MUSEUM
QE
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710
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MUSEUM OF PALEONTOLOGY
ERMINE COWLES CASE
LIBRARY
1871
1953
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
From the Estate of
Ermine Cowles Case

was





Figure I. Pag. 39
с
B
А A
A. The Abyfo
B. The Terraqueous.
Globe.
c. The vaft Sphere
of water, fufficient to
give the suſtained Corpus
cles of the whole Earth
a free way to gravitate and
preponderate, in order to
form again the Body of
the Earth, according to
D? Woodward's Hypothefis.
Figure II. Pag. 25
B
A
Figure III. Pag. 40.
Main Stem
1110
Lateral
TI11
Collateral
Sub-collateral
Latero Sub-collateral
111
All

ACCOUNT
OF THE
Origin and Formation
OF
FOSSIL-SHELLS, &C.
WHEREIN
Is Propoſed a Way to Reconcile
the Two Different Opinions, of
thoſe who affirm them to be the
EXVVIÆ of real Animals,
and thoſe who fancy them to be
LUSOS NATURÆ.
Unus erat toto natura vultus in orbe,
Quem dixere Chaos, rudis indigeſtoq; Moles,
Nec quicquam nih pondus iners, congeſtaq; eodem
Non bene jum&arum diſcordia Semina rerum.
Ov. Met.
LONDON,
Printed by W. Potham, for James Knapton, at the
Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard. MDCCV.

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Blauest
in drie, ci case (1)
(

3-2-59
b9-by-t
AN
ENQUIRY
INTO THE
ORIGIN
OF
FOSSIL-SHELLS, &c
SIR
A
Mongſt the unufual Workings of
Nature, the Original and For-
mation of theſe pretty and ſome-
times ſurprizing Appearances, have of
late buſed the Heads and exerciſed the
Thoughts of ſome of our greateſt
Theoriſts, to conceive, and to give the
World a ſatisfactory Solution of it.
This if ever it be done, is to be ex-
pected from ſuch who have had the
Opportunities to make the beſt Colle&i-
on of thoſe Figured Subſtances, and to
B
obſerve

(2)
obſerve their Matrices and places of
exiſtence; and who have moſt careful-
ly traced the Impreſſions of Nature,
and have examin'd the Force, Extent
and Determination of her Plaſtick Pow-
ers, in other Proceſſes of her Operati-
ons: From ſuch we may one day expect,
when a long train of new Diſcoveries
and Trials has ripen'd things for it, what
upon due Proofs and evident Demon-
ftrations the World may call a general
Satisfaction : And what has hitherto
been perform'd of this nature, hath,
in the opinion of ſome, rather ſerved
to enlarge our Doubts, and to quicken
our Inquiſitiveneſs, than to fix or de
termine our Judgment, as in a fo-
lid acquiefcible Solution of that Par-
ticular: Yet this muſt in no wife dir-
courage us from offering towards it in
the mean time
me ; for perhaps when the
wiſh'd Conclufion fees the Light, its
Birth may be facilitated by every Con-
jecture that hath gone abroad about
it.
The ſeveral late Opinions on this Sub-
je&, vaſtly diſagreeing between them-
ſelves as they are brought to ſerve ſeveral
Hypotheſes, we may generally fort and
diſtinguiſh under theſe two Heads : viz.
First,
9

( 3 )
First, Of thoſe who ſtrenuouſly con-
tend, that theſe form'd Subſtances,
Shells, Bones and other peculiar Fof-
Als, are the exuvious Remains and the
true and real Parts of Marine Animals,
by ſome extraordinary Fate ſcatter-
ed and left embodyed in the ſeveral
Conſiſtencies of the upper Cruſt of the
Earth ; where mixt with various forts
of Bodies, they came, by means of cer-
tain lapidific Juices, to be congealed
with them ; leaving there either their
Marks and Signatures on their Contain-
ing or Contained Concrets ; or elſe Pre-
ſerving their Bulk, Figure, and in ſome
places their Frame and Contexture,
firm, entire and unaltered to this
day.
Secondly, There are other perſons
who maintain and warmly avouch ,
that theſe form'd Bodies, taken out of
the Earth, are indeed the direct and re-
gular Workings of Nature, wherein the
ſometimes ſeems to ſport and play and
make little Flouriſhes and Imitations
of things, to ſet off and embelliſh her
more uſeful Structures, and that thoſe
Formations had no other Original, than
what her plaſtick Power exerted in the
forming of them, in thoſe very places
where
B 2

(4)
where they are found and taken up.
Theſe are the two main Heads of the
diſagreeing Opinions in this Affair ;
which, for your ſatisfaction, I ſhall
firſt compare and examine ſeverally;
and then, as you deſire, ſhall attempt
to propoſe a middle way to folve the
Difficulty, which at leaſt ſhall be very
agreeable with the Order of Nature and
the Mechanical Powers of Matter; which
is all I can promiſe towards the advan-
cing of that general Satisfaction.
The firſt of theſe Opinions (I muſt
confeſs) in the Grounds of it, appears
very plain and rational ; but as to the
manner of the Conveyance and Diſper-
fion of theſe exuvious Concrets unto
ſuch remote and different places, it
muſt be confeſs'd to be encumber'd with
Very great and inſuperable difficulties
So alſo the other Opinion is conſonant
enough to the Laws and Powers of
Nature ; but when we take into con-
fideration the End, Deſignment and
Purpoſes of Nature in the production of
theſe prettily form'd and little uſeleſs
Things, it encounters with no ſmall dif-
ficulty to ſupport and defend it. For
what more obvious than this reflecting
Thought, viz. To what purpoſe ſhould
a

(5)
a Tooth be made without a Jawor
Mouth? To what end ſhould a Shell
be formd without an Animal Inhabi-
tant ? and to imagine it to no end,
would be too mean a thought of the
acknowledg‘d Prudence and Sagacity of
Nature, which ſhe is ſeen to obſerve in
all her Workings: To fancy her trick-
ing and ſporting, is too trivial and
luſory, for her ſevere and rigid Con-
ſtancy.
Now indeed, tho' we may of the one,
very juſtly and reaſonably ask the
queſtion, how theſe Shells, Bones, &c.
came to be lodged in thoſe deep and
thick Strata of Stone and Earth, and
found on the higheſt Mountains, ſo
far diſtant from their natural Ele-
ment; and 'tis very true, that without
a reaſonable and ſatisfactory account
of this, we may as juſtly reject the
Concluſion, that is, deny that they are
the true, genuine and real Parts of thoſe
very Animals, which they ſo intimate-
ly and undeniably reſemble :
Yet of the other Opinion ; tho' we
cannot give a determinate account, to
what end and purpoſes Nature produ-
ced theſe pretty Reſemblances of the
parts of living Things; there being very
many
.

( 6 )
many things obfcure and unperceivable
in her Deſigns and Purpoſes, amongſt
which this very thing does, and perhaps
for ever will (as to ns) lye dormant in
the Cabinet of her Secrets, after
all our moſt curious Views and En-
quiries about it ; yet if it may be
poffible, that She may have ſome ends
in it, it is Ground enough for us to e-
ſtabliſh the Suppofition, viz. That Na-
ture is the immediate Parent of them,
cven in thoſe places in which they are
found ; and that too, without giving
the Atheiſt any Advantage by it, as
ſome perſons have been needleſly ap-
prehenſive.
For indeed there will appear upon
% juſt view of the matter, a very great
difference between the difficulties which
may occur to us, in both theſe re-
fpects; that is, between that of the In-
ſtrumental Cauſes, and that of the Ends
and Purpoſes of Nature. We have in
view, and we may inquire into and ex-
amine all the material Means and Inſtru.
ments, by which the Conveyance and
Settlement of theſe Marine-like Subſtan-
ces may be effected, and with which
they may have been tranſported from
their native Dwellings to the Beds and
Lodg-

(7)
Lodgments where they are now found
to reſt in ; and if we find and plainly
apprehend from the State of Nature,
from the Teſtimony of Sacred Records,
and from other Aflurances, a manifeſt
impoſſibility in theſe Means and Inſtru-
ments to perform that Work, we may
juſtly deny the Fact : But in the other
Opinion, the caſe is quite otherwiſe ;
we have not there before us, we cannot
examine into and calculate all the Ends
and Deſignments of Nature : And if it
be poffible the may have ſome ends,
tho' unknown to us, in the production
and forming of theſe regular Fof-
fils, we are to accept the Propoſition in
the main, there appearing no feaſible
way to infringe and overthrow it.
The firſt Hypotheſis is (I confeſs)
aflerted and maintain'd by very Learned
and Ingenious Perſons; but as to the
manner of that ſuppoſed Conveyance
of thoſe Foſſil Shells from Sea to Land,
it involves in it, particularly in fonie
of their Explications of it, ſuch ſtrange
Inconſiſtencies and Abhorrences to the
eſtabliſhment of Nature, that the very
naming of them is enough to fubvert it.
*Tis true, the Patrons of this Hypo-
theſis have found in the Variety of theſe
Foſſils,

(8)
Fofiils, fuch appearing Symptoms and
Indications of their having once been
the Parts and Appurtenances of Ani-
mal Marine-bodies, that without mani-
feſt violence to their Faculties, they
could not chooſe, on ſuch appear-
ing Probabilities, but affert them
ſuch : There frequently appearing
immured in the denſeſt Concretions of
Marble, Lime-ſtone and Chalk, vaſt
numbers of Cockles, Oyſter-ſhells,
Eſcallops, Periwinkles and other variety
of Shells, belonging to Seas and Rivers,
ſome of them broken, fome entire, being
Dr. Wood-(as Dr. Woodward affirms) preciſely
ward's El. of the fame Size and Figure, with
ſay, Page · thoſe now found on the Sea-ſhores,
of the fame Subſtance and Texture,
conſiſting of the fame peculiar Mat-
ter ; and this conſtituted and diſpo-
fed in the fame manner as is that of
their reſpective Fellow-kinds at Sea.
Nay more, the tendency of the Fi-
bres and Striæ the fame and alike
in both; the Compoſition of the
Lamelle conſtituted by theſe Fibres
the fame in both : the ſame Veſtigia
of Tendons, by means whereof the
Animal is faſtened and joyned to the
Shell, in each of them.
Beſides
22. 23.

(9)
are
Beſides (ſaith he) theſe Foffil Shelis,
attended with the ordinary Acci-
* dents of the Marine ones : They ſome-
times grow to one another, the lefſer
Shells on the larger ; they have Bala-
ni, Tubuli vermiculares, Pearls, Co-
ral and the like, ſtill actually grow-
ing on them; and, which is very con-
fiderable, they are moſt exactly of the
ſame ſpecifick Gravity. Nay farther,
they anſwer all Chymical Tryals in
the ſame manner as the Sea-ſhells do;
their parts, when diffolved, have the
fame appearance to view, the fame
ſmell and taſte, they have the ſame
Vires and Effects in Medicine, when in-
wardly adminiſtred to animal Bodies :
Aqua fortis, Oyl of Vitriol and other
like Menſtrua, have the very ſame ef-
'fects upon both. In a word, nothing
can be ſeen in the true Marine Bodies at
Sea, but may be paired and ſampled in
the like on Land, except a living Inha-
bitant.
He farther adds That fo exactly
conformable to the Marine ones, are
thoſe Shells, Teeth, Bones, which are
digg'd out of the Earth, that tho
ſeveral hundreds of them (which I
now (ſays he) keep by me) have been
С
nicely
6

( 10 )
C
C
6
nicely and critically examin'd by very
many learned Men, who are skill'd in
all parts of Hiſtory, and who have
been particularly curious in, and
converſant with Shells, and other Ma-
rine Productions; yet never any Man
of them went away diſſatisfied or
doubting, whether theſe are really
the very Exuviæ of Sea-Fiſhes or not.
Nay, which is more to my purpoſe,
(adds he) ſome of the moſt eminent
of thoſe very Gentlemen who were
formerly very doubtful in this mat-
ter, and rather inclined to believe
that theſe were natural Minerals, and
who had wrote in defence of that
Opinion ; do notwithſtanding upon
. ſtrict and repeated inſpection of
theſe Bodies in my Collection, and
upon farther inquiry and procurati-
on of plain and unalter'd Shells from
ſeveral parts of this Iſland, fully af-
ſent to me herein, and are now con-
vinc'd that theſe are the Spoils and
Remains of Sea Animals.
Theſe great and pregnant Teſtimo-
nies of Similitude between theſe Marine
and Terreſtrial Products, have induced
ſeveral Perſons of this and other Nati-
ons, as well as Dr. Woodward, to be-
lieve
F

