188 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
be called on by a mistaken country to take the field against foreign foes 
at the head of the armies of England! 
In conclusion, we would observe that the difference between “ Om¬ 
phalos” and the geologists is more apparent than real. They both assert 
two propositions; but each lays a particular stress on one, and slurs 
over the other. The two propositions in question are :— 
1st. The actual previous existence of fossils cannot be proved by ar¬ 
gument. 
2nd. Our belief in their actual previous existence is absolutely irre¬ 
sistible. 
Mr. Grosse lays stress on the first, and Mr. Jukes on the second, of 
these propositions, and each wishes to ignore the proposition of his anta- 
tonist. Eor our part, we believe both propositions to be true, although 
we admit there is some difficulty in giving both an equal prominence. 
Erom intelligent quarrymen we have from time to time received the 
following various answers to our questions as to what the fossils were, 
and how they came to be found in the rock:— 
1st. “ They were placed there by Noah’s Elood.” 
2nd. “ He that made the quarry placed them in it.” 
3rd. “ Everything was once alive, and how could they escape ?” 
4th. “ They bored down into the rock, and it was wonderful how 
they got so far down.” 
The above are actual answers, and we commend them to Mr. Gosse’s 
study, as throwing light on the obscure question as to our intuitive and 
instinctive beliefs respecting fossils.— Editors Nat. Hist. Rev. 
