Ch. XIX.] 
RECAPITULATION. 
273 
away all anterior incredibility from the fact of a recent 
deluge*.' 
For our own part, we have always considered the flood, if 
we are required to admit its universality in the strictest sense 
of the term, as a preternatural event far beyond the reach of 
philosophical inquiry, whether as to the secondary causes em- 
ployed to produce it, or the effects most likely to result from 
it. At the same time, it is evident that they who are desirous 
of pointing out the coincidence of geological phenomena with 
the occurrence of such a general catastrophe,, must neglect no 
one of the circumstances enumerated in the Mosaic history, 
least of all so remarkable a fact as that the olive remained 
standing while the waters were abating. 
Recapitulation. — We shall now briefly recapitulate some of 
the principal conclusions to which we have been led by an exa- 
mination of the volcanic districts of Central France. 
1st. Some of the volcanic eruptions of Auvergne took place 
during the Eocene period, others at an era long subsequent, 
probably during the Miocene period. 
2ndly. There are no proofs as yet discovered that the most 
recent of the volcanos of Auvergne and Velay are subsequent to 
the Miocene period, the integrity of many cones and craters not 
opposing any sound objection to the opinion that they may be 
of indefinite antiquity. 
3rdly. There are alluviums in Auvergne of very different 
ages, some of them belonging to the Miocene period. Many 
of these have been covered by lava-currents which have been 
poured out in succession while the excavation of valleys was in 
progress. 
4thly. There are a multitude of cones in Auvergne, Velay, 
and the Vivarais, which have never been subjected to the action 
of a violent rush of waters capable of modifying considerably 
the surface of the earth. 
5thly. If, therefore, the Mosaic deluge be represented as 
universal, and as having exercised a violent denuding force, all 
* Anniv. Address to the Geol. Soc, Feb. 18th, 1831. 
Vol. III. T 