(11)
lieve them all to have one and the
ſame Original : and that thoſe Shells,
Teeth, Bones, that are thus found ini
Stones and Earth, the pieces alſo and
fragments of them, have been the Exu-
vie or ſpoils of Marine Animals : But
to demonſtrate how and by what means
they came to be ſo diſperſed and lod-
ged in Earth, Rocks and Stones, ſo far
from their natural Element, Hoc opus
bic labor eft, this has extreamly per-
plexed their thoughts and has ſet ſome
of them on ſtrange attempts to endea-
vour to looſe and ſolve the Difficulty.
It was plain that nothing but the
univerſal bulk of Water in which theſe
Shells (they fay) were generated, could
perform this Work; but to convey theſe
Shells into great depths in the firm and
compacted Body of the Earth, and
there too into the moſt denſe and fo-
lid Strata of Rocks and Stones, by the
only means of this Fluid, into which
it naturally has no acceſs, is a dif-
culty they could not ſurmount.
The Ingenious Dr. Hooke with his
Glaffes looking further than many others
into the Frame and Texture of theſe Tea
ſtaceous Bodies, confidently pronounces
them to be the Shells of certain Shell-
fiſhes
C2

( 12 )
fiſhes ; but how they came to be intomb-
ed in thoſe hard inacceflible Receffes, it
paſſed his skill to find out and diſcover :
He thinks it poffible they might be lod-
ged there by fome Deluge, Inundation,
Earthquake, or ſome fuch like means.
Fabius Columna, Auguſtino Scilla, Boco
chome, Italians; and Mr. Fobu Ray and
others are of the fame Opinion, and
give us as little Satisfaction in the
point of their conveyance from Sea to
Land as Dr. Hooke has done : Indeed
Nicholas Steno an Italian Author, in
his Prodromus, has attempted the Ex-
plication of that Phenomenon, but with
ſuch ſtrange and until then unheard of
Paradoxes and Inconſiſtencies, that
nothing leſs than a total diſſolution of
the Terreſtrial Frame muſt be admitted
to eſtabliſh the Concluſion.
From this Author, it ſeems, the fore-
mention'd Dr. Woodward took the firſt
Strokes and Lineaments of his intended
Natural Hiſtory, in relation to this
Phanomenon: of which Hiſtory he has giv-
en us a ſhort Draught and Plan, in his
late Effay towards it, wherein he hath
improved that Notion to that accuracy
and ſeeming probability, that if the
ſtate and Conſtitution of Nature did
not

(13)
not loudly contradict it ; and if the
Text of Mofes, for which he owns all
due Veneration, would afford it the
Countenance he pretends to; it would
well deſerve to be highly accounted of,
and we might reſt as poſitive as the Au-
thor in the truth and certainty of its
Concluſions.
This Gentleman affirms, that during
the time of the Univerſal Deluge or
Noah's Flood, whilſt the Waters were
out upon and cover'd the Terreſtrial
Globe, all the Stone and Marble of the
Antediluvian Earth : All the Metals of
it : All Mineral Concretions; and in a
word, all Foſſils whatſoever that had
before obtain'd any Solidity, were to-
tally diſſolved and their Conſtituent
Corpuſcles all disjoined, their Coheſion
perfectly ceaſing, that the ſaid Corpuf-
cles of theſe Solid Foſſils, together with
the Corpuſcles of thoſe which were not
before Solid, ſuch as Sand, Earth and
the like, as alſo all Animal Bodies and
parts of Animals, Bones , Teeth,
Shells ; Vegetables and Parts of Vege-
tables, Trees, Shrubs, Herbs; and, to
be fhort, all Bodies whatſoever, that
were either upon the Earth, or that
Conſtituted the parts of it, if not quite
down
ܕܽ

14 )
down to the Abyſs, yet at leaſt to the
greateſt depth we ever dig; I ſay (faith
Dr. Woodward) all theſe were aſſumed
into and promiſcuouſly ſuſtain’d by
that Water, in ſuch a manner, that the
Water and Bodies in it, made up one
common confuſed Maſs.
Then he adds, That at length all the
Maſs that was thus born up in the Wa-
ter, was again precipitated and fubfid-
ed towards the bottom : That this Sub-
fidence happen'd generally, and as
could be expected in ſo great a Confu-
fion, according to the laws of Gravity :
That Matter which had the greateſt quan-
tity or degree of Gravity, ſubſiding firſt
in order, and falling loweſt ; That
which had the next, and ſtill a lefſer
degree of Gravity, ſubſiding next after
and ſettling upon the precedent, and ſo
on in their ſeveral Courſes : That the
matter ſubſiding thus, form'd the Strata
of Sione, of Marble, of Coal, of Earth,
and the reſt ; of which Strata lying one
upon another, the Terreſtrial Globe,
or at leaſt as much of it as is ever dif-
play'd to view, doth mainly confift.
Then he proceeds to fhew how theſe
Shells, Teeth, Bones, and other Ma-
rine-like Foſſils, being likewiſe taken
ир

( 15 )
up and ſuſtain'd in that great Fluid.
came to he diſpoſed in their ſeveral
Lodgments by their particular Gravities
and Inclinations.
This he ſeems to intimate as the
ground-work of his intended Super-
ſtructure, by which he fuppofes to give
an undoubted Solution of this difficul.
ty : but in Propoſitions of this great
concern and conſequence, he would
have done well to have nicely weigh'd
and conſider'd every important Circum-
ſtance of ſuch a Procedure, to have gi-
ven us more than (I ſay,) to oblige the
World to the belief of ſuch novel Con.
cluſions. He ſhould, one would think,
have with great accuracy and diligence
pondered and examind the relative
Properties and Affections of the minute
Contained Corpuſcles ſo diſſolved, and
of the great containing Fluid, the Ve-
locities and Remora's of different de-
ſcending Bodies, their weight and ſur-
faces, and the Moments of time com-
menſurate to the ſpaces of Motion; he
9
ſhould have given us plain demonſtra-
tive evidence, at leaſt of the poſſibili-
ty of that diſſolution, what were the
efficient, what the inſtrumental Cauſes of
it, and have ſhew'd us Mechanically
and

(16)
a
and experimentally that the Minute
conſtituent parts of any Solids, when
reduced to that ſuppoſed Smallneſs,
can obſerve thoſe Laws of Gravity,
which the bigger and more heavy Com-
pounds are obſerv'd to do.
It being ſo, and that this is the only
fair Account we have yet had, that
looks like a Reaſon given of theſe Fof-
fils being the true and real Spoils of
the Ocean, and that they owe their
Formation and Being to a Marine ex-
traction, in that manner as Dr. Wood.
ward deſcribes it ; I ſhall a little in-
quire into the validity and conſiſtence
of the Parts of that Account; and
if by that Enquiry we find it uncon-
fonant to the Phenomena of Nature
and the Mechanical Laws of Matter,
to which it ſo highly pretends, the
whole Superſtructure,how ſpeciously fo-
ever raiſed, will of it ſelf totter and
fall to the Ground, and the Patrons
of that Opinion will be left to ſeek
out fome other way to fetch theſe ſcat-
ter'd Foſſils from their antient Marine
Repoſitories, and to explain it with
better Succeſs, to gain affent and ap-
probation in this thoughtful inquiring
Age
First,

( 17 )
Firſt, This Author ſeems defective
in explaining and ſetling his Terms
that is, in letting us know what he
would have to be meant by Total Dif-
folution and Conſtituent Corpuſcles :
If he underſtands by theſe general
Terms, all ſolid Bodies to be diſſolved
into their Granules or viſible and pal-
pable Parts, it may be perhaps poffi-
ble (ſuch a Diſſolution being granted)
that there might be fuch a ſedimenting
and ſetling of them (as he aſſerts) ac-
cording to the Specifick Laws of Gravi-
tation : But if he means a diffolving of
them into their Minima Naturalia, as
they call them, into their inviſible and
impalpable Parts ; I mean inviſible e-
very one by it felf, which are in-
deed the prime Conſtituent Elements
and into ſuch they muſt be reduced,
if, as he affirms, all Cohæſion ceaſed
j
Then 'tis demonftrable, that Corpuſcles
fo dilated, are as uncapable of ſubfi-
ding in any Fluid, as the Parts of dif-
folved Copper are, when mixed with
the thinneſt Liquids; which by their
5
Colour are plainly ſeen to remain in-
corporated with the Water in which
they are ſuſtain'd: And Gold, we know,
the heavieſt of all Bodies yet obferved.
D
will

( 18 )
will not eaſily ſubſide when diſſolved in
Aqua Regalis, till prefs'd down and
precipitated by another Agent that
draws it along with it : Nay, we every
day fee, that a great proportion of Ter-
reſtrial Matter, when reduced to Steam
or Vapour (the parts whereof are yet
much more groſs and bulky, than
where all Cohæſion perfectly ceaſes,)
rather aſcend than deſcend, even in
a lighter Medium than Water ; the
Parts thereof being broken and diſ-
ſolved to that Exility and Lightneſs,
that, Quantum pro quanto, they be-
come lighter than the Air in which
they fluctuate. Then how much lighter
than Water would theſe Parts be, if, as
Dr. Woodward expreſſes it, all their
Cohæſion perfectly ceaſed in it? So far
is he out in the main and principal
part of his Affertion; and ſo unlikely
3
therefore is it, that theſe Foſſil Marine
Remains were that way conveyed into
their preſent Repoſitories, from whence
they are now digged out and diſcovered
Secondly, Granting the Doctor's Cor-
puſcles to be of a larger ſize than the
ultimate Minute Atoms, and that That
diſſolution he imagines, affected only
the
TO US.

( 19 )
the component Granuli of the Antedilu
vian Earth, of Stones, Mettals, Mine-
rals, &c. yet theſe being taken aſunder
and aſſumed into an ambient Fluid ,
how incredibly vaſt muſt the Orb and
extenſion of that Fluid be, to contain
the diffuſed and expanded Maſs of theſe
diffevered and elated Corpuſcles, eſpe-
cially to afford every one of them ſpace
and Elbow-room to run their Ca-
reer and perform their reſpective Spe-
cifick Deſcents and Gravitations ?
Thirdly, That ſuch an Orb and Ex-
panſion of Water, as will appear at a
moderate Computation neceffary to
fuſtain the whole Terreſtrial Maſs of
Matter, and to give to every part of it
a full Scope and Latitude to act and
perform the faid Deſcents and Gra-
vitations, exceeds poſſibility in the
ordinary State of Things; is made e-
vident by this Demonſtration.
A The Abyſs.
B The Terraqueous Globe.
C The vaſt Sphere of Water, fuffi-
cient to give the Suſtained Cor.
puſcles of the whole Earth a
D 2
free

( 20 )
free way to gravitate and pre-
ponderate, in order to form a-
gain the Body of the Earth, ac-
cording to Dr. Woodward's Hy-
pothefis.
a
The Terraqueous Globe A B, being
by the Computation of the late beſt
Mathematicians about 7440 Miles di-
ameter ;
what proportion the Water
bears to the Earth in this Globe,cannot
be determin'd: 'Tis conceiv'd by moſt
not to exceed a third part of the Earth's
Dimenſion : The Ancients gave it a
much leſs Allowance. Now if Dr.
Woodward's Hypotheſis be true; the bulk
of Water, or that third part of the
Globe AB (for he fetches none from
Comets) muſt expand it ſelf to the vaſt
Circumference of the Globe C, being
at leaſt 74400 Miles diameter; which is
as much as to ſay, that the ſame Body
of Water ſhould exceed it ſelf above
two hundred times.
Now that it muſt be fo, and that the
Expanſion of a Globe of Water to that
vaft dimenfion here aſcertained, is ne-
ceffarily requifite to ſupport his Hypo-
theſis, will appear by this : The whole
Body of the Earth (ſays he) was taken
afunder

( 21 )
afunder into Minute Parts or Corpuſcles,
and all theſe taken up and ſuſtain'd for
ſome time in an expanded Fluid, and
afterward leaſurely fubfided along the
Central Lines of that Fluid, till they met
and united and cloſed again into the
Tame Terraqueous Globe A B, one Atom
or Corpuſcle after another, as they pre-
ponderated and were of greater or leſſer
degree of gravity. Now, if ſo, then it is
plainly and neceffarily requiſite, that in
that Hydroſtatic Mechaniſm, in that pro-
cedure of Gravitation wherein every
Corpuſcle took its place in the Sedi-
ment according to its ſpecific Gravity;
there muſt be allow'd to every Cor-
puſcle a Line of Fluid, of ten times
its own diameter, to deſcend in ;
which it muſt have before it can pre-
ponderate and out-run others, and
perform its due Courſe in that Race
of Gravitation ; And what will this
amount to ? No more than this
that if we take but one half of the
Semidiameter of this Globe (which is
the leaſt we can aſſign) to be denſe and
folid Matter, and allow that to be
1860 Miles of thickneſs; if a Line
of Fluid be aſſign'd of ten times
that length, (for fnch it muſt be to
give
2

