Quotations from the best authorities might be multiplied to the same effect, but it is deemed unnecessary. It remains to repeat the question, _Could such an amount of vegetable matter have been accumulated, short of millions of years, at the ratio of the present vegetative powers of the earth?_ It is impossible. The only remaining conclusion is, the vegetative power of the earth anciently was much greater than at present, which could not have been except its temperature was much higher also. In conclusion on this question, it is necessary to say, that the reduction of the earth’s temperature would be gradual, in a natural way, by the heat flying off into celestial spaces, until the crust became so thick and compact as to prove a perfect non-conductor of caloric. Then the surface of the earth would depend on the heating power of the sun altogether. The thickening of the crust of the earth would be attended with earthquakes, volcanos, and partial deluges, the natural and necessary results of the oxidations of the metals. Hence we would have different strata of rocks, sand, gravel, &c, deposited at different times, and over different sections of the country. Hence also forests would be overthrown, and the vegetation of years be thrown together in the nearest lakes or seas; which explains the origin of _coal-basins_. This state of things also well explains the alternations of strata of different kinds, as sand, gravel, chalk, fresh and salt water deposites, &c, as well as the dislocations, fractures, contortions, and confusions observable in the structure of the earth’s crust. There are however various phenomena which indicate clearly that there was _a general and sudden reduction of temperature_. The state of preservation, in which those animals in Siberia are found, proves this. The vestigia of the _last_ great revolution in our globe clearly indicate the DELUGE to have been the cause of this general and sudden reduction of temperature. This would be the natural consequence of _submerging_ the earth in water: and the suddenness of the event is well attested both by the scriptures, and the physical history of our earth. The action of the deluge does not come within the contemplation of this volume, and therefore will not be noticed here.]