204 
EAR 
peared from the furface of the earth.—As to the forma¬ 
tion of thefe cavities, he obferves that it was effected at 
the time of the cryftallization of the globe. They were 
filled at firft with elaftic fluids, which were gradually dif- 
fipated by different caufes. Afterward, the waters took 
their place. Some caverns have been formed by fubter- 
raneous fires :—but the moft powerful caufe has been the 
refrigeration of the globe. The author thinks (vol. v. 
p. 332) that, though the furface of the globe has been 
brought to its prefent date by the aCtion of water, it may, 
at the firfi moment of its formation, have undergone a 
very great degree of heat, as happens to a comet palling 
near the fun. The aqueous cryftallization of ftrata has 
been before ftrongly maintained : but we do not feel in¬ 
clined to receive it as a folution of the various contortions 
of ftrata, and of the curious pofition of the fteeps, Sc c. 
The whole theory of this writer appears unfatisfaCtory. 
Inftead of a comprehenfive plan, derived from an accurate 
furvey of nature, he has formed a Mofaic work, compofed 
of pieces picked from different theorifts. Had he ob- 
ferved for himfelf, he would not have believed the caufes 
of eonfufion, in the ftrata of the earth, to have been fo 
confined in their operation. He muft alfo have perceived 
that their irregularity is not for the moft part original, 
nor derived fora cryftallization, but the work of agents 
that have broken and difttirbed wliat was once continuous 
and uniform. 
The lateft work on geology with which we are ac¬ 
quainted, was publiflied in 1797, by P. Howard, Efq. 
jntitled “ Thoughts on the Structure of the Globe.” A 
principal object of this work is, to refute thofe theories 
which endeavour to place the origin of our globe ante¬ 
rior to the time ftated by Mofes; or, as having been 
brought into exiftence in any manner different from that 
exprelfed in the holy fcriptures; or, that fhall apply the 
prefent appearance of the earth’s furface, to any other 
caufe than that of a ene'ral deluge. The writings of 
Buffon are thought by Mr. Howard to furnifh many 
proofs of the above-mentioned nature. “The manifeft 
object of his theory, fays Mr. H. is to exclude the 
agency of a divine architect, by proving the poflibility 
of the aCtual exiftence of the univerfe from natural 
caufes; but folid matter is of itfelf inert : whence, then, 
arofe its activity? From heat or fire. Whence that fire ? 
From the preffure of attraction. Whence that attrac¬ 
tion ? No anfwer has been nor can be given, without re¬ 
curring to the will of a Supreme Being. The hypothefis 
of the igneous formation of the globe is replete with the 
moft ferious difficulties. That all terrefti ial bodies are 
verifiable by heat is an afflimption contradicted by expe¬ 
riment: but, admitting the faCt, is the being vitrifiable 
a proof of having been vitrified ? After all, M. de Buffon 
is compelled to have recourfe to water to re-model the 
furface of the earth, and to produce thofe varieties which 
■could never have been effected by fufion. But none of 
thofe difficulties attend the account furnifhed to 11s by 
the fcriptures. The philofopher will find in the narra¬ 
tion of Mofes, that the firit elements of all material fub- 
ftances are there reprefented in one confufed mafs, called 
the abyfs, without motion or animation ; and that the 
prefent order of things was gradually and at diftinCt in¬ 
tervals drawn from it. In the commencement of each of 
thefe periods, diftinCt commands are given by the Creator, 
and diftinCt effeCts are produced before its clofe. May 
lie not confider thefe commands as diftinCt laws impreffed 
on nature, by whofe operation thefe effeCts were generated 
and completed within the appointed time ? In that idea 
be will apply to each command fome one or more of 
thofe well-known laws, and compare the effeCts which 
fuch might have produced with the effeCts faid to be 
produced by that command ; and in like manner progref- 
fively, until by their fucceffive application and re-union 
all material bodies are brought into that arrangement 
and order we now fee exifting. Thefe primary laws may 
be reduced to general and elective attraction; repuliion 
T H. 
and re-aCtion ; gravity fpecific or general; centripetal 
and centrifugal forces, nearly but not entirely balancing 
each other, fo as to form fpheroids inftead of perfect 
globes, and to deferibe ellipfes inftead of circles; gravi¬ 
tation central and univerfal. If the progreffive forma¬ 
tion which Mofes deferibes could be produced by the 
fucceffive application of thefe known means, in fome one 
order which may be imagined and devifed, the greateft 
poftible weight will certainly be given to his account of 
the creation ; and the real fecret of nature, as far as hu¬ 
man underftanding can dive, will be nearly difeovered. 
