notices which will be always found the best criterions LETTER of the truth on this interesting study.110 The extinction of the gratuitous idea, that the thick beds of the regular strata required very long periods of time for their depositing, will be a great emancipation of the Geological mind, and destroy a prepossession which impedes its progress toward a just and lasting system of our Earth's construction. 110 Mr. Fairholme remarks with much force: Such an example must serve at once to show, that instead of thousands or millions of years for such deposits of Sand-stone rock, but a very short time must have been occupied in the formation of the whole of this quarry; and consequently of the whole Coal formation which rests below it. The Tree could not possibly have remained in a reclining posture, if only held by a few of the strata near its base; nor could it have been long exposed with its top protruding in air or in water. A few days of the agitated and turbid waters of the Deluge must have been sufficient for the formation of the whole bed in which it is now found.' Ib. 333. VII. VIII. LETTER VIII. THE CREATION OF THE FISH AND WHALES AND OTHER LETTER IN the Vegetable Kingdom we have surveyed one grand division and display of organized matter, and of that living principle which is every where connected with organization. These two great peculiarities of nature are never separated. There is no organization without the principle of life. There is no life on our Earth without a material organization within which it resides. From the Creations which we have described, the Deity proceeded to the formation of a very different description of material organization, and with a living principle of qualities much superior to any which appear in Plants. This other grand division of life and organization is that which constitutes the Animal Kingdom. If we consider the mediums in which they reside, we should distinguish this Order of beings into three general classes-the Animals of the waters, those of the air, and those which inhabit more immediately the land. But their respective forms and habits lead us to minuter divisions than these. Besides the Fish, Birds, and Quadrupeds, we also find Insects frequenting the air, and Reptiles and Worms the earth; and others, the amphibious class, which are alternately both on land and in water. Linnæus made an artificial classification, which has since been VIII. considerably altered by others. The Crustaceous LETTER animals have been separated from his Insects; and the Testaceous ones from his Worms. The Molluscæ and Infusoria have also received a more distinct consideration, and a different arrangement. All these form together another vast and multifarious evolution and portraiture of the Divine Mind, to the contemplation of its intelligent creatures. But altho very diversified in external figures, and in their habits, yet they are all linked together by very close analogies of system, qualities, faculties, and living principle. They all display relations to each other, and organical and instinctive affinities and similarities, which entitle them to be considered as one grand kingdom of organized life, originating from the same Designer and Creator; associated in many points with His Vegetable system of it, tho clearly separated by their sentient and other superiorities. Thus the living organizations of earthly nature are in two distinct compartments. One of these, the Botanical, has been considered in some detail, because it represents to us the principle of life in the lowest degree of faculties and force, without apparent sense or thought, and acting on principles and to effects very dissimilar in many essential points to those of the animated races, amid all its analogies with them in others. But Animals are more immediately linked together in all their functions and properties. Of these, the Aquatic tribes are the most peculiar, least known, and most fully separated from the rest; and will therefore be considered in these Letters rather more at large than the other Orders of the Animal Kingdom. But of each of these, we will endeavour to select such facts as will indicate the Divine system and object in their S VIII. LETTER production, and as will contribute perhaps to throw some light on the nature and distinctions of that living principle, which has been appointed to accompany both the kingdoms of organic being.1 The new system of Creation which is exemplified in the Animal world was begun on the fifth day, in the production of the Fishes and the Birds. The order for their appearance is thus expressed : And ELOHIM said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.'2 Thus the two earliest classes of animated beings were those that were to inhabit the two fluid mediums on our globe; the water and the air; both of which are compounded substances-specific compositions of oxygen, with different additions. Water, is the combination of oxygen with hydrogen: the atmosphere, is its union with azote. But neither of these result from a promiscuous mixture of their component parts. One definite proportion of oxygen with one fixed portion of hydrogen will alone produce water.3 Another proportion of oxygen with a determined quantity of azote, is requisite for the formation of the air which Animals enjoy sensation by means of a living organization, animated by a medullary substance; perception by nerves; and motion by the exertion of the will. They have members for the different purposes of life, organs for their different senses, and faculties or powers for the application of their different perceptions. They all originate from an egg.' Turt. Linnæus, v. 1, p. 4. 2 Gen. ch. 1, ver. 20. 3 Dr. Thompson considers Water to be a compound of one atom oxygen, and one atom hydrogen; (Inorg. Chem. v. 1, pp. 11. 58.); or one volume of oxygen to two volumes of hydrogen; or, if estimated by weight, eight of oxygen to one of hydrogen. Ib. 99. The weight of a cubic inch of water is 252 grains, at the temperature of 60. Ib. 103. 4 LETTER we and all earthly animals respire. Any other pro- VIII. portions of either will make very different substances. The two elements are therefore as chosen, appointed, and specific things, as the creatures are that inhabit them; and these creatures have been deliberately formed with exact adaptitude to the properties of the several mediums they were to live in. Nothing can more strongly indicate a reasoned Creation." FISHES, like Vegetables, are in several natural tribes, very distinguishable from each other, altho all residing in the watery element: but this element, so uniform in its general qualities, has yet several peculiar divisions; as in rivers, lakes, marshes, and seas. Its greatest distinction is that of Salt water in its oceanic diffusions, and of Fresh water in its terrestrial distributions; and some of the fish are appropriated to each of these. It is however a prevailing * The same intelligent Chemist exhibits Air as containing onefifth of oxygen, and four-fifths of azotic gas, or nitrogen. The mean of ten experiments, in which I removed the oxygen from common air by means of phosphorus, gave me a mixture of oxygen 20; azotic gas 80=100. This result was confirmed by decomposing common air by means of hydrogen gas.' Thom. Inorg. Chem. p. 57, Ed. 1831. Every thing, even in the Mineral World, appears to be a specific and determinate creation. The opinion at present entertained by Chemists in general, is, that simple substances are aggregates of very minute particles, incapable of farther diminution, and therefore called atoms.'. . . . . 'They always combine with each other in definite proportions.'. . . . . 'Matter is not infinitely divisible. Its ultimate particles consist of atoms incapable of any further division or diminution.'. . . . . Notwithstanding their extreme minuteness, each of them has a specific weight.' Thomp. In. Ch. 3-9. His observations show that every substance is a definite composition of a fixed proportion of its constituent particles. For each substance to be, this proportion must not alter, as any other makes a different thing. The permanent continuance of each is therefore a lasting evidence of their intended, chosen, and appointed and specific creation. |