey Mountains bowing 
down their dripping heads, and the Stars falling to the 
ground out of Heaven. 
Dost thou require proof, behold it here ! these Sea- 
Dragons come from the wonderful Countries we have 
found, to which the Adamites pointed Heber by the 
mouth of Noah, and Posterity by the consent of Nations. 
These are the Great Sea-Dragons, the Gedolim Taninim 
of Moses, the once gory Monsters of the Primal Seas. If 
silence, if height and depth illimitable, if Space and 
Eternity thou canst meet as an Eagle gazes unblanched 
upon the Sun, unfurl the Pinions of thy Spirit, give it to 
the Winds of Heaven, and realize an intact, self-sufficient 
and satiated a Being, fulfilling that Destiny for which our 
godlike Race was born. 
END OF THE BOOK OF THE DRAGONS ICHTHYOSAURI 
