[Note 3: M. de Saussure, describing the marble of Aigle, says, "Les
tables polies de ce marbre presentent frequemment des coquillages, dont
la plupart sont des peignes stries, et de tres-beaux madrepores. Tous
ces corps marins on pris entierement la nature et le grain meme
du marbre, on n'y voit presque jamais la coquille sous sa forme
originaire."]
We are led, in this manner, to conclude, that all the strata of the
earth, not only those consisting of such calcareous masses, but others
superincumbent upon these, have had their origin at the bottom of the
sea, by the collection of sand and gravel, of shells, of coralline
and crustaceous bodies, and of earths and clays, variously mixed,
or separated and accumulated. Here is a general conclusion, well
authenticated in the appearances of nature, and highly important in the
natural history of the earth.
The general amount of our reasoning is this, that nine-tenths, perhaps,
or ninety-nine hundredths of this earth, so far as we see, have
been formed by natural operations of the globe, in collecting loose
materials, and depositing them at the bottom of the sea; consolidating
those collections in various degrees, and either elevating those
consolidated masses above the level on which they were formed, or
lowering the level of that sea.
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