ll of the rocks and all of the strata of every name and nature (except
perhaps igneous rocks) were originally laid down in water. This is
evidenced not only by the stratifications themselves, but by the
evidences of sea-life everywhere present in the earth's crust. Before
the upheavals in the earth's crust began, the whole surface of the globe
was a great ocean of hot water. The substances of which the rocks were
formed were undoubtedly held in suspension in the air and in the water,
and by a gradual process were deposited in the bottom of the ocean in
layers, forming rocks of various kinds, according to the nature of the
substance deposited. Gradually the crust of the earth was built up until
it acquired a certain thickness; when, either from shrinkage under the
crust a great void was formed until it could not sustain its own weight,
or the pressure caused by confined gases and molten matter produced an
upheaval which broke the crust of the earth outward, causing great
wrinkles that we call mountain ranges. Undoubtedly both forces were
active in producing these results. When the gases and molten matter had
escaped through the rifts in the rocks caused by the upheaval there must
have been great voids formed that were filled up by the shrinkage of the
earth, causing much irregularity in its surface.

In some places there were enormous elevations, and in others
correspondingly deep depressions. The water that before was evenly
distributed over the surface of the globe, after the upheavals ran off
into the lower levels, filling up the great valleys, forming the seas,
and leaving about one-third of the land surface uncovered. It must not
be supposed, however, that the appearance of the land was caused by one
grand movement or upheaval, but that it has been going on in successive
stages through long ages of time. This is clearly evidenced by the rock
formations. The deposition of rock strata is still active in the bottoms
of the oceans, although not to the same degree as in former times. When
the upheaval took place the old stratifications were thrown out of
level, but the new ones that were then formed remained in a level
position until they were in their turn disturbed by some subsequent
upheaval.

The laws of gravitation would tend to precipitate the matter held in
suspension by the water straight down to the bottom, toward the center
of the earth, so that the plane of these stratifications would tend to
be parallel to t