this' cavern feme days after* on my return from Nordal, when I
ventured further in, though not fo far as two men whom-1 had
with me. We then perceived, by the help of a lanthorn, through
an aperture under our feet, that the ftream had made itfelf another
flat and fmooth bed of little Hones, or a gravelly bottom,
like that under which it now runs, confequently in time, it will
likewife penetrate through this new vault, whichwill then-become
its roof, ahd' thus in anoöier bottom, proceed to lay the founda^
tions b f anbther new Vault; -
Tantuirr scjri longinqua valet mutate vetuftas.
However eafily thofe caverns, tluougfe which there is a water-*
Courfe *, may be accounted for, yetrit is* moire difficult tocxplaini
the origin of the many dry caverns and fecret pafiagés in the
rooks,, like that o f Dolfteen,- ofwhich riime ifrflanei^ might*upon
inquiry fee found in other mountains. Thefopiniori that carries
the greateft;weight with me, is th a t of Woodward, ifrhis Theory
of the Earth, p. 8jj, that: the whole maf§ of terrcffrial .matter,’
after its diflblutipn by the deluge* and, its fubfequent reunion,
was foon after, when dried and hardened, 'by löiriê fecfet caufe in
the earth itfelf (uririiverfal earthquake, or the dike) ajmn fepa-
rated and thrown into fuch corifufion, that the, fevejal ftrata, or
layers," funk in' fome, places, and rofe in othejrs r t'hfs naftirally
gave the furfeace b f the earth the appearance of a"er aekf cir fhat-
tered building, with many chafms betwixt its fuins? till atlerigth
the earth fhall be entirely levelled,
S E -C T . VIL
ifftas of'the ' However true itfe e th a t this opinionof Woodward defervesthe
preference, beyond any of the cpnjedhires ©f Rurhèt,' Whifton, or
the hardeft other theorifts on.the effects of the deluge, yet.it'has net been
wMchiheh exempt from pppofitipri, and particularly is gom'bated b y Èlias
MfXpihniy Camerarius, and but latfely by Mr. Buffoh, My reafon for adopting
cerm ‘ it here, is, that of all others, it moft facilitates the difcqvery jpf
the origin* not only of the cavities^ but of thè möuntains therm
felvesHe does not deny, as Burnet does,, the exiftence of mountains
and hills before the deluge, but is of the opinion, that they
, * Of this kind is that fo remarkable cavern in the Peak .in Derbyihire..
were
were all diflblved, and as it were liquified, and that the whole
terreftriahbahfs,1 d withf its- dhtaöhed and Intermingled aparts, .at lafti
came tó' a doalitioft; .ab&e^thè' abyfs,!|dri^hhéî rforjn of a leonvex
vault,' one feratum|above'ah® thef^rifeorié, earth, fand, chalk, and;
other fubftand£s,:'fobfedingig(uicker or ffower,,according to their fpe-,
éîfîo gravities;' the féxferMffubftan'Cést thus ^obtaining tkeir,cofegétedf
ftràta, the* outward fhêlLof'the earth was «fm'ÓQthianckJevel; and,
'Burhe-t,'-ih-Jhis Theory of. tKeiEak%4fh@rdV this’ to havel been} the
ftate of"things from the'creation! tó* thesiSOdyhii lwhçirithei:iyater;
brökè jhp'ffa'&d demolifhed^fehe |fihoótjh ffiellÿ1 afrç|jflhis<d:ifiuption
mingling different bodies, threw all tthings' into^thèife prèfent disorder
; though the wifdom;of a*jdïphe oeconomy[ hé- feil! jurii^etr
fallyitîârifpieubus, ?» Woodward', inkafifwjbr. t® tthksqueftiosnjfehow:
the fütfàée'iof.the. glorié, _ which’,*|jabeording t(>;:his lopinioh^v was
rendered ‘finebth 'by the déhïgp, fell into its prêtent*.irregularity?
how the middle or. low eft ferata were-tkrbwn ùppermo'ft,t and fricht
a r general : confufeon prevailed.? feppofes, * tfhat ^immediately} àftprf
îhe idblugep therabovementioned •,great 'change': arid'•’dffiolufion *
took .place, bÿ^which forö,'ei;dfetaeheddftr ata : ftoodf'wifb one efed
in the'air, and the other fuhmerged, that .therpfôce ,of1 thej
deprefled was' filled by the .elevation of parts or' fragments i$f feiffl
ferentdaiÿêrsif ’j jTho- this fenl'a®! hypothefis* Igpbÿl /appears t o
me the onlyiorie,- which accounts for -and lilluftrates»;1vhat ' I hay#
mqft wondered ht,« ?in-, ,my dpèculatiQns»p|ri;|hç ftuppodoriSji fe^^forse
of ouf northetn rocks, and. particularly the' ferataiof-thèir differeht
parts,-; In ithefe rocks,-, which are fcompofed ©f.maffesrve^ÿ differ^
entj inii colour and figure, plainly,^ feerîithat tHeThibfeances
thereof have been .as it weré .hquified, and;:afterwardlrfribfidfd
ftratum. fuper ftratum, yet mot; always'hqiiizontal, ‘ according^
the laws'of motibn; and gravity,^ but rather in.general, ofiliq-tie,’ <s&
in varîoùs, - and in fome places,. evèta>iaHperp’endieulai-. direâiônsj.
The caufe of this pofitionj,cannot be cleared' up without admitting*
th é aforefaid opinion of Woodward, at, feaft till, feme'iriore rativ- ■
plaufible, As a neW walfflif \he fotipdation giyes. .way f9ditffe,TfelaG&, and
even fin^ a'nd f^lis çÿ twin ,1 tfié like mü(t havé happened p on
this,ne^,.niixture,caiïp to Do
tur^ ifc the ‘tower part, ^n^contoquffitl^Msulip^ ftrfa|e
lowed the finking foundation,rippoff the water dtféfergîna iàejf fçonftqe Mtórp^ts
tofOjthe; oeçan.
Part L . P S I