( 22 )
give to every Corpuſcle a ſpace of ten
times its diameter :) then it follows,
that to perform this, there muſt be raiſ-
ed up a Sphere of Water above 74400
Miles diameter ; that is, a Deluge above
the higheſt preſent Mountains ſome thou-
fands of Miles of perpendicular height,
a ſpace that no leſs than a hundred
thouſand Oceans could fill; a thing ſure
the Doctor will not affirm.
For if (to evidence the truth of this,)
from the Circle A to the Circle B, the
thickneſs of the Terreſtrial Cruſt, it be
1860 Miles, as is here ſuppoſed; then a
Line of Atoms from A to B, extended to
C, being the decuple Proportion, muſt
have a Semidiaineter of Fluid, from Cto
the Circle A, which is 18600 Miles,
the leaſt we can conveniently aſſign for
every Corpuſcle to perform in its
Career of Gravitation, as the Hypo-
theſis preſcribes : And ſo it is evident,
that the perpendicular of that Fluid
Line from C to B, muſt be nine parts
of ten, which is, 16740 Miles above
the preſent Surface of the Earth; And
if a Maſs of Water of that prodigious
Magnitude roſe abave any point of the
Earthly Globe to that height, it muſt
do fo all round it; the nature of that
vie
Element
3

( 23 )
a
Element obliging it to cling together
in a Globular Figure, or one very near
it.
But yet if any be prevailed upon to
think that a leſs Space of Fluid than
ten Diameters to every diffever'd Parti-
cle will ſuffice to perform thoſe acts of
Sedimenting which the Hypotheſis before
17s ſuppoſes with regard to the powers
of Gravitation, and conſequently that
a leſſer Globe of Water than I have
computed, may do the work; the force
of my Objection will not yet be much
abated. I can eaſily ſpare a deduction
(if the thing would bear it) of three
parts of four of my calculation, viz.
ſtreighten every Corpuſcle to two Dia-
meters and a half of Fluid to niove in;
for to leſs than that I ſuppoſe none
will demand it; and yet even ſo much
will require ſuch an Orb of Water above
the Surface of the Earth, that ſome
thouſands of Oceans would ſcarce ſuf-
fice to fill it ; which leaves the Matter
ſtill as we found it ; that is, inconfi-
ſtent with the Conſtitution of Nature,
in the then and preſent ſtate of things.
Fourthly, 'Tis to be farther conſider-
ed, that in caſe it be granted, that the
vaft Orb of Fluid, upon the total diffo-
lution
3

( 24 )
lution of the Earthly Globe, became
one promiſcuous Blend or Maſs of Earth
and Water, commixt and jumbled toge-
ther in great confuſion and diſorder
3
tis not yet Mechanically conceivable,
neither does Dr. Woodward in his Effay
pretend to ſhew,how theſe Teeth,Bones,
Shells,and otherinſtanced Foſſils had not
had their parts likewiſe diſſolved in the
fame mariner, as other Concrets, in that
grand Separation; for ſure we are(what-
ever he may fancy of a vegetative Con-
glutination) that harder and more cloſe-
ty compacted Subſtances than them which
he mentions, were then diffolv'd and ma-
cerated. Neither is it conceivable how
the elated vagrant Corpuſcles, fuppoſe of
Marble, Flint, Coal, and other more
uniform Subſtances, ſhould in that pre-
cipitous hurry of Gravitation meet and
unite again, in Marble, Flint, and Coal;
and that ſometimes too in Laiers be-
neath heavier, and ſometimes above
lighter Subſtances than themſelves, a-
gainſt the order of Gravity. And 'tis
no leſs difficult to apprehend how it
came to paſs, that in this confuſed hur-
Ty and agitation, the heavieſt Corpuf-
cles had not ſeated themſelves at, and
clofed about, the Center of Gravity;
there

( 25 )
3
there being no ſufficient reaſon yet
given, why ſolid Particles heavier
than their quanity of Fluid wherein they
move, ſhould not defcend in that Fluid
as far as the Fluid can give them way, to
their proper Center, and therefore the
whole Frame and Texture of the Earth
being ſo diffolved, as the Hypotheſis
fuppofes; and every Particle of it play-
ing in a ſpace of Water, and that Wa-
ter being Specifically the ſame from the
Center to the Circumference ; what
would hinder the heavieſt parts of Earth
to fall to, and cloſe about that Center,
and the next in gravity to ſucceed, and
ſo one Sediment after another, till all
had ſettled, leaving out and protruding
the Maſs of Water, all above the united
Central Solid, except what might re-
main in little Hollows and Interſtices,
which would appear an eaſie and a
Natural effect of ſuch a Procedure?
But why the Corpuſcles D, directly de-
ſcending and moving towards the Ceu-
ter A, ſhould ſtop at B, forming a Sphe-
rical Concave about the Center A,
I inuſt profeſs I cannot conceive ; for
their crowding cloſe together, could
not keep up the loweſt Particles ſtill
from falling. Yet the Doctor muſt have
E
a
w
2

( 26 )
a central Fluid : If he anſwers, that
the parts of the fame ſpecifical Body of
Water are proportionably heavier, the
nearer they are to Center ; fo likewife
muſt the Earthy Particles at B, be hea-
vier than at C, and ſo the Water of
the central Concave can have no grea-
ter power of reſiſtance againſt the
Earthy deſcending parts at B, than the
fame Water had at D, or C, tho' much
remoter from the center, they increaſing
or decreaſing alike in gravity ; (for both
Opinions are held ; and in this caſe 'tis
no Matter which ;) as they make Pro-
portionable approaches to the Central
Point. That of Dr. Burnet's Oleagi-
nous Surface of the Water, or Mr Whif-
ton's denſe Fluids, can be of no fervice
here ; for an oyly Surface cannot be
near the Center, and denſe Fluids re-
move the State of the Queſtion ; they
(if there be ſuch a thing) are of quite
different Species from the Fluid we are
fpeaking of.
Fiftbly, Suppofing that there might
be a Maſs of Fluids ſpherically raiſed
to that Altitude as was capable to give
the Terreſtrial diffever'd Corpuſcles a
Scope to purſue the Laws of Gravitati.
on, and in the manner the Doctor pro-
pounds,

( 27 )
pounds, to form the Shell and Cortex
of this Earthly Globe; we are left yet
in the dark, as to the Main, and indeed
what ſhould have been the foundation
of his Hypotheſis ; that is, in being
afſured, or at leaſt, in having it inti-
mated to us, what determin'd Power,
Force, or Quality, inherent or for
that time acquired, it was in that Dilu-
vian Water, which might and could
effect that diffolution and disjunction
and ſeparation of the moſt intimouſly
conjoined conſolidated parts of the
moſt hard impervious Subſtances, and
could ſo diffolve, dilacerate, and take
them ſo aſunder, as to volutate and
raiſe the minute Corpuſcles thereof,
and put them into that poſture, that
they might ſtatically fubfide, and by
ſo ſubſiding form the Involutions
and Strata of this preſent Terreſtrial
Globe.
All powers of Matter (we know) are
derived from their Effence; and 'tis the
eſſential property of all Bodies to work
by Contact, or immediate Application
of their Parts: Now 'tis evident that the
Parts of this Fluid could not operate
where they could not come; and how
Water could penetrate the moſt com-
E2
pacted

( 28 )
pacted ſolid Subſtances, and inſinuate
and interpoſe itſelf betwixt their moſt
cloſely conjoined and fubtile Particles,
is too difficult to imagine : And tho
the parts of this Fluid might, and pro-
bably did. penetrate and diffolve the
looſe and pervious Earth into a great
depth, yet it ſeems impoffible, upon
Natural Grounds, it ſhould pervade
and come into the inmoſt and cloſeſt
Receffes of Chalk, Marble, or Porphy-
ry, and other moſt hard and petrified
Concretions, of which the Earth moſt-
ly conſiſts; and if that Fluid could not
enter into, and pervade the Pores and
Interſtices of theſe conſolidated Sub-
ſtances, it is evident it could not at all
diffolve and unchain their Links, and
utterly demoliſh their Conſiſtence and
Solidity, foas that all Cohæfion perfectly
ceaſed ; and if it did ſo in ſome, why
not in all concretions? And then what
will become of the Doctor's Ante-dilu-
vian ſhells, and of his Opinion concern-
ing them? His place of Geneſis, that
God deſtroy'd the Earth, he has very
deeply expounded; for furely if Moſes
had been of this Gentleman's Mind, in
expreſſing that particular, he would
not have told us, almoſt in the next
words,

( 29 )
words, that the Earth in that ſenſe was
not deſtroy'd, but that the Waters pre-
vailed exceedingly upon it, the higheſt
Mountains lying Fifteen Cubits under
them ; which if there were no more, a-
bundantly proves the contrary to the
Doctor's Suppoſition » What natural
reaſon can be given of Rocks and Stones
being then diſſolved under thoſe pre-
vảiling Waters, which continued over
them but one Year, when we find that
no ſuch Diffolution is effected on them
in the bottom of the Ocean, where they
have continued ſoaking, not one, but
ſome thouſands of Years?
More might be ſaid ; but upon a ge-
neral view of the Principles this inge-
nious Perſon has unhappily eſpouſed,
to maintain his Concluſion ; the Letter
from Oxford charges him with more
particular deviations from Hydroſta-
tick and Geometrick Truths: But how-
ever he came to fall on that fallacious
way of arguing, no neceſſity from Si-
militude of things (which he ſeems to
plead) can warrant it ; he is certainly
Maſter of great Knowledge and inſight
in the Nature and diverſity of Subter-
ranean Rarities; and a Structure ill
founded

( 30 )
founded, may be built a new, without
diſcredit to the Builder ; and without
doubt his vaſt Collection, which they
fay he has from all Regions and Cli-
mats, of what is rare and obſervable,
may enable him to do much that way,
on better and more warrantable Prin-
ciples.
What is, or may be, affirm'd by o.
thers in favour of this Opinion, I can-
not yet ſay: I know nothing in Dr.
Burnet's Model that can be ſerviceable to
it; the rude Chaos, asin the groſs heap,
fo in all the parts of it, being too con-
fuſed, ghaftly and ill-favour'd, to give a
Pre-exiſtence to theſe prettily form dand
regular Foſſils. Neither will Mr. Whif-
ton's Theory, who very warily paſſes
by theſe Phenomena, be any help to
folve this point ; both Dr. Burnet and
he giving us ſuch a defcription of the
Original Chaotick Separations, as will
not afford the leaſt Countenance to this
Opinion; which would have all theſe
Foſfilfigured Concretions, Shells, Teeth,
Bones, &c. to have a pre-exiſtent be-
ing, before their Lodgment in thoſe
denſe compacted Subſtances, viz. Chalk,
Rocks, Stones, &c. where they are
now found and difcover'd. And if any
imagine

( 31 )
imagine that according to Mr.Whifton the
Creation-days were annual Revolutions,
the diurnal Rotation of the Earth about
its own Axis having not begun till
the Fall of Man, as that Author con-
ceiveth ; and that conſequently a time
and ſpace of two years might well ſuf.
fice for the Formation of theſe Bodies;
3
he muſt yet remember, that tho' the
ſeparation of Earth and Water happen-
ed the third day (or year in Mr. Whil-
ton's Account,) yet be the determin'd
time and ſpace of thoſe days what it
will, the Mofaick account is expreſs,
that the Production of Marine Animals
was after that ſeparation ; that is, on
the fifth Day, or Year; as the diviſion
of Sea and I and was on the third ; And
3
if no ſuch things as Shells and Bones of
perfect Fiſhes exiſted before the Fifth
day of the Creation, as 'tis plain they
did not, the Earth having been fepera-
ted from the Sea ſome two days before ;
it is hence apparent, that the Sea or
univerſal Fluid, could not, at that time
leave ſuch things in and upon the
Earth, ſuch things being not at that
time produced into actual perfection,
capable of leaving ſuch remains behind
thein.
IF

(32)
If Mr. Whifton's ingenious Fancy may
carry him yet further, to ſuggeſt, that
as this preſent Globe at firſt grew out
of the Ruines of an ancient Planet dif-
ſolved to the conſiſtence of a Comet,
and was after that increaſed at the De-
luge from the Atmoſphere of another,
and that conſequently theſe Foffils
might one way or 'tother, owe their
Original either to the pre-exiſtent or
pertranſient Comet ; then what will
follow? Even this; If the firſt be true,
then theſe Shells, Spines, Bones, &c.
are the parts of Creatures that exiſted,
Gods knows where, before the time of
the Mofaick Creation : If the ſecond be
granted, then it will follow, that there
are ſome parts of this Globe, now ex-
iſting, that were not then created ; if
the Moſaick account, as Mr. Whiſton
would have it, be reſtrain'd to this Éle-
mentary Terreſtrial Globe; both which
are equally abſurd and extravagant.
Thus we fee, let them turn on which
fide they will, they will find it an in-
fuperable Task to give an intelligible ac-
count how the Exuvie of Marine Ani-
mals that have been once perfectly
ſuch, could roſſibly come to be uni-
verlally diſperſed in and among the
ſeveral

