[!■ ■
may be found alternating with green-sand.
Indeed, it is impossible to trace an exact
order of succession in the members of
similar formations in distant countries, or
to set up a standard in any one country,
with which tlie succession of rocks in
other countries shall invariably agree. It
is highly probable that very different
strata might be forming at the same time
in remote parts of the globe ; nor can we
even prove that similar species of fossils in
distant regions were contemporaneous ;
for it is not unreasonable to believe, with
Herder, that “ wherever the proper conditions
for the support of certain species
were found, there such species were created.”
In a certain state of our planet,
these successive creations being no longer
necessary, have ceased; and it is, probably,
that this epoch may be referred to by the
writer of Genesis, when he says, the supreme
Creator rested from his labours.
On arriving at Bellegarde, we found our
char, which we had sent before us from the
Pert du Rhone, waiting at the douane.
We had been told at Geneva, that the officers
of the customs here were particularly
vexatious in their search ; but we did not
find it to be the case. We had been mindful
not to carry with us any prohibited articles.
The head officer requested me to
assure him that I had nothing contraband.
I told him I could safely do so, except
books, which they might examine; he said
tliat it was only religious books that they
were ordered to prohibit. They opened
all the boxes, but were satisfied without
unpacking them. I offered half-a-crown
to the man who had opened the trunks,
which he refused, saying, he had done
nothing but his duty, and never took money
for it. This was the first time that I
ever knew money refused by the under-officers
of the customs. I should not have
thought it necessary to mention these circumstances,
had I not heard such exaggerated
accounts of the difficulties of passing
the douane at Bellegarde, that I thought it
miiiht be useful to state O the fact. I believe
that persons who scrupulously avoid car-
rying prohibited articles, and who exhibit
no fear of search, will not, in general,
experience more inconvenience tlian is
unavoidable. The officers acquire a certain
tact for discovering whether travellers have
any thing with them which they are anx