Thofe, therefore, who overlooking the marks of defign 
univerfally exhibited in the works of creation, and in the 
adaptation of means to their refpeCtive ends, exclude the 
operation of a fupreme intelligent architect, muft feel it 
incumbent on them to demonftrate, at leait to tiieir own 
fatisfaCtion, the poffibility of this fair form of things ex¬ 
ifting as we behold it, by the foie operation of the pro¬ 
perties inherent to material fubftances. 
The earth, fays Mr. H. was originally conftruCted 
with its poles perpendicular to the equator, the centre of 
gravity in its centre, and the year confided of- 360 days. 
Lefs prominent inequalities, and a more equal diftribu- 
tion of land and fea on its furface, occafioned a more fa- 
lubrious and equal temperature of -the atmofphere, at- 
tefted by the longevity of its firft inhabitants. The ter¬ 
mination of this golden age might have been affeCted by 
the proximity of a comet, condenfing the vapours of the 
atmofphere, and attracting the fubterraneous waters; 
which, burfting open the vaults of the exterior furface, 
precipitated indiferiminate portions of the primitive earth 
into their profound cavities. The more perfeCt confoli- 
dation of the globe, in the fouthern hemifphere, changed 
the centre of gravity, which produced a proportionate 
deviation from the exaCt traCt of the equator. It is, 
however, pollible that the ocean did not at once fink to 
its prefent level: the pofterior acceffion of waters from 
hitherto inland feas may have crulhed down other infe¬ 
rior vaults, and finally fettled its lowed degradation. As 
the lands thus became more elevated above the bed of 
the ocean, the cold became more intenfe ; the viciffitudes 
of climate were more feverely felt; and the life of man 
experienced a proportionate abbreviation. Thus we find 
that the age of the poft-diluvian patriarchs was protraCIed 
to the age of 450 years, till the laft great changes were 
effeCted, when the life of man was diminiflted to its pre¬ 
fent extent. 
Having clofed his analyfis and refutation of Buffon’s 
celebrated theory, Mr. Howard proceeds to confider thofe 
of other writers; and concludes that the real procefs of 
nature fince the deluge, is to level heights and to raife 
the fubjacent valleys; from which imperceptible hut 
conftant operation, aided by the increafing cultivation 
and population of the north, a milder temperature of the 
atmofphere may eventually be predicted. He then fug- 
gefts the following obfervations, equally folid and inge¬ 
nious, as a complete refutation of the precipitate conclu- 
fions deduced from the phenomena attendant on volcanic 
eruptions : “ Sir William Hamilton, Mr. Ferber, and 
Mr. Brydone, the two former of whom have particularly 
applied themfelves to the ftudy of volcanos, without 
giving general fyftems, have affirmed that the certain in¬ 
dications furnifhed by thefe phenomena announce, beyond 
all poffibility of doubt, not one but many revolutions in 
this globe, during an infinity of ages; infomuch that the 
poor abbe Recupero trembles for the credit of the Old 
Teftament. Seams of vegetable earth repeated at feveral 
depths, frequently found underand over diftinCt and fuc- 
celfive beds of hard lava, and the whole exteriorly co¬ 
vered with vegetable earth, compofed of the mouldered 
fcoria of lava, whilft in other places lavas are found as 
intaCt as when firft iffuing from the mountain, appear 
to thefe gentlemen certain and undeniable proofs of 
the incalculable antiquity of volcanos, and confe- 
quently of the earth itfelf. Thefe philofophers do not 
recoiled. 