( 33 )
ſeveral Strata of the Terreſtrial Cruſt :
and yet there embodied even in the
hardeſt of thoſe Strata, we find vaſt
plenty of ſuch Shells, fo exactly and
perfectly correſponding in ſhape,colour,
texture and diſpoſition of parts, with
the natural ones bred in the Sea, and
found on our Shoars; that if meer re-
ſemblance would be ſufficient evidence,
it would be argument enough to induce
any one to conclude them to be really
fuch: And did the Patrons of that
Opinion but once demonſtratively aſſign
a Poſſible way upon natural and intelli-
gible grounds, of the Conveyance of
theſe Exuvie to the places wherein
they are now found, without receding
too much from the truth of Nature, as
well as of Scripture; moſt Men, I think,
would be ſway'd by the force of that
Argument to take them to be true, real,
and Natural Shells, Teeth, Bones, &c,
of Fiſhes, once bred and nouriſhed in
the Bofom, Creeks and Angles of the
great Surrounding Ccean. But we too
well know that Similary Appearances
too often ſham and banter our Reaſon,
and impoſe upon our Faculties; Na-
ture not feldom proceeding by the ſame
means, to very different ends and In-
F
tentions ;

( 34 )
5
tentions, and for us to determin, from
the Identity of her ways and meaſures,
the Identity of her Intentions, in dif-
ferent Subjects, would be very falſe and
groundleſs reaſoning. And tho' it be
inconſiſtent with the Wiſdom of Na-
ture, or indeed of God the Author and
Guider of her, to work any thing to no
end or purpoſe ; which makes that fay-
ing univerſally true, Natura nihil facit
fruſtra ; yet to conclude this or that,
to be to no end or purpoſe, becauſe we
cannot affign one ; for inſtance, to ſay,
that Teeth without a Jaw, Bones with-
out Fleſh or Fiſh, or Shells without an
Animal Inhabitant (which I find to be
one of the chief Arguments of Fabius
Columna) is contrary to the deſigns
and intentions of Nature, when her
bounds and limits that way (many of
them) are unto us unknown and uncer-
tain; is to deal too boldly and unfaith-
fully with her; And Arguments drawn
from that Head, how Specious ſoever
they may be, ſmell of too much arro-
gance in us, to be well relifhed and en-
tertain'd. Nay indeed, the force of that
Reaſon (if duly weigh'd and attended
to) will appear to incline wholly on
the other ſide ; It doth not ſo much
conclude,

( 35 )
conclude, that theſe Foffil Shells,
Bones, &c, had been once really and
actually Parts of Animals, becauſe
it may appear to be againſt the in-
tention of Nature, that Teeth ſhould
be found without a Jaw, or Shells with-
out living Inhabitants; as it doth prove,
that if there do appear really and de
facko, Shells and Bones without ſuch
Concomitants, or without any poflibi-
lity of ever actually having them, that
therefore there are ſuch things in Nature,
that are really and actually Shells and
Bones, though it may poſſibly be as
much removed from the reach of our
Knowledge, to determin, by what
means, as to what ends and purpo-
ſes they were ſo produced and ſpecifi-
cated.
And truly in this regard I can ſee no
reaſon why thoſe people that daily ob-
ſerve the many and ſome very exact re-
femblances in the parts of Vegetables,
to the parts and members of Animal Bo-
dies; of which there are Multitudes of
inſtances in Oſwaldus Crolius his Tract of
Signatures; can yet by no means prevail
with their Faculties to believe that there
might be the like Analogies and Simili-
tudes in the parts of Stones and Mine-
F 2
rals,

(36)
rals, with the ſaid parts of Animal Bo-
dies, without making them to be the
true and genuine parts of ſome of thoſe
Bodies they reſemble.
Why may not Nature in her firſt
Strokes of Congelation purſue the ſame
Paths and draw the ſame Lines, both
in the Formation of ſome parts of Clay,
Stones and Marchaſytes, and in the
framing of Oyfter-ſhells, Cockles, and
Perwinckles, &c. as well as ſhe is ob-
ferved to delineaté very like Strokes in
the head of Poppies, with thoſe in the
Skull of Man in the Jews-ear, the
Leaves of Colt-foot, with the Ear; in
the Seed of Aconitum, the Flower of
Eye-bright, with the Eye; in the
Husks of the Seed of Henbane, and
Pine-kernels, with the Jaws and Teeth;
in tht Fruit of the Citron tree, with
the Heart ; in the true Scolopendrum,
Afplenum, and Cetrach, with the Spleen
of Man. Some of theſe do with great
accuracy reſemble fome parts of our Bo-
dy, and perhaps with greater than ſome
Shell-ſtones do their reſpective Prototy-
pes.
There are ſome Figures which are
the pure effects of Mechaniſm, and
not at all the ultimate deſigns of Na-
ture;

( 37 )
ture, and theſe general Forms and Mo-
dels of Nature,being as it were her com-
mon road, ſhe may be obſerved to trace
them to ſeveral Ends, to purſue the ſame
Tracts to various Purpoſes and Intenti-
ons : Thus we find in the growth of
Fearn, in the Ramuſculi of Snow and
Hore-froſt, and in the freezing of U.
rine, Nature affects one and the fame
way to protract her Motions : Not that
there doth lie any particular deſign up-
on the Figure, but becauſe it is the
moſt Conciſe and Expeditious way of di-
lating : And if it ſeems conſonant with
the uſual Proceſſes of Nature, on ac-
countof Brevityand Conciſeneſs to chooſe
one and the ſame way to exert her firſt
ſtrokes of Motion in ſeveral Subjects,
tho' tending to different ends and pur-
poſes ; 'tis no way fair to conclude ulti-
mate and particular Intentions, from the
meer poſition of any one of her general
rules and ways of proceeding.
Now that Conciſeneſs and Brevity may
be a fufficient aſſignable cauſe of the
unity of her Plaſtick Motions in her va-
rious Structures and Efformations, will
appear not only from the ordinary Pro-
lepfis we have of the Sagacity and Wif-
dom of Nature, perceivable in her moſt
trite
a

( 38 )
trite and common Operations; it being
the Property of that, ever to make the
ſhorteſt diſpatches, but alſo, which we
ought principally to take notice of,
from a Neceffary and Mechanical Con-
frainment which the firſt ſtrokes and
delineations of matter lie under, to form
themſelves with ſuch Angles, degrees
of Extention, proportion of Parts, and
other Reſpects and Habitudes one to an-
other, as moſt conveniently ſuit with,
and anſwer the Scope and End of their
Dilatation.
This Geometrical Diſpoſition and
neceſſary Mechaniſm of the firſt ſtrokes
of Nature on account of Diſpatch and
Brevity, is obſervable almoſt in all con-
ftant ſpecifical Productions ; of which
I ſhall briefly touch on a few inſtances.
14 All Vegetables of a tall and ſpread-
ing growth ſeem to have a natural ten-
dency to a Hemiſpherical Dilatation,
but generally confine their ſpreading
within an Angle of go degrees, or an
exact Quadrant, as being the moſt be-
coming and uſeful diſpoſition of its Parts
and Branches.
Now the ſhorteſt way to give a moſt
graceful and uſeful filling to that ſpace
of dilating and (preading out, is to pro-
ceed

(39)
ceed in ſtrait Lines, and to diſpoſe of
thoſe Lines in a variety of Parallels
through the whole Extenſion ; and to
do that in a Hemiſpherical or Quadran-
tal Space, there appears to be but one
way poſſible ; and that is, to form all
the Interſections which the Shoots and
Branches make, with Angles of 45
degrees only; and I dare appeal to
the obſervation of Mankind, if it
be not in this manner almoſt to a ni-
cety obſerved by Nature in the first
and primary Directions of all Vegetable
Shoots; though yet when theſe Shoots
are grown and ſpread out , external
Impreſſions may, and always do, oc-
caſion Curvites and Reflexions; that is,
That they have the main Stem, Bran-
ches, Lateral, Collateral, Sub-colla-
teral, Latero-ſub-collateral (or into as
many Diviſions as Nature uſually
reaches to, above a Horizontal Plane)
of, or very near approaching to an
Angle of 45 ; which in a Hemifpheri-
cal or Quadrantal Space, makes all the
Shoots and Directions of Branches run
out into Parallels of three forts only,
viz. Perpendicular, Incident and Hori-
zontal, as appears by the Figure.
The

( 40 )
The Lateral Branches being all in
cidents, the Collateral a Compoſition
of Perpendiculars and Horizontals, the
Sub-collateral as the Lateral, and the
Latero-ſub-collateral as the Collateral,
and the diſtance and interjacent Spaces
being all a ſort of Rhomboids, all
theſe, being Affections of that Angle
and Section; I ask if it be any other way
poſſible for Art or any intelligent Prin-
ciple to fill up this deſcribed Space more
compendiouſly and commodiouſly, than
we find the natural direction of theſe
Vegetable Shoots and Branches inclined
to perform ; and what I demonſtrate
of the Superiour or Supra-Horizon-
tal Space, the fame is applicable to the
inferiour or radical Dilatation; though
the unmanageable Stiffneſs of the
Ground diſturbs the natural direction
of thoſe radical Shoots, as the violen-
ces of the Air, ponderoſity and o-
ther Accidents, do that of the upper
Branches. I do not ſay that all Trees
do grow up thus ; but the greateſt part
of them thew that Nature generally
affees that Angle, on which the other
Properties are depending.
There-

( 41 )
a
Therefore from this Speculation we
may conclude, that the ſhorteſt
Procedure being allowed in ſtreight
Lines, and the Production of theſe
Lines in theſe three forts of Parallels
being moſt prompt and facile, and all
that depending on one Angle only)
Nature being allowed to be a Pro-
vident Agent, lies under a ſort of Geo-
metrical neceſſity to diſpoſe her Ema-
nations juſt thus, and no otherwiſe, in
the expedition of her Plantal Ramifi-
cations: And it being ſo, that all Spread-
ings from a Point or Center, as all Semi-
nal Productions are, affect a Sphere ei-
thier entire or divided, for their Activity
to diſplay in; It is therefore highly
reaſonable, thoſe Activities ſhould be
take themſelves in one and the fame
way in variety of Subjects; and we
may thence as reaſonably conclude,
that the cloſe invariable purſuing of
that way, is nothing in the World elſe
but the effect of Mechaniſm, and Geo-
metrical Neceſſity; a viſible Argument,
that the Plaſtic Capacities of Matter are
governed and diſpoſed by an All-wife
and Infinite Agent, the native Strict-
neſſes and Regularities of them plainly
ſhewing from whoſe Hand they come.
The

( 42 )
a
The ſame Geometrical Proceſs and
Order, is obſervable alſo in the firſt
Strokes of Nature in other Inſtances,
particularly in what is the Subject of
this Writing; viz. the Formation of
Shells. In theſe ſhe generally occupies
a greater Latitude of Dilatation than a
Quadrantal Space, which in Vegetables
be ſeems to content her felf with : And
as the parts of Matter ſhe imploys in
the Formation of Shells, are more ſtub-
born, untractable and rigid, than the
Vegetative Ingredients; ſo ſhe is oblig'd,
and under a neceffity, to draw cloſer
Lines, and to make ſharper Angles be-
twixt her firſt Shoots and the Radii ;
and conſequently to make more obtuſe
ones in the tranſverſe Lines and Peri-
pherics, or the tacking together of the
main Strokes, with croſs and collateral
Lines; than what I have obſerved in
Trees and Vegetables, which is alſo a
neceffary reſult of Mechaniſm.
For when a Gradual Enlargement
and Dilatation proceeds from one Point
I reckon in or * Center, as the ſame is manifeſtly
Produ&ti- apparent in almoſt all perfect Shells;
or Sperm to be their Root 07 Center, from which their Lines of Aug-
mentation are drawn, and thence directed to their several Ends and
Specifications.
the
onstheSeed

( 43 )
the moſt Conciſe and regular way, and
moſt agreeable with the Reaſon of our
Faculties, always practiſed by Art, per-
formed by natural Inſtincts, as may be
obſerved in Cobwebs and Spider-works,
is to protract ſtreight Lines or Radii,
with equal Diſtances and Angles, from
the Center to the deſigned Peripherie,
and the determind Figure of the Periphe-
rie to be according to the different lengths
and terminations of thoſe Radii; which
is ſeen to be performed with great accu-
racy and exactneſs, in bivalved ſtriated
Shells, eſpecially Cockles and Scallop
Shells, both which fort of Shells af-
fect a fort of Semicircular Dilatation,
and differ only in bigneſs, and in the
flatneſs and gibboſity of their Valves.
So alſo in Oyſter-ſhells and Muſcles,
which ſeem to have another make, Na-
ture proceeds in their Formation juſt
as the moſt skilful Artiſt would do, if
he had the fame Materials for his pur-
poſe, and the ſame Deſign and End to
aim at; that is, in extending and
ſhooting out a multiplicity of their
Ramelle, each one larger than another,
and plated one upon another, from the
Root or Center to the Peripherie or
Circumference, as may be diſcovered by
the
G 2

