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XVIII.

ance with even our present degree of geological LETTER knowlege, are actually in accordance with it: for the most ancient fossil remains are found to be those of vegetables, followed, and in some parts closely accompanied, by marine animals; and both of these productions are separated by earthy matter from the bones of quadrupeds and land animals; thus manifesting that these were formed or diffused subsequently to the preceding. All these, according to the subterraneous remains, were distinct from our present plants and animals, and were destroyed before these arose. The quadruped remains, which most resemble our existing species, are in the uppermost beds of the destroyed world, and have clearly perished in water, and been buried in rocks that were formed amid a watery commotion, and no human remains have been discovered in the more ancient beds. All the successions of the rocks carry the marks of a deliberate creation from the granite upwards. The testimony of geology being thus far, and in their essential matters, in harmony with the Mosaic history, it is my inference, that the minor facts and circumstances will be found as capable of adjustment with it, as soon as the science, yet but in its healthy and growing childhood, has become sufficiently enlarged and matured. All opposing allegations are entitled to no higher rank than that of ingenious arguments, plausible conjectures, sanguine imaginations and hasty inferences; with no small proportion of controversial competitions, rather impatient of dissent.

It is a confirmation of these feelings that such men of modern science and established reputation as the celebrated Cuvier and Dr. Buckland, as well as others

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LETTER of great ability and information, have avowed their belief of the disputed catastrophe." This conclusion satisfies my judgment that there is nothing even at present in true geology, which calls upon us to disbelieve it, or which puts us under any necessity of opposing real science if we do not. This conviction settles my opinion that it is fully consistent with the greatest geological knowlege and sagacity to accredit it; and that with such scientific patronage in favor of its probability, it would be abandoning the rules of sound judgment, not to let the sacred authorities, and the historical and traditional memorials of it, have their full and deciding impression. We find likewise that new facts are occurring which are likely to introduce new views among our intelligent

20 Among these, the published opinions of the Rev. W. Conybeare and Ad. Sedgwick entitle me to add their names to the distinguished geologists who have accredited the Deluge; but to my surprise I read in Mr. Boue's late publication, what I think must be as erroneous and unjust as to them, as it obviously is to the English clergy in general.

'The idea of an universal Deluge, Mosaic or historical, is not sustainable. Such is the opinion of most of the geologists on the continent. The proofs of its absurdity are so evident, that for a long time the Lutheran clergy have given it up. At length, the English clergy, the most tenacious of all, have surrendered their arms. They have at last acknowleged by the organ of Mr. Sedgwick and Mr. Conybeare, that if there have been deluges, they have not been general; and that the Mosaic Deluge, if it ever so took place as it is related, could in no case produce the ancient alluvions, or the pretended diluvium.'

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He cites as his authority for his assertion, Voyez le Discours de M. Sedgwick à la Société Geologique de Londres, pour 1831, et Ann. de Phil. Mars, 1831.' A. Boue. Mem. Geol. v. i. p. 149. Paris, 1832.

Nothing can be more untrue than to say that the English clergy have given up the belief of the Mosaic Deluge, or made any one their organ to express such a renunciation. I do not think that either Mr. Sedgwick or Mr. Conybeare, men of deserved reputation, have ever relinquished the belief.

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geologists, and to cause material alterations to be LETTER made in many parts of their former theories, and which will bring them into greater coincidence with the Mosaic intimations." Some of our men of science may err in having less regard for these than their truth and authority claim; but they are so activeminded and zealous in exploring and examining the rocky masses and remains, and so justly determined to abandon every notion which new occurrences disprove, that we can have no reason to doubt that in due time all that is authentic in Sacred History, and all that has really taken place in nature, will be found

21 The fossil remains in the limestone of Burdie House, near Edinburgh, are instances of the new facts and reasonings which the contents of a single rock may suddenly and unexpectedly introduce into geology, and of the alterations of many favorite theories which had been previously asserted. Dr. Hibbert showed this to differ materially from the common carboniferous limestone of marine origin, and to form a species of deposit of a fluviatile character. Among the organic fossils were more particularly observed the remains of freshwater fish, resembling the cyprinidæ. There also appeared to be in this deposit an immensity of very minute crustaceous and shell animals. Besides these animals, a remarkable variety of fossil plants, embedded in the limestone, were exhibited, indicative of the vegetation of a tropical country. A tooth was found in a fragment of the rock, two inches and a quarter in length, like that of a Saurian animal.'

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Mr. Conybeare truly characterized this as one of the most important lately made in geology. Phil. Mag. Jan. 1834.

'It referred the existence of reptiles, allied more or less to the crocodile, to a period much earlier than had been generally supposed by geologists; and at the same time showed that these immense animals must have co-existed, coeval perhaps with the very earliest vegetable state of our globe. It was of importance also, as referring fluviatile deposits so far back as to a series of formations, amid which they had scarcely yet been imagined to exist; and had consequently given strength to opinions, then but newly entertained, of the existence of local deposits, such as those furnished by estuaries, or fresh-water basins, in almost every geological group of the sedimentary order.' Lit. Gazette, 1834, p. 704.

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LETTER in perfect harmony with each other, and that the phenomena will gradually come to light that will illustrate and reconcile both. Let us in the meantime patiently wait for this satisfying and enlightening result.

LETTER XIX.

REMARKS ON THE EXTRAVAGANT SYSTEMS OF GEOLOGICAL
CHRONOLOGY-AND ON THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF NATURAL
AGENCIES FORMING THE WORLD WITHOUT A DIRECTING
INTELLIGENCE.

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THAT the present human race has arisen since the LETTER last great change which our globe has undergone, is the conclusion of some of the latest French geologists, who reason only from the appearances in the subterraneous strata and in their fossil remains. This deduction corresponds with the Mosaic account, that Noah and his three sons were preserved from the Deluge, and that every branch of the human population which has since existed, has originated from them.

It has been inferred by some that there was no

1 Mr. F. Cuvier says of his brother, the celebrated Baron Cuvier, Every authentic observation that has been accumulated up to the present moment, has convincingly corroborated the conclusion which has been established by my brother, that the human species was subsequent to the last of the catastrophes which has laid bare our present continent.' Prelim. Observ. to Cuvier on Fossil Bones. 4th edit. Engl. 1834. p. 3. Mr. Alex. Brongniart likewise states his opinion, that the last Geognostic period, during which the bark of the globe has been in a state of repose, has the commencement of its date at least 4,000 years ago.' p. 9. This state of repose constitutes the Jovian epocha,' p. 31, which he calls the post diluvian period.' Brogn. Tabl. des Terrains, p. 27. He places the beginning of his Jovian period at the birth of mankind. p. 28. Mr. Boubée, Geological Professor at Paris in 1833, also states, that earth a little after this catastrophe;' but thinks, that he was not existing on the earth before the Great Deluge; or, rather, that nothing proves that he was then in existence upon it.' Geol. Populaire, pp. 57, 58. He also prefers to suppose that the Universal Deluge, which he admits, was more ancient than that mentioned by Moses.

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