other combinations of nature. Thus attraction and re-action productive of a beginning of intrinfic motion, the heat thence refulting, effects of the fpirit of God, and the accelerated motion impreffed when he said "Fiat lux," co-operated with this motion of rotation to combine terreftrial bodies under the water. No central gravitation which could counteract or retard these combinations as yet existed. Centripetal and centrifugal forces were a confequence of rotation, and contributed to them.

The second day God made the firmament and divided the waters; that is to fay, he said, Let there be an extent in the midst of the waters. He extended space, or the firmament, or the heaven, as it is yet called; he drew all the opaque planets, all as yet in a fluid ftate, from out of the great watery mafs, and fixed each of them in its place. They are, or seem above with respect to us, and are confequently justly called waters above the firmament, in opposition to thofe on this earth which are under our feet. St. Peter agrees with Mofes in saying: "Latet illos hoc volentes, quod coeli fuerint olim et terra ex aquis et per aquas fubfiftens Dei verbo." The rotation already impreffed on the whole of the great mafs or abyfs became accelerated in each planet formed from it in proportion to its axis.

The third day God feparated the waters of our earth from its folid matters already combined by coagulation and concretion under the waters. This was effected by the force of gravitation to the centre now first impreffed. The like no doubt took place in all the

other

other planets. The flux and reflux contributed not to it, because the fun exifted not as yet. The motion occafioned by the precipitation of all matters towards the centre caufed an increafe of heat, which volatilized part of the waters, and produced air neceffary for the vegetation of plants whofe feeds were produced this fame day. It is in this article of the confolidation of the globe and the first formation of mountainous chains that Mr. Wallerius difplays all his genius. It is too full of matter to bear an analyfis, and must be followed in the original.

The fourth day God from the great luminous mafs, which he had separated on the first day from the liquid terreftrial mass, drew forth the fun and the ftars and placed them in their order. It was then that univerfal gravitation towards these bodies took place, and the confequent revolutions of their planets round them. The moon and other planets became luminaries to us, and, whilst each served its particular end, they all became useful figns to us. Univerfal gravitation fet the whole universe in motion. It is to the placing the fun and ftars that Mofes attributes the annual motion of the planets, as it in fact depends on it. Having thus defcribed the arrangement of the whole univerfe, Mofes occupies himself folely with what relates to man, the only living being in which we are effentially interested.

Hitherto we may confider Mr. Wallerius merely as the interpreter

of

of the mosaical account of the creation. His explication is furely not lefs eafy and fimple than ingenious. But, Mofes apart, fhould we examine what he has here advanced purely as a system of cofmogony, it will, I think, appear truly philofophical. It clashes not with any of the well known laws of nature. In the process of first' formation, the operation of those laws is indeed admitted only fucceffively as the work goes forward and their aid becomes neceffary. The union of all is requifite to preserve the regularity and equilibrium of the whole machine when completed; but they might have counteracted each other whilft forming. The artist who should fet his clock in motion whilft the wheels were yet rough and incomplete could only produce an useless work. In this fyftem the Supreme Being begins by the creation of the first fimple elements of all things, confifting of only two distinct principles. Attraction and re-action communicated create the first motion, give birth to heat, and produce the first combinations between these primordial elements. The excefs of the element of light no longer required for these combinations is withdrawn from the common mafs; difengaged, it acquires a new activity, which bestowed on it the faculty of fhining. Thus collected, it acts upon the terreftrial mafs, and communicates to it a motion of rotation on its axis, from which are deduced the centripetal and centrifugal forces. Thefe new motions are fources of new combinations in that body. This great terrestrial mass is now divided into feveral portions to form the numerous planets difperfed and placed in fpace. Each of thefe acquires an accelerated motion of rotation on

'ex

its

its axis in proportion to its fize or density, which increases combinations within it. All the variety of fubftances of which the earth and planets are compofed are now prepared under the waters, and God communicates to each the motion of gravitation to a centre. The folids, which hitherto were confufedly agitated without having any particular attraction to the centre, are precipitated towards it in ratio of their distances and specific gravities; part of the waters run off into the interstices left unfilled by these shapeless falling folids; the dry land appears, and the remaining waters find their bed on the uneven furface. This new agitation increases heat; which volatilizes another part of the waters, and produces the atmosphere neceffary for the vegetation of plants, which are to clothe the land, and whofe feeds are now formed. Having thus prepared the opaque planets, God determines to give them a more efficacious life and permanent motion; and from the great mass of light he draws our fun and the stars, which he places each in the centre of its fyftem. From that moment univerfal gravitation and repulfion take place; the whole univerfe is in motion; and innumerable globes, whether opaque or luminous, roll in beautiful and durably-connected order in the immensity of space. All nature becomes animated, and the future habitation of man is prepared to receive him. All furely is fimple in this fyftem. Abfolute creation is only for the fimple elements of all that exifts. The great acknowledged moving forces of nature impreffed fucceffively, each as its activity is required, combine and animate all things, and finally establish for ever that

beautiful

beautiful order we admire. Whether as an interpretation of Moses, or fimply as a philofophical fyftem, it furely demands the attention of the learned. It is more easily comprehended, and is, in my mind, greatly fuperior to the complicated devices of Mr. de Buffon, or to any other fyftem of formation which has as yet been broached. We shall foon fee many other objections and difficulties which have been reproached to Mofes cleared up with equal fagacity.

Mr. Wallerius reprefents to himself the afpect of the antediluvian world as very different from that which it now wears. The proportion of land to that of sea was much greater. Great part of the waters were hid under the great caverns which fuftained the antediluvian earth. Mr. de Luc fuppofes that of these there were generally three different ftages, one above the other. The land, difpofed with greater fymmetry, though diverfified, was not lifted into high and inacceffible mountains; the feas, lefs deep, occupied not fuch immense spaces, but, divided into finall mediterranean feas, feparated and varied the habitations of men without rendering their communications very diftant, difficult, or dangerous. There reigned neither ftormy winds, nor clouds, nor rains; because the inequalities of the earth were much less confiderable, and all its hills fufceptible of cultivation, and that the dews and rivers fufficed to water the earth; and, as it is faid in Genefis, the Lord God caufed it not to rain upon the earth, but provided that the dews which rofe from it should fuffice to humect its whole furface. The first rains men30

tioned