( 44 )
the 'rotting of theſe Shells in the Earth,
or by diffolving them in Vinegar or any
other Menſtruum. Theſe ſmooth and la-
minated Shells ſeem to be more looſely
and weakly built than ſtriated Shells,
becauſe they are naturally fix'd to a
place, by a Root or Tendon, and are
not expoſed to the Volutation of the
Sea, which would require more ſtrength
and firmneſs, as is obſerved to be in the
more laſting ſtriated Shells.
Thus we may Geometrically conclude,
that all Plaſtick Dilatations proceeding
from one point or Center, have on ac-
count of Conciſeneſs or Expedition, a
natural Tendency to a ſort of Spherical
Figure, either whole or in part; and
near which, abating the Diſtortions of
Gibbofities, and Contractions of Brims
and Edges, all Shells uſually arrive 3
Nature being under as great a Necefſity
of forming theſe Figures, either quar-
ter, half, or full Rounds, or near ap-
proaching them, as any Artificer is of
making round Wheels to perform the
Motion of Machines and Movements.
But in the Formation of Shells, this is
yer further to be conſidered, that they
are naturally and originally deſigned to
be the containing Teguments and De-
fences

( 45 )
fences of contained Animations; and
on that account, the End being the
chief Regulator in all Structures, in
the growth and augmentation of theſe
Shells, their Plaſtick Matter iſſuing and
ſtreaming out of one Center or Sper-
matick Point to build the Frame and
Texture of a Shell or hollow Cottage
for the Fiſh to ſecure it ſelf and inha-
bit, it is Mechanically neceſſary that all
Shells naturally tending to a Spherical
Dilatation, their Plaſtick Matter flow-
ing equally round their Spermatick
Point or Center, ſhould be either Bi-
valves; that is, two Compreſs'd or
Contracted Hemiſpheres, their Segments
or Openings interſecting their divided
Pole or Center ; or one round hollow
Cone, as all turbinous and Ophiomor-
phous Shells, abating their Folds and
Twiſtings, ſeem to be ; So likewiſe it is
neceſſary that ſuch ſhelly Dilatations as
do not flow circularly, but occupy on-
ly one part or ſpace of a Circle, ſhould
grow triangular, and ſo have their Cen-
tral Angle folded in with as many
turnings as its length will bear; and
in that folding have the sides and Arch
a little bent and contracted for a con-
venient Cavity for the Fiſh to dwell in;
and

( 46 )
and ſuch we find it exactly to be, in
that Species of Shells which are of that
ſort of ſhape and extenſion.
In every one of theſe general For-
mations, as the Figure of the dilated
Mafs, Circular, Semicircular or Trian-
gular, (for on a Circle and and its cen-
tral Sections, I obſerve the Figure of
all Shells to depend) is a neceffary re-
fult of Mechaniſm fo the forming out
of theſe, Cones and Bivalves, and
Triangular Involutions, which com-
prehend the Figure of all perfect Shells,
is the quickeſt, moſt expedite, and eafieſt
way that the Wit of Man could invent,
if it had been left unto it to fold and lap
up, and ſhelter thoſe tender Creatures; So
we find that the general Figure of Shells
feems much to depend on a Circle and its
two central Sections; and as to the man-
ner how they are formed out of them,
we may conceive, that as the Genera-
tion of all Shells, of the perfect kind,
proceeds from a Point or Center, which
is the Sperm or Seed, ſo the protraction
out of theſe, of the Lines of Augmen-
tation, if their Root or Center be un-
divided and of equal ſtrength and effica-
cy on all fides, muſt be ſpun out, and
gow into a hollow Cone or Conoid,
and
a

( 47 )
and ſo form, if the power of Protra-
ction join Ends, the Patell d or broad-
coned Shells. But if the power of Pro-
traction be more exertive and vigorous,
then it draws out the Cones to a length,
wreathing and twiſting them into Per
winckles, Turbens, Spindles, and
other Cochlear turbinated Shells; and
if it has not a free Medium to diſplay
that fpiral Elevation, then it compref-
fes and folds them, in a Plane, into
Nautili, Cornua Ammonis , and other
Serpentine Figures.
Next, if the ſaid power of Protracti-
on be divided at the Root or Center,
and be equally ſtrong and vigorous on
each ſide, then the Dilatation becomes
bivalved, and makes two irregular Hemi-
ſpheres, as their Lines or Strie calcula-
ted together plainly demonſtrate, ex-
tending, ſtreightning, or compreſſing
their Peripheries, as the length and
contraction of their Lines, and Gibbo-
ſity of their Valves, exact and deter-
min ; forming ſuch Shells into Cockles,
Eſcallops, Oyſters, Muſcles, and all d-
ther Specificks of bipartite Shells.
And laſtly, If this power of Protra-
&tion be ſevered and divided at the
Root or Center, into more Parts than
two,
3

( 48 )
a
two, then theſe divided Parts or Bran-
ches, by ſuch a Section, as I ſaid before,
muſt become Triangular; and confes
quently thoſe triangular Dilatations,
being not join'd together as Valves of
one Shell, muſt (to form a Cell for the
Fiſh to dwell in) fold in their Central
Angle, turning in alſo a little of the
Arch or Subtenſe of that Angle, and ſo
form the Concha Veneris and ſuch Species
of Shells as feem to be made up of in-
volved triangular Dilatations.
Now from all this I propoſe it may
be conſidered, that if ſome Figures be
the neceſſary reſult of pure Mechaniſm,
and if the primary Exortions of Nature
do neceffarily and mechanically fall into
thoſe Figures; and laſtly, if the more
general Forms of Plantal and Teſtaceous
Dilatations be thoſe neceſſary Figures ;
why ſhould we ſtand amazed and won-
der, that in the Original Congelation
of Bodies, there being then an Infi-
nity of ſuch Exortions, fome parts of
Matter ſhould run into thefe Forms and
Figures, which they were as neceſſarily
drawn and moulded into on account
of Mechaniſm, as any growing Shell or
Plant that Sea or Land can afford us?
Nay, this thing being well adverted
unto

( 49 )
unto it, ſhould rather draw our wonder
on the other ſide ; that is, that we find
ſo few of theſe Figured Concretions
in congealed Subſtances; no Plantal De-
lineations, ſave a few now and then,
in Coal and Slate-ſtones; and not very
many ſhelly Impreſſions, but in ſuch
places where a Calcatious Matter, of
which Shells confift, predominates and
abounds.
But although this way of proceeding
may very well account for many Phe-
nomena in the Theory of Shells and o-
ther Foſſil Rareties, in a general view
of ſimilary Forms and Appearances; yet
I muſt confefsit does not reach to ſolve
the moſt conſiderable Difficulties, that
Theory is encumber'd with. viz. Par-
ticularly, though general Figures may
be the effects of Mechaniſm ; yet it
may, and ought to be, reaſonably de-
manded, how the ſpecifical Determina-
tions of thoſe Figures, how the Con.
traction and Curvitudes and Angles of
the direct and tranſverſe Lines and Stris,
and other Specifications of Foffil-fhells,
the Inſertions of their Valves, their
Diaphragms, and the Symmetry and
Order, and the gradual Diſpoſition of
all the parts of them, came exactly to
Н
be

( 50 )
be of the ſame Make, Contexture and
Dimenſions, with thoſe Marine ones, of
their reſpective Kinds, which manifeſtly
proceed from a Seed or Sperm : How
alſo thoſe Plantal Delineations, in Coal
and Slate-ſtones, ſhould circumſcribe
their Foliations, and terminate their
Lines, to the exact Figures of ſeveral
forts of Fearn, and eſpecially into the
Proprieties of Harts-tongue, Cinque-
foil, Clover-grafs, Strawberry Leaves,
which are unconteſtedly Seminal Pro-
ducts, as I hear they are obſerved to
do; to perform all this,is plainly above
the Mathematicks of Nature, and ſince
it is done, it becomes an Objection
that will ſupercede and raiſe our in-
quiries from theſe mean and luſory
Effects of Mechaniſm, to the Contem-
plation of a higher and more powerful
organizing Principle, capable of guid-
ing and ſpecificating the Motions of
Augmentation unto all thoſe determined
Figures, in order to give it a compleat
and ſatisfactory Solution. And this
Principle , however it be concei-
ved to be in a way to produce theſe
Effects, can be no other than a power-
Seed or Sperm : And if there be not
a poſſibility in Nature, of finding out
2

( 51 )
a way by which this efficient might be
the cauſe of theſe Effects ; I think we
3
may ceaſe our Inquiries about it, and
let it reſt for ever in the moſt recondite
Cabinet of Natures un-revealed Secrets.
But if it appears poſſible, or any way
probable, that theſe ſurprizing Effects
may be the Products of Seniinal Pa-
rents, as their like are in other Circum-
ſtances, I hope the Patrons of the
firſt Opinion will appeaſe their Scruples,
and the Solution of the greateſt diffi-
culty in that Theory (the ſaid poflibi-
lity being once demonitrated) will be
come very natural, intelligible and
caſie. 10 20 A CO
In order to which, having from what
evidence we have of the true State
and Conſtitution of Things, conceived
fome Grounds for ſuch a poſſibility :
think it not unacceptable, to lay out
ſome poor Endeavours, to elucidate
a point of that concernment to the
Curious ; in which yet I ſhall no far-
ther attempt, than to offer a few prob-
lematical Concluſions, which if they
be folidly evinced and demonſtrated,
as much as the Nature of the thing
will bear, will, I preſume, infer a
poflibility at leaſt, if not fome degree
H 2
of
2

(52)
of probability, that theſe Offeous and
Teſtaceous remains taken out of the
Earth, are the Products of, and owe
their Formation and Exiſtence to what
we call Seeds or Spermatical Energies :
To which Concluſions I ſhall a little
ſtrew the way with theſe Præliminary
Poftulata or Propofitions, which being
well grounded and eſtabliſhed, the
Conſequences I ſhall draw from them
will be the more firm and immoveable.
And therefore,
My firſt Propoſition is, that the
Sphere of Matter conſiſts of Space and
Body, and conſequently of parts really
diviſible, to a vaſt degree of Minute-
neſs.
Secondly, That the juſt Magnitude of
any of the Aggregates or united Porti-
ons of theſe Parts (as to us) is utter-
ly unaſſignable; and what we may
determine of their quantum, is only
Mathematical and Comparative, with
relation of one Aggregate to another.
Thirdly, That there are certain Por-
tions of this Matter, of extraordinary
Fineneſs and Activity, called Seed or
Sperm, indued with a Power of un-
folding and augmenting themſelves un-
to determined Shapes and Meafures of
Extenſion
Fourthly,

( 53 )
Fourthly, That Generation, Growth
and Corruption, are but the Riſe, Pro-
greſs and Reſt, the Explication, Moti-
on and Pauſe, of theſe Seminal Powers
and Activities.
Fiftbly, That theſe Seeds or Sperma
tical Portions of Matter, contain with-
in them, entirely and individually, the
Body or Bodies they produce, and all
the parts of thoſe Bodies, as Sinews,
Muſcles, Bones, Shells, and the like,
and as it were the Seeds too and com-
ponent Particles of thoſe Parts, in im-
meaſurably ſmall and unperceivable
Proportions.
Sixthly, That theſe Seminal Collecti-
ons of prolifick Matter, were at firſt
prepared, modified and produc'd into
Being, in the Primi-genial Chaotick
Fluid, Venus orta mari, and ſtill require
a watry Vehicle to unfold and propa-
gate.
Seventhly, That all the now folid
Parts of concreted Matter, or at leaſt,
a great and vaſt deal of them have
been originally a fluid Maſs, or ſub-
ſtance highly agitated; and from that
State, by ſeveral degrees of Lentors
and Arreſtments of Motion, they thick-
ped and coagulated into various forts
and

( 54 )
and qualities of Fluors; and thence
after ſome Separations, congealed and
hardned into this preſent Terreſtrial
Cruſt, conſiſting of Clays , Stones ,
Marchaſits, Minerals, Metals and com-
mon Earth.
Theſe ſhort and previous Hints
which I lay down as the Grounds and
Evidence of my Concluſion, are in
themſelves very Natural and Intelligible;
and as ſuch, have been all of them
propounded, afferted, and vigoroully
maintain'd by very many learned Men,
both Ancient and Modern.
The firſt Propofition has been affert-
ed by many Ancient Philofophers, Py-
thagoras, Democritus, Leucippus, and
even by Plato himſelf: Neither doth
Des Cartes of late, who ſeems moſt of
any to impugn it, at all invalidate
what I propound, by my calling it,
not vacuum & plenum, as the Ancients
did, but Space and Body, which he
very well allows, of, provided they
equally fall within his Notion of Ex-
tenſion.
The ſecond is demonſtrated by Eu-
clid, and generally aſſerted by all Mi-
crographers and Geometricians.
The

