bited with creatures, by their organization and structure, fitted to live there; and hence it would not be wonderful that some of the Saurian race, especially the marine ones, should have their station in these waters, which would sufficiently account for their never having been seen except in a fossil state. "There is," continues Kirby, "one instance of a Saurian, at this time known to be in existence, that is perfectly subterranean, which never makes its appearance on the earth's surface, but is always concealed at a considerable depth below it; and, what is worthy of particular notice, by its structure, is connected with one of the larger Saurians, now found only in a fossil state. It will immediately be perceived that I allude to that most extraordinary animal, the Proteus anguinus, which is found in subterranean lakes and caves, two or three hundred feet below the surface of the ground, in Illyria, breathing both by lungs and gills, and presenting characters which connect it with the Saurian monsters before alluded to, whose remains have occasioned so much astonishment."*

Bridgewater Treatise, vol. 1. p. 35.

This discovery should surely make us pause before we too readily concur in the doctrine of extinct animals; and I have cited this, in order that you may see how doubtful the conclusions from geological premises may yet be, and also to confirm, in some degree, my opinion, that the Deity will not perform what may almost be considered a purposeless action, that is, utterly destroy any part of His Creation.

I think there may be a doubt expressed also whether geologists can have certain and perfect evidence of such and such fossils being found in such and such strata only, and thus determining the probable age and duration of respective strata; for, there are cases where the mineral character of a rock remaining the same, the fossils vary and again, the fossils are uniform throughout strata, where the lithological nature of the rock is variable. And in many strata, even in aqueous strata, no organic remains

and

appear.

It seems also that the stratified rocks are by no means parallel-but that one stratum may become united to another, and thus present no continuous line; and since rocks may be variable in their mineral nature and still uniform in fossiliferous properties, can we safely

determine particular rocks by particular fossils; and lastly, when we consider the vast extent of the various strata, how can our little diggings and excavations, here and there, inform us of what may be found or not found in the immense depth and wide area of the earth?

With these suggestions, thrown out in humble deference to the partial researches of able minds, to put you on your guard lest you may too hastily receive for fact the conclusions derived from geology in its present state, we may well take leave of the subject altogether; for, as in the case of the bearing of our other argument, let the modern discoveries in geology be true or false, they in no way interfere with the existence of souls in animals, and a future life for them, any more than with the souls and future life of the human race. At the same time we should take good heed, and the intelligent clergy of the land in particular, how we idly carp at the advancement of modern science, or venture to condemn systems that are supported by the most enlightened men of the age; but rather we should give every science due examination and careful reflection.

We should ever bear in mind how the system

of Copernicus was proscribed, because it seemed to be opposed to the letter of the Scriptures, how Galileo was painfully persecuted for affirming that the earth moved round the sun, and how Dr. Harvey struggled ere he could obtain even a medical belief from others in his theory of the circulation of the blood. Geology can hardly ever interfere with the statement of the Bible, because the Bible only gives the headings, as it were, of the first chapter or notion in that science, and is not so definite as not to admit of large and liberal interpretation.

recourse

But it is our duty, as the great and learned Lord Verulam earnestly inculcated, to have to induction from experiment and steadily conducted investigation of physical phenomena; and the more we investigate, and the more we reason and compare, so much the more probably we shall find that religion and philosophy well agree-religion declaring the will of God, and philosophy manifesting his power. To this purport, I think, speaks Lord Bacon. Only be careful, and, as in religious doctrines, try the spirits.

I am looking over a few books to confirm my idea of monstrous animals, but I must give you the result in a postscript, for I have much

to occupy me at this present time; therefore, I break off, with remaining as ever,

Your faithful friend,

Penscellwood.

ACHILLES.

POSTSCRIPT.

The author of the "Vestiges of Creation," says, that although it has been thought nothing of the Icthyosaurus or Plesiosaurus kind now exists, Mr. Darwin has recently discovered in the reptile-peopled Galapagos Islands a marine Saurian, from three to four feet long.

Some of the late travellers across the African continent found two new species of rhinoceros. There is a curious paper on monsters in Chamber's Edinburgh Journal, vol. ii. p. 226. The very common and general tradition about mermaids may have had its origin very probably in seals, or such creatures, but there is a singular and apparently well attested account, though only by one observer, in Weddell's Voyage to the South Pole.

In the account of the voyage, either of Anson or Dampier, it is said that the seals sometimes come up from the deep in dreadful terror, and gashed with such wounds as could not be given by known creatures of the sea. Is it too