New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-12

We are left without any positive tact from winch
to nudge But no person can suppose the shells TO
have been deposited faster than an inch year.
which would give about ten years for foot; though
the lecturer thought fifty years would be much near
er TO the truth On this supposition, however the
formation Of Is ,OeO feet would require 10000
years and this must be deemed very Moderate
estimate, from the undeniabie propositions from,
| which it bad been deduced.
Upon the top of the Pliccene strata some years
ago, volcanic explosion took place; and 2250
wears age, in the time of Pindar, Mt. Etna had
attained an elevation of 10000 feet This We have
recorded b. Pirdar. who speaks OF the lava pass
ing down and melting the snow thus proving that
the snow must at that time have attained that ell
ovation, The formation of the mountain, 5y sue
cessive depos!tions of lava, must have consumed
at least 90 600 years; and this at the begin
ming Of the Pliocens period. Adding to this the
| tire we have already noted, should have in
round numbers 100000 years for the antiquity
| OF the Earth And if 50 wears be allowed for
the deposition of foot, as the lecturer was III
clined to think should be allowed We should have
| two millions Of years Is the length of the whole
period.
Son,e facts connected with this subject were here
mentioned. 4 pebble picked UP in the street
shows upon its face the evident action Of water
il bears upon Its surface the marks Of attritlon.
What has become of the parts clipped off BY this
attrition They have formed sasd--snd thus has
all the sand upon the Earth-the Deserts of Sa
hara-ant al the soil OF the whole globe been
produced by this attriton of rocks caused by wa
ter. What length Of time must have elapsed can
readily be imagined
Ina part of France. moreover. Is mass OF noun
tain which exhibits precisely the order of Strata
arranged in the table. Eruption succeeded eruP-
ton. each forming lake which contained Various
shells. a stream has cut away the mass SO as to
exhibit precisely The order here presented.
Upon examining specimen of rock found IN
England, it was found to exhibit at the base, first
limestone then dirt, formed and existing fox such
length of time that trees were found upon II
then came fresh water formation then salt
water formation, and the hight of the whole was
5000 feet; and no change has taken place since
the time of julius Cesar. When ne invaded the
island. then, it Is evident thar the whole had for
ages existed in that condition.
No doubt then can be entertained of the i'm
mense antiquity OF the earth and that for all that
time it has contained the smaller classes eff ami
mails. There is no necessity of assigning any def
mite period for the existence of the earth for If
there was scer a beginning. there must have been
a Creator. In the opinion Of the lecturer, howev-
er, the earth had beginning, and he believed 1t
might be supported by sound argument,
As to the occurrence Of the deluse, ali that
could be said was, that the water which then was
called into being, had performed its function and
then disappeared. This might seem bold state,
ment. but there was no other. and there was no
need of farther question concerning it, Promising
to continue hereafter the general subject, upon
which he had barely entered, the lecturer con-
cluded, at this point, his remarks.