(55)
The third and fourth are viſible
Demonſtrations, and plain objects of
Senſe.
The fifth is with great probability
and demonſtrative Strength of Reaſon
maintain d by Father Malebranch, Luen-
hooke, and confirm'd by the atteſting
Experiments of Mr. Boyle, and Dr.
Hooke, and aſſented unto by Philoſo-
phers of principal Note and Eſtima-
tion.
The fixth was the Ancient Hypothe-
fis of Anaxagoras, Hippocrates, and is
the approved Sentiment of the beſt
Phyſiologers and Chymiſts; that every
Seminal Propagation is ex humido
and conſequently the Analogy will
make the Maxim univerſally true,
that ex aqua creſcentia profluunt.
The ſeventh Propofition, is indeed a
main part of Des Cartes his Philoſo-
phy; and will, if throughly con-
templated , both explain the Powers
of Gravity, and account for all its
Effects of Gravitation and Sedimenting,
as well perhaps as any of the now
much-talked of Modern Explications,
otherwiſe conceived and worded.
Theſe being eſtabliſhed Theorems,
by moſt Men afſented unto, and by
very
3

( 56 )
very few deny’d; I hope wħat Corollaries
will neceſſarily and naturally flow from
them, will be, if duly explicated, of pre-
vailing weight to infer, at leaſt a poffi-
bility of the deſigned Concluſion.
First, I offer from the firſt Propofi-
tion, that it is poſſible, there may be
exact Mechaniſms and Fabricks of moſt
exquiſite Contrivances and Diſpoſitions
of Parts, contain'd in the very leaſt (as to
us) and utinoſt conceivable Minuteneſs
of place; there being in that pun&tillo,
a Body to extend, and a Space to be
extended in; and as a conſequent of that,
[from the ſecond Propoſition] that
by much the greateſt part of Animal Spe-
cieffes and individuals, are undiſcover-
ed by us, being as to us ſo extremely
ſmall, that without the help of Glaſſes,
one of a Million can be ſeen
and diſtinguiſhed: And Mr. Lewenhooke
afſures us, that by theſe helps, he has
diſcovered ſome Animals which were
ſo exceeding ſmall, that, faith he
if a Grain of Sand were broken into
8c00000 of equal parts, one of theſe
would ſcarce be exceeded in bigneſs
by one of theſe Creatures : And Dr.
Hooke goes yet farther, who ſays, that
he had diſcovered fome Animalculs
fo
not

( 57 )
ſo exceſſive ſmall, that Millions of Mil-
lions of them might be contained in
one drop of Water : And there-
fore if there might be actually ſo ma-
ny Millions of theſe altogether com-
pleat and perfect Creatures, exiſt-
ing in a drop of Water; what an un-
conceivable infinity of them, in their
Seeds and contracted Parvitudes, might
in the beginning exiſt in the whole
Maſs of Waters?
Secondly, I offer from the third,
fourth and fifth Propoſitions, that if all
animated Creatures do exiſt in their
Seeds, though in a contracted State, and
in vaſtly leſſer Dimenfions, yet Com-
pleatly and Perfectly; that is, as compleat
and perfect Beings, as they would be
in their utmoſt Specifick Magnitudes
and Extenſions : It is therefore very
agreeable with the order of Nature
and Divine Wiſdom, that the firſt Crea-
tion, or primary Production of theſe
Beings (Man's excepted) ſhould be in
their Seeds and contracted Parvitudes;
they lying there as compleat and per-
fect, as in their utmoſt Bulks and Ex-
plications of Extenſion.
Now it being fuppofed that the pri-
mordial State of animated Beings
I
(Man's
a

( 58 )
а
(Man's excepted) was in their Seed or
Sperm, it is eaſily conceivable, that theſe
primary Seeds, Ovaries, or epitomiz'd
Animations, and contracted Abſtracts
of Things, being in that State abfo-
lutely and compleatly perfect, and on
that account in an agreeable Condition
to come from the Hands of God ; 'tis,
I ſay, conceivable, that as many of
them as met with a fit Medium and pro-
per Matrices and places of Explication,
were then and there, in a natural way,
by affumption of peculiar Particles of
Matter, that were more or leſs abound-
ing in ſuch places, to explicate and en-
large themſelves to their determin'd
ſpecifick Bulks ; and yet in thoſe Ex-
tenſions, to carry with them, their Ideas
and Miniatures in parvo, to continue
their ſucceſſive Explications and En-
largements, from that time properly
called Generation, to the World's end :
Which latter I call the Seeds of Genera-
tion, as the former may very properly
be called Seeds of Production.
Thirdly, I offer from the fixth Propo-
fition, that theſe Seeds or fpermatical
Activities, contracted, formed and qua-
lified, as in the foregoing Propoſitions ;
when firſt created and produced into be-
ings,

( 59 )
ings, in and for ſome ſpace of time
lay difperfed and floating through the
whole Maſs of the firſt Univerſal wa-
try Fluid ; which being the firſt Ma-
trix or Principle of Corporification, if
I may uſe that Word, and the only ca-
pable one in Nature, of yielding Room
and Materials for growth and Augmen-
tation, was on that account the fitteſt
Repoſitory to lay up thoſe Eggs of
things, and by and with the conveni-
ent Inſtrumentality of it, to brood and
hatch, and to diſpoſe and diſtribute
them to their peculiar Elements and
Places of Fætation, in order to ſet on,
maintain and conſerve their ſucceſſive
Generations to the World's end.
Fourthly, I offer from the ſeventh
Propoſition, that when this Univerſal
Chaotick Fluid, the firſt Conſervatory
of theſe Corporeal Activities, under-
went further Separations ; a great deal
of it came to obtain greater and great-
er Degrees of Coagulating, and to be
condenſed into ſtill more groſs and
thicker Fluors, or a ſort of ſoft ouzie
Conſiſtency; I ſay, in this coagulating
Receſſion or Precipitation of the Chao-
tick Fluid, thoſe Kinds of Sperm float-
"ing in it, which were Productive of Ae-
real

(60)
3
real Animations to cover and inhabit
the Face of the Earth, had more of Air
and Life in their Compoſition, and
were conſequently lighter, and there-
fore ſtatically aſcended and kept up in
the higher and purer Regions of this
thickning Maſs; until upon appearing of
the dry Land, they came to be left in plen-
tiful Proportions on the Surface of it ;
there to produce Plants, Animals and
other Furniture of that fruitful Ele-
ment; Let the Earth bring forth the Li-
ving Creatures after their kind, Gen. 1.
24.
But the other kinds of Sperm, the
Seminary of the Ocean, the Squammoſe,
the Cruſtaceous, and eſpecially the Te-
ſtaceous kinds, being more groſs and
heavy than the former, and of greater
Agreeableneſs and Congeniality with
the watry Conſiſtence, deſcended with,
and ſtuck in it; and when that thick-
ening Fluid grew yet more coagulated
and condenſed, vaſt Proportions of
thoſe groffer Sperms might come to be
impacted and incorporated in its thick-
eſt Sediments and condenſed Fluors, and
ſo came to be cloſed up in the con-
gealing Maſſes, which then formed
and conſtituted the Strata and In-
volutions

( 61 )
volutions of this Terreſtrial Globe:
In this ſtate of things we are alſo to
conceive that when the various forts of
theſe Sediments once ſettled, and when
the detruded Juices and condenſed
gravitating Fluors, the moſt defæcat
and pureſt of them, ſuch as became
the component matter of Clays, Stones,
Minerals, dc, commenc'd the Act of
Congelation, and began to conſolidate
and petrify, it is apparent from the
third Propoſition, that theſe Sperms and
Seminal Activities, where ever they
were, firſt of all began to put out
and exert their ſtrokes of Dilatation ;
in which act of Congeling and Confo-
lidating, the Matter of thoſe Fluors
in which the ſaid Seeds or Sperms were
included, coming by degrees to a ftony
Hardneſs; we muſt imagine then, that
theſe vigorous Activities, while yet the
Matter wherein they were lodged was
raw, ſoft and fleeting, ſo far acted and
put forth their peculiar Energies and
Powers, in diſplaying and expanding
themſelves; as the parts of that Mat-
ter, which they were inveſted with,
could fit and ſupply them with proper
and agreeable Materials : Which could
be no more, than in the Teftaceous Kinds
to

( 62 )
to build up the Fabrick of their Shells;
which they might perform there com-
pleatly and exactly; that lapidifick Mat-
ter being the proper Aliment of that
part of the Sperm, that lay within the
Mineral Province, and was to ſhoot
out into Shells and Teguments ; And
alſo the other fiſhy part of the Sperm,
being there out of the Animal Kingdom,
failing for want of due Matter and Ali-
ment to work upon, the contained Inter-
vals and Spaces of thoſe ſhelly Concreti-
ons, which the Muſcular fiſhy Exertions
of the Sperm were to occupy; for want,
I ſay, of that due Matter, to give it
Increaſe and Animal Production, thoſe
Intervals came to be filled up, inſtead
of Fiſh, with the common Matter of
thoſe petrifying Juices, which they
were included in, or with the pureſt
and moſt lubrick parts of Matter, as
Spar, Flint, &c. that ran in, and filled
their Cavities.
But in the Squammoſe and Cartilagi-
nous kinds of theſe Sperms, detain'd as
before-faid in theſe detruded coagula-
ting Juices, their plaſtick Exertions
had much leſs of theſe fit Materials to
act upon; yet we may well ſuppoſe
that their quick and more vigorous
Activities

(63)
Activities might there alſo in the ſame
manner begin to diſplay their vital
Shoots and Formation; and where they
chanc'd to meet, among thoſe ſtiff un-
wealdy parts of Matter, with agreable
Materials, which muſt have been very
rare and uncommon, they might hit
here and there where they met with
fuch, on the Formation at leaſt of their
hardeſt Offeous Subſtances, as Teeth,
Spines, Ribbs, &c. and form thoſe into
Analogous Figures ; At the ſame time
the other parts of the integral Compages
all failing, where the Portions of Mat-
ter to be acted upon were too courſe and
untractable to be wrought and modified
into an Organical Conſiſtence. In ſhort,
ſuch parts of theſe Animal Seeds as
bordered upon the Mineral Kingdom,
might very well be form'd into Shells
and Bones, the reſt for want of pro-
per Matter all failing.
Theſe Proceſſes of Spermatical Exer-
tions I reckon all along as primary Pro-
ductions, or the Original Formation
of things unto their ſpecifick Magni-
tudes and Perfection ; purſuant to that
All-powerful Word, viz. Let the Earth
bring forth, let the Waters bring forth
abundantly; and not as Generation,
3
which

( 64 )
5
which I reckon a ſecondary Produ,
ction, influenc'd by that other ef-
ficacious Command , viz. Increaſe and
multiply : And therefore, to conclude,
agreeable with the Mofaick Accounts,
with the order of Nature, and with the
Mechanical Capacities of Matter I
affirm from the foregoing Propoſiti-
ons, that the Creation of theſe Semi-
nal Powers, and Corporeal Vehicles of
Life, was done on, or before the firſt
Day of the Mofaick Creation, and is
there fymbolically exprefs'd by Light
and Darkneſs ; and that from that
time, theſe original Seeds of Things
gradually one after another arrived un-
to their full Dimenſions, Habitudes and
Perfections, in the ſpace of fix Days;
in which time, eſpecially the third and
fourth Day, when the Coagulum of the
Earth, newly ſeparated from the Water,
was very raw, ſoft and yeilding,
and the hardeſt Rocks and Strata of
it, were yet in their Gellies : Then,
I ſay, it is not unreaſonable to con-
clude, that theſe mentioned Sperms,
left included in the various Juices of
the concreted Earth, might very well
perform thoſe Feats we now behold
with

( 65 )
5
:
with wonder, and which have exerci-
fed the Thoughts and buſied the In-
quiries of all Ages, eſpecially of this
wherein we live.
Now, on the whole matter, having
briefly premiſed, or rather hinted, what
I conceive juſt neceſſary to conclude
this Point; the Conſideration before me
falls in, and naturally determines in this
Iſſue, which yet I am very far from
pretending to obtrude with any degree
of certainty, but only to propound, as
a probable Concluſion : viz. That all
Foſſil Shells, Bones, bus, digg'd up and
found entomb'd in Slate, Stone, Chalk,
Marble, &c; all the Parts and Contents
of them, however wreathed, marked and
ſtriated, are on the one ſide ſo much the
Productions of Nature, that they were
originally formed and figured in thoſe
very places from whence they are taken
up; and yet are alſo on the other ſide fo
much the Remains of the parts of thoſe
Fiſhes they do imitate, that they are the
Productions of the ſame univocal Sperms,
which thoſe parts of Animals they re-
ſemble, are derived from : In whichi
Point methinks the two conteſting Par-
ties ſo nearly come together, that it is not
to be deſpaired, but that if any under
K
takes

