Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-09-18

occur. Animal life was first developed in the
bosom OF the seas, then in the air, reptiles fol-
lowed, gu adrupeds nexi, and lastly man. This
succession, besides being proved by direct facts,
is conformable with the various phases through
which the earth's surface must have passed, TO
be successfully adapted for receiving the differ
EFT races Of living beings We long ago prov
ed, ist, That The analogy Of station and destl'
nation, i'll other words, of the conditions oil ex,
isience and Of the Office TO be fulfilled, is inc
general law which has presided oyer the distri.
button OF life upon the globe. Cd, That the
changes which life has undergone on its surface
have been graduated, but that life ilselfhas not
been renewed: that The races have not been mo.
di6eG, but thar, IN proportion as the conditions
Of existence changed, or new ones were form
ed new species occupied the place OF those
which were no longer able to exist. and which
had no longer an object to fulfil; and that they
went on, up TO the period when, with respect to
each part of the service in succession, 81 equi-
librium was established between the influencing
causes. The animals Of these :imes were pro.
por,ioned TO the original vegetation; and this Is
| the reason why we find every where remains OF
elephants, rhnocerosrs, lions, SC. Animal and
vegetable life has been modified in The same
points, by the causes which we have just point
ed out, the dlmiautlon OF temperature at the
surface or the globe, and the establishment OF
| terrestrial climates.
NJ. de Frayssnous then discusses the ques-
ton, Whe her the stars are Inhabited? SION
,eneIle's Plurality of Worlds may, perhaps, ne
SAYS, be nothing but an ingenious romance. but
you are free TO see a reality in IT," He next
examines he question so much agtaled at the
present day, Whether the human race consli.
tute single species? All the moral reasons
which he adduces in support OF the opinion
tina, men are derived from the same source are
of great validity; and he admits Buttons ideas
regarding the differences which The influence
Of climate, food, and other causes, may have
operated upon theoriginal stock, In It's success
sive generations, and which have produced the
notifications now observed in the different
races We have put il beyond doubt, that.
with regard to animals and plants, it is neces:
sary 10 admit particular centres or basins OF
| produc Ii n, just as we admit in physical geo.
graphy, basins and photographic masses recur-
ring over various parts Ola great surface, or
! in opposite continents, and being affece "a
mong themselves by variable number OF dill
! ferences and analogies At the same time, the
basins anil centres OF productions, present, siml
lar, equivalent, or different productions, accord
| ing TO the places; and the animal creation, like
the veger able, has Seen subjected TO certain
conditions dependent upon The form and nature
Of the soil, and the state Of the air and waters,
so that certain general and even certain spe cies,
are reproduced al greal distances, and even
upon opposite continents, without the posi-
biity Of supposing that they have arrived there
by diffusion, or by proceeding from simple
centre, or from several distinct centres Of pro-
ductions. But these observations, which we
believe it impossible to refute, may ye, prove
aeibiag With rsfdFh "a BE Before science can "a
dopt rational opinion on the subject.
The bishop now passes on to The examina.
lion Of the traditions respecting the deluge, and
brings together all the historical evidences
transmitted by remote antiquity, which tend
to support the traditions Of that great event.
he examines ii, in the last place, with refer
ence TO It's chronological relations. On this
subject, we have to observe, that NM. Cham
2o'iion have shewn that the chronology of the
seventy, adopted by the fathers Of the church,
is sufficient 10 account for a the fac S record,
ed IN history. AS to the means which God
employed in producing the deluge, this, al
though treated by tie bishop a, great length,
is subject of little importance in ITSELF The f.
curative language Of the sacred historian ar-
fords no precise Information on this point, ex.
cept that he speaks ofrxrraordinary rains, which
ne must mean by the cataracts Of heaven, God
could undoubtedly have disposed of the ele,
ments At his will; but without having recourse
10 incomprehensible means and viewing the
deluge as ii ought to be viewed, that is to say,
as confined to the part Of the earth then inbab. !
ted, some less general phenomenon will suffice |
TO account for it.
he only point Of importance to be establish
is, that the deluge was not universal. Re-
spectacle authorities are not wanting in sun,
por, OF this opinion; we might, among others,
advance the testimony Of Msbillon, who main,
tanned this opinion at a meeting of The Copere.
CATION OF the Luder at Rome, where it was adj
mltted BY the nine cardinals who assisted.
The objec, Of The deluge was the destruction
OF The human race; it was therefore unpecess,-
~ to bring general cataclysm over the parts
Of the earth that were not yet inhabited Mo.
sts calls it universal merely with reference to
he then known earth but h. did not eer,snly
under it America and New Hoj.
and. This Interpretation, while IL is NOR.