224 MR. GREENOUGH’S EVIDENCE OF ONE UNIVERSAL DELUGE. 
Thus far I have produced a various and, in my judgment, incon¬ 
trovertible body of facts, to show that the whole earth has been sub¬ 
jected to a recent and universal inundation. The same opinion is 
maintained in Mr. Greenough’s Examination of the First Principles 
of Geology, where he concludes his admirable summary of phenomena 
derivative from diluvial action, in all quarters of the earth, with the 
following important passages. “ The universal diffusion of alluvial 
sand, gravel, &c. proves that at some time or other an inundation has 
taken place in all countries; and the presence of similar alluvial de¬ 
posits, both organic and inorganic, in neighbouring or distant islands, 
though consisting often of substances foreign to the rocks of which 
the islands are respectively composed, makes it highly probable at 
least, that these deposits are products of the same inundation. The 
universal occurrence of mountains and valleys, and the symmetry 
which pervades their several branches and inosculations, are further 
proofs, not only that a deluge has swept over every part of the globe, 
but probably the same deluge.” He also shows it to be highly pro¬ 
bable, “ that the order of things immediately preceding the deluge 
closely resembled the present order, and was suddenly interrupted by 
a general flood, which swept away the quadrupeds from the con¬ 
tinents, tore up the solid strata, and reduced the surface to a state of 
ruin : but this disorder was of short duration; the mutilated earth did 
not cease to be a planet; animals and plants, similar to those which 
had perished, once more adorned its surface; and nature again sub¬ 
mitted to that regular system of laws, which has continued uninter¬ 
rupted to the present day.” 