( 66 )
a
takes to make a full proſecution of this
Theory, and by many Diſcoveries and
Experiments that are requiſite to it,
ſet things in their due Light ; there
may be ſuch a ſolid ſcientifical Ac-
count handed out, as will fufficiently
anſwer all the Phenomena that occur in
this Speculation, and give therein a de-
termining ſatisfaction to all rational In-
quirers; which is much defired by,
SIR,
Your humble Servant, &c.
POST

(67)
POSTSCRIPT.
A
a
a
Lthough the Propoſitions laid down
in this Letter, may juftly and na-
turally import at leaſt a Poſſibility of a
Spermatick Origin of thofe Foſſil Shells,
Bones, and other Shell-like Impreſfions,
often appearing in Stones, Rocks and
Clay, in the manner I have accounted
for ; yet if this Theory, and what I
have attempted in it, takes in any thing
contrary, or indeed diffonant to the
Moſaick Accounts, in the juſt and natu-
ral, and now generally received ſenſe
and acceptation of them ; ibit in ignes,
let it be daſh'd out and expunged for
ever.
But that it may appear to be far 2-
therwiſe : that it may demonſtrate the
Grounds on which thoſe Concluſions
were built, which urg'd that Origin, to
be in themſelves very agreeable with
the Senſe and Letter of Moſes; and that
the Diſcourſe and Inferences made on
that Subje& may alſo appear innocent
and able to ſtand on a warrantable Bot-
tom,
K2

( 68 )
tom, I ſhall here ſum up thoſe Propofi-
tions, and place them in that Light and
Evidence from the Texts of Moſes, as
they ſtand related one to another, that
I hope upon an impartial View of the
Parallels, there will be little or no ſcru-
ple to be made of the warrantableneſs of
the Theory, in relation to Sacred Scrip-
tures : Let the natural Grounds and
Philoſophy of it be their own Ad-
vocates.
The main Propofitions of this
Theory are chiefly reducible to
theſe two, in reference to the
Texts of Moſes, on which they
are grounded.
The Firſt Propoſition.
And the Earth was The Firſt Original
without form, and Matter of this Ele-
void, and darkneſs I mentary Syſtem or
was upon the Face of Earthly Planet, was
the Deep: and the an irregular form-
Spirit of God moved leſs Fluid, conden-
upon the face of the fed and coagulated
Waters. And God by gradual Separa-
Said, Let the Waters tions and Digeſti-
undey

( 69 )
under the Heaven bel ons into the Form
gathered together un- of dry Earth, Air,
to one place; and and Water, furroun-
let the Dry Landding and embracing
appear, Gen. I. 2, each other in the
9.
manner we behold.
This Propoſition is no other in the true
and natural Idea of it, than what Moſes
affirms; What he calls on the one ſide
Deep and Waters, is called here a
Fluid ; and what he calls gathering to-
gether, is here term'd Coagulation and
Digeſtion ; which being in effect no
other than General and Synonymous
Terms importing one and the fame
thing, may very well be connext toge-
ther, and come under one Notion
3
and what conſequently reſults from the
one, may therefore juſtly be entitled to
the other.
The Second Propofition.
And the Spirit of The Creation of
God moved hatch-all Specieffes of Ve-
ed, brooded, Gen. getables and Ani-
1.2. compared with mals whether of
Deut. 32.11.] upon Sea or Land, was
the Face of the War in their Seed, or
ters

( 70 )
ters: And God Said, Contracted State
let the Earth bring and Parvitude; out
forth, let the Wa- of which the Earth
ters bring forth: and and Waters when
the Earth and the once ſettled, at
Waters brought forth God's Command
abundantly, Gen, 1. brought them forth
2, II, 20, 24
as from their Ori-
ginal Matrices, and
gave them growth
and Suſtenance to
arrive to their ut-
moft Specific Bulks
and Perfections.
The former part of this Propofition
(! confeſs) at firſt view ſeems to have
but little Countenance from the paral-
lel Texts ; yet the Word Mirachephef
there, may admit of an Interpretation,
which may afford ſome hints of the C-
riginal Make and Conſtruction of theſe
extraordinary Machines, the Seeds and
Miniatures of Things, even in the unſe-
parated and diſordered State of the
Primitive Deep or Chaos : But the lat-
ter part ſeems a more natural and eaſy
Paraphraſe of the parallel Texts; the
Earth and Waters being only ſaid to
produce, or bring forth thoſe Plants
and

( 71 )
and Animals, which by Moſes his
Phraſe and way of Expreffion, plain-
ly implies their actual exiſting, and ha-
ving been created fome ſpace of time
before the Production he mentions of
them, at the third, fifth and fix Days;
For if they had been then created, the
Holy Pen-man had a Word at Hand
(Bara, or even, Gnaſcha,) by which he
expreſſes the Formation of the firſt Man,
which might have compleatly fignified
their being then
made or created : But
ſince he expreſſes that act by other
Words, viz. Daſcha, Scharatz, Jatza,
importing no more than Production,
or indeed ordinary Generation, as will
appear evidently by comparing thoſe
of Gen. 1. II. with Joel 2. 22. of Gen.
1. 20. with Exod. 1. 7. and with Pfal.
105. 30. and of Gen. 1. 24. with
Fob 1. 21. where the fame Words
plainly expreſs no more than an ordina-
ry Proceſs of Seminal Births and Pro-
ductions: It ſeems therefore concluſive
to me, that theſe Words in the firſt of
Gen. imply no more than fuch a Pro.
duction, and that thoſe Products actu-
ally exiſted before the recorded time of
that Production ; that is, among the
then diſordered parts of the Fluid Chaos.
Now

( 72 )
Now beſides what may very reaſon
ably be enforc'd from the propriety of
theſe Words, to urge a Seminal Præ-ex-
iſtence Pracedaneous to the fix Days
Productions; the very order of Nature
and the viſible Scheme of Providence
feem to intimate no leſs. For as it muſt
be allowed that Providence fuper-in-
tends and governs Nature in all her
Works, and is therefore on no con-
temptible Reaſons called a continued
Creation, becauſe it fupports the acts
of Nature in their created Condition:
I ſhould from hence be very ready to
conclude, that if this continued Crea-
tion, or the ſettled order of Providence
deduces the Beginning, Riſe and Pro-
greſs of all animated Products from
what we call Seeds or Spermatick
Energies; that it is therefore highly
reafonable, the fame order being no
other than the Will of God, and
therefore conſtant and unchangeable,
that the ſame proceſs, being but the
Effect of that Order, ſhould likewiſe
deduce the firſt Commencement of
Production from, and conſequently
prove the Creation or primary Conſti-
tution of, thefe vital Products, to be
in what we call Seeds or Spermatical
Bodies

( 75 )
Bodies. And from hence it will be
eaſy to conceive, that what the Moſaick
Hiſtory affirms of the Earth and Water's
bringing forth the firſt ſet of Plants and
Animals, means and ſhould conclude no
more, than that as many of theſe Seeds,
as by the moſt wiſe order of Providence
were in that Original Separation of
Things diſtributed and convey'd to
their proper Elements and peculiar
places of Fætation, the All-powerful
Word of God invigorated and quick-
ened in thoſe places, to put forth
and diſplay their ſpecifick Growths
and Capacities of Explication: And
this being granted, I hope the conclufi-
on I have advanced, of ſome of thoſe
Seeds ſticking in, and being incorpora
ted with the thicker Juices of the con-
gealing Fluid, as was before accounted,
may be allowed to be very poſſible,
and not at all thwart the true Senſe of
the Mofaick Creation.
But to make this yet appear more
plain and demonſtrable, I ſhall ſumm
up the Evidence of this laſt Propofiti-
on into this one Argument; that is,
we muſt conceive, that either the Bo-
dies of Plants and Animals were actu-
ally created at the time accounted by
L
Mofès
:

( 74 )
Moſes, or they were created and actual-
ly exiſted ſome time before, and were
then only produc'd to take on them
the State of Growth and Augmentati-
on ; That thoſe Bodies were not then
created, the very Words by which the
facred Author expreffes the Procedure,
are very ſtrong preſumptive Proofs :
And indeed our beit Expoſitors are not
willing to allow of any Creation, pro-
perly ſo called, at that time : Now 'tis
evident, that if they exiſted before, at
leaſt before the Moſaick Days of Produ-
etion, they muſt be and exiſt amongſt
the rude and indigeſted Parts of the
Chaos, the dry Earth; that is, the
1
denſe coagulated Sediments of the Mo-
Saick Deep, having not till the third
Day appeared , Gen. 1.9. And if they
exiſted in the Chaotick Fluid, they muſt
exiſt there either in their Seeds and
Sperms, as the Propoſition fuppofes, or
in their Bulks of Maturity and Perfecti-
on; in their mature State they could
not, becauſe the crude and undigeſted
Maffes of the Chaos were of them-
ſelves an unfit and unſuitable Medium
to ſuſtain and cheriſh them in that ſtate
and condition ; therefore the Conclufi-
on is fair and demonſtrative, that the
firſt

( 75 )
firſt created Bodies of all Vegetables
and Animals (Man only excepted) pri-
marily exiſted and floated in that Ori-
ginal Fluid, in their Seeds and contra-
cted Miniatures ; out of which the Ho-
ly Penman expreſsly affirms, that they
were on the third, fifth and fixth Days
produced and brought forth, and that
too in the afterwards ordinary way of
Nutrition and Augmentation : Nay, as
to one kind of theſe, he ſpeaks expreſsly
to my purpoſe,namely Plants and Herbs
And God made, faith he, every Plant
,
and Herb, before it was in the Earth, and
before it gremo, Gen. 2. 4, 5. that is, as
was before demonſtrated, in the Mofa-
ick Deep or Chaos, and if there, then
in their Seeds and Miniatures.
To this I add that it muſt be confeſt,
that the Formation of all Seeds, of Ve-
getables and Animals, was the immedi-
ate Workmanſhip of God himſelf; be-
cauſe 'tis plain, if no Fermentations,
no Laws of Motion, no Mechanical Pow-
ers of Matter, as Mr. Whišton very well
obferves, can of themſelves reach to
and frame the Structure of ſuch extra-
ordinary Machines, as the Seeds of things
are ; and if the immediate Creation of
all the parts of Matter, was at the be-
L 2
ginning

( 76 )
ginning of, or rather before Mofes his
fix Days, as moſt Men are not unwilling
to allow ; it is therefore very juſt and
Philofophical to conclude, that the
moſt noble, admirable, and elaborate
parts of Matter, the Seeds of Things,
were then created too; the Words of the
ſacred Hiſtorian as I have before touched,
implying, that theſe little Bodies or moft
active parts of Matter, muſt have exiſt-
ed ſomewhere before theſe mentioned
Days of Production ; and where could
that be, but among the looſe and diſor-
der'd parts of the Chaos?
And moreover, if we have reaſon to
believe that theſe Seeds or Sperms con-
tain in them the entire Bodies, com-
pleatly and perfectly in parvo, of the In-
dividuals to be produced, which they
evidently do in thoſe of Plants, and by
what yet appears in thoſe of Animals
too, as far as our Micrometry inables us
to judge and diſcern into the Make and
Conſtitution of them ; it cannot then
be thought that their Littleneſs, they
being in their Seeds as compleat and
perfect Beings as in their utmoſt Bulks
and Extenſion, can render them, or
give us juſt cauſe to fufpect them, un-
worthy the immediate Hand of God,
and

( 77 )
and the peculiar Workmanſhip of crea-
ting Power; for Great or Little is equal
to that, and equally becoming the Di-
vine Work, ſo they be in their Kinds
abſolutely compleat and perfect Be-
ings.
That the Creation of Matter, and
conſequently of all the parts thereof, is
precedaneous to the fix Days Work,
many of our late Expoſitors conclude,
and explain by reading the Word Cream
ted in the firſt of Geneſis, not as uſually
in the Perfectum, but in the plus quam
Perfectum, as it is frequently uſed in the
Scripture Stile, and very common in the
Hebrew Syntax; which way of inter-
preting, renders the Text natural and
eaſy; And tho' the word Created be
ſometime uſed to expreſs Creation in
the moſt ſtrict and groffer Senſe; yet
otherwhiles it implies no more than
producing, framing, making; as is plain
by ſeveral Inſtances in Scripture ; And
therefore if Gen. I. 21. be objected a
gainſt the evidence of the Propoſition
before us, viz. That God created great
Whales and every living Creature that mo-
veth ; we are undoubtedly either to
6
take the Word Created in the plus quam
Perfectum, or to take it as it is promiſcu-
oufly

(78)
ouſly uſed for Making or Producing 5
for the next Words clearly intimate that
the Waters produced them, and then
the Senſe, that when God had created,
and the Waters brought them forth,
they then became great Whales, is juft,
natural and proportion'd to the other
Adrs of Production : And therefore to
give the Words of Moſes a Coherence
with himſelf and the eſtabliſhed Pheno-
mena of Nature, the Production there
mentioned, of theſe Creatures called
Great on account of their vaſt growth,
muſt reaſonably imply, as in the other
Particulars, a ſeminal Origination: And
this way of explaining the Words of
Mofes, in reference to the different 1-
deas of Creation and Production, I find
our great and worthy Commentator
the Lord Biſhop of Ely to make uſe of,
who grants thefe Conceſſions.
Firſt, That the Creation of the
World, and conſequently of all materi-
al Beings, was over before the fix Days
Works began
Secondly, That the fix Days Works
were a regular and orderly Reduction of
a confuſed Chaos, into a habitable
World, without any ſtrange Miracle, in
every part of it.
Thirdly,

( 79 )
Thirdly, He ſuppoſes, that for a con-
ſiderable time before the fix Days Work
began, there were ſuch preparatory A-
gitations, Fermentations and Separati-
ons, and Conjunctions of Parts, as
diſpoſed the whole to fall into that
ſucceeding Method, and to intro-
duce the ſix Days Production follow-
ing; of which more in Mr. Whiſton's
excellent Diſcourſe of the Mofaick Crea-
tion, pag. 68.
Though this Light and Evidence
from the Words of Moſes, taken in the
Senſe now explained , led me to aſſert
the Primary Origination of both the
Vegetable and Animal Furniture of our
Earthly Globe to be in their Seeds; yet
the Theory I offer to account for the
Origin of Figured Foſſils, requires no
more than that of Animals, and but of
the Marine ones too, together, upon
what has been ſaid, with theſe Conceſ-
fions following, viz.
Firſt, That the common Matter of
our Earth was once in a Fluid State and
Conſiſtence, which the Mofaick Hiſtory
proves, and the Spheroidal Figure of
the Earth, fuppoſes.
a
Secondly,

( 80 )
Secondly, That at leaſt all Marine A-
nimals were originally created in their
Sperm or Seed in that Fluid; which is
very eaſie to conceive, that Element
being the proper Seat and Habitation of
thoſe Creatures.
Thirdly, That on the original Sepa-
ration of the thicker and thinner parts
of that Fluid, the thinner became Air
and Water, and the more denſe and
thicker parts, gradually fixed into dry
Earth; that is, Earth, Clay, Stones, &c.
which is ſufficiently confirmed by the
facred Text:
Fourthly. That in the gradual fixing
and coagulating of the denſe and gravi-
tating parts of that Fluid, vaſt Propor-
tions and innumerable Multitudes of the
Seeds of Fiſh, eſpecially of the ſhelly
Species, were hurried down, detain d
and incorporated in the ſtrict embraces
of the detruding thickning Sediments,
which afterward became Earth, Clay,
Stones, Minerals, &c, and were there
laid
up
and preſerved for ever through-
out the ſubſtance of thoſe depreſſed con-
gealing Maffes.
Fifthly, That at the firſt congealing
of the more groſs and heavy Maſſes and
Sediments of that Original Fluid, there
encloſed

( 8 )
encloſed Seeds or animated little Bodies,
being more full of Life, and repleniſhed
with greater Activity and Vigour than
the other parts of Elementary Matter;
with the firſt Onſet of their vital and
plaſtick Motion, diſpoſed and figured
the then ſoft and ductile parts of their
incloſing Matter, into ſuch Forms as
their peculiar ſpecifick Exertions ſhot
them into, and wherein they remained
ever after congealed and petrified : And
this we may conceive in the ſame or ve-
ry
like
manner, as we obſerve the Salts
of ſome Vegetables, when mixed and
incorporated with Lye or Urine, to
ſhape, direct, and figure, in a ſharp
Froſt, the congealing parts of that Li-
quid into their own natural Forms and
Delineations. And alſo that fome Pro-
portions of theſe Seeds, the ſtrongeſt
and livelieſt of them, actuated ſo far
their peculiar Ferments in that ſoft and
ouzie Matter, as to become perfect Fiſh;
of which the tender Maſculary parts
ſoon failing, the more firm and durable,
viz. Bones and Shells, kept up their
Frame and Texture, and became, upon a
through Congealation, parts of thoſe ve-
ry Concrets, in which they were produc'd,
and in which we find them.
M
Theſe

( 82 )
a
9
Thefe two laſt Potulata are but Mecha-
nical Conſequences of the three prece-
ding ones; and their Evidence depends
on the Authority of them, as that does
on the Moſaick Text.
Yet for a farther proof that Shells may
be produc'd and perfectly form’d, in a
much groffer Subſtance than we do or
can ſuppoſe the Conſtitution of the hard-
eft Rocks to have been before their ac-
quiring Solidity and Hardneſs; that is,
when their parts were yet looſe, and in
a fort of Fuſion and Fluidity; I have oft
obferv'd, and ſometime ſhew'd to my
honour'd and worthy Friend Mr.Edward
Lhwyd Keeper of the Muſeum in Ox-
ford, multitudes of ſmall very perfect
Shells lying ſcatter'd in all Poſitions, and
of all ſizes, from the bigneſs of a ſmall
Pins Head to that of an ordinary Per-
winkle, in the midſt and throughout the
Pulp and Subſtance of a very thick Clay
or Marle : nay in one place I have ſeen
abundance of Cockle-ſhells, moſt of them
whole, their Frame ſtrong and durable, in
the midſt of very tough Marle ; but the
others were weak and brittle and perfect-
ly white; which are to be ſeen in twenty
places in my Neighbourhood; on whoſe
Circumſtances and Production, for more
evidence
a

( 83 )
a
evidence in this Matter, I ſhall a little
inſiſt and thus argue.
Theſe Shells muſt either be feminally
produced in this Marle or Clay, or con-
vey'd there by Deluges or Inundations :
the latter is very improbable, if not im-
poſſible, for their Make and Texture, I
mean the firſt ones I mention'd, is ſo
thin, light and friable, that the leaſt Un-
dulation, or hitting of them againſt o-
ther Bodies, would have bruiſed them
to pieces, and they lie generally, if not
all, in their adapted Cavities, whole and
entire ; neither is there any cauſe to fu-
fpect their having funk, or in any man-
ner made their way into theſe thick
Beds of Clay; there appearing not the
leaſt Tokens of ſuch a Paſſage.
So that we muſt conclude them to have
been generated there, but then, whe-
;
ther originally produc'd there at the firſt
Coagulum before mention'd, or afterwards
ſprouting out of their interſperſed and
latent Seeds from time to time, as cer-
tain Cauſes concurr'd to give them Birth
and Production; is a Point may deſerve
a little conſideration.
Firſt, That theſe Shells were not pro-
duc'd in their perfect Shapes, Magnitudes
and Dimenſions at or before the firſt
M2
hard

( 84 )
hardning of the Marly Subſtance, we have
reaſon to prefume; becauſe the Compo-
ſition of them is ſo dilute, their Frame
and Texture fo weakly built and un-
ſtable, that the neceffary Preſſures of the
clofing and hardning Maſs, would have
utterly ruin'd their Frame and Structure,
many of them being but a thin Film of
a finely dilated Calx, form'd into Shells,
but ſo brittle, that they can ſcarce en-
dure the fingering of them ; and there-
fore as this Diluteneſs and Feebleneſs of
their Frame, is a good Argument to
prove they were not thrown there by a-
ny Floods, which would have daſhed
them to pieces; fo is it a proof likewife
that they were not produced into the
Form and Subſtance we fee, before the
hardening of the including Maſs: There-
fore we may hence in the Second place
conclude them to have grown and ſprung
out of their latent Seeds in thoſe pla-
ces, after the ſettling and congeſting
of the Marly Subſtance : But how to ac-
count for their ſo doing, in ſo hard a
Subſtance; I mean hard, in compariſon
of their tender Bodies; is another dif-
ficulty
To the unfolding of which, I conceive,
that that ſort of Marle being of a porous
fpungy
a

( 85 )
a
fpungy Texture, was perhaps at firſt af-
ter its ſettling, full of Bloats and little
Holes, repleniſh'd with a faline Juice ;
at which the fpermatick little Bodies,
interſperſed through the whole Mafs,
blooming and putting forth their In-
creaſe and Vegetation, foon filled the V.
terus or Cavity with an Animal Shell
3
and the Vegetative Ferment depredating
and converting the Ambient Matter into
its own Subſtance, not only encreaſed the
Shell, but alſo inlarged the Cavity, for
the growth and augmentation of it.
Which Proceſs may appear probable,
fince 'tis evident that theſe Shells muſt
be form'd there ſometime after the
Marle's acquiring its hard and ſettled
Conſiſtency; and even in the thickeſt of
it there are little fibrous Pipes or Convey-
ances, through which the animated Pro-
ducts of the Marle may be well conceiv.
ed to receive Air and Moiſture enough
to ſuſtain and accommodate them in
their Growth and Maturity.ow 9.
I inſiſt the more on this phenomenon,
that the Propofition before us may ap-
pear more conceivable and eaſie ; inſtan-
cing in theſe Marly Shells, the viſible
Notes and Indications of juſt the ſame
Proceſs of Generation, as the ſaid Pro-
poſition

( 86 )
pofition ſuppoſes; for it fuppofes no
more than I have, I think, eaſily and me-
chanically accounted for in theſe Marly
Shells; that on the like reaſon the ſame
Effects might be well attributed to the
fame Cauſe and Circumſtance. Now from
all this, it is juſt and natural to infer, and
I preſume few or none will gainſay, that
Firſt, if the production of theſe true and
undoubted Shells in thick Clay or Marle,
ſprouting out of ſome hidden Seeds in-
corporated with the Marle, as certain
Cauſes concurr'd to give them birth,
ſeems poffible, nay probable, and almoſt
evident, to any one who views them in
their Marly Cells and Receptacles, and
duly weighs their Circumſtances; it will
reaſonably follow, that it is as poſſible,
nay as probable, that thoſe Shells now
included in Chalk, Stone or Marble, or a=
ny the hardeſt Subſtances, might be, and
were produced juſt in the ſame way, or
one not very different from it, at that
time when theſe now-harden'd Maſſes
were in their originalClays and Softnefles.
Secondly, It will from this inſtance
follow alſo, that if the Marine Animals
were created in their Seeds or Sperms,
(of which the cruſtaceous and teſtaceous
fort are a conſiderable Species) in the Cha-
silo
otick
O

(87)
otick Fluid ; and if this Fluid in which
theſe Seeds floated, had a great and con-
fiderable ſhare of it, by the Divine Ap-
pointment condenfing and fubfiding in-
to ſuch ſpiſs and dreggy Conſiſtencies,as
afterward came to be Earth, Clay and
Stones, which I take to be fufficiently
authoriſed by the Mofaick Accounts; it
will be from hence very plain and eafie
to conceive, and as reaſonable to infer,
that many of theſe Seeds and Sperms ſo
ſubfiding, were detached and carried
down in thoſe thick congealing Juices
where during the fuſed and yielding
Conſiſtency of them, they were in no in-
capacity of diſplaying and actuating their
Animal Ferments; Now let us reflect and
obſerve here, that if in the inſtances I
have now made uſe of theſe mention'd
Shells found in Clay and Marle, may
not be judged to pretend to any other O-
rigin than a ſeminal Production in thoſe
very Clays where they're found enclos'd,
whether the very fame Reaſon will not
oblige us to make the ſame Account of
the Origin of thoſe other Shells, found
in the fame manner in Rocks and Stones;
for ſince the Original of theſe two Sub-
jects, viz. Clays and Stones, was the ſame,
why may we not aſcribe the production
of

( 88 )
5
of theſe Foflil-Shells to one uniform
Cauſe, in both theſe Subjects; that is,
to thoſe Original Seeds, diſperſed in the
engrofs'd Earthy Matter; part whereof
by the concurrence of certain Cauſes
came to be congealed and petrified unto
a ftony hardneſs; and the other part, for
want of ſuch Cauſes, ſtill continuing in
their claiey ſtate and condition? I ſhall
yet go one ſtep further, and only ask
ſuch as are averfe to this Opinion
if they allow theſe Shells in Marle and
Clay to be the undoubted Products of
that including Maſs, and yet will deny
the other Shells found in Rocks and
Stones to have been ſpermatically pro-
duced in thoſe Maffes; and if it ſhould fo
happen, that part of that claiey Maſsa-
bounding with theſe Shells, be turn'd to
Stone; which fome petrifying Steams or
Waters may eaſily effect: I ſay, whether
in that turn of Circumſtance, theſe Per-
fons, on the Principles they go, will not
be thereby induced to deny what before
they eaſily granted; when indeed the
pretended Difficulty is founded on no eſ
fential difference, but on what is only
a Mode or Accident, viz. the Laxity
and Denſity of the ſame Subject.
FINI S.