of an handfome Apology, that they very well defcrve the Thanks of the World for what they have done. For, although they have not fucceeded in their Attempts about the Origin of thefe Bodies, they have made Discoveries in other Refpects concerning them, and in other Parts of Nature likewife, of that Moment and Confequence, as to have thereby laid a great and lafting Obligation upon the intelligent and difcerning Part of Mankind.

1.

But that they have failed notwithstanding in this Enterprize, 'tis, I think, not over difficult to prove. And this is the Subject of the prefent Difcourfe. Wherein I hope to make out, that the Sea gave Birth to thefe Bodies: that they are so *Vid.Pag. far from being formed in the Earth, 23, 24, &c. infra. or in the Places where they are now found, that even the Belemnites, Selenites, Marchafits, Flints, and other natural Minerals, which are lodged in the Earth, together with thefe Shells, were not formed there, but had Being before ever they came thither and were fully formed and C

finished

+ Confer finished before they were reposed in that Manner.†

Part. IV,
Confect. 2.

2.

That the above mentioned Bodies which confift of Stone, of Spar, Flint, and the like, and yet carry a Refemblance of Mufcles, Cockles, and other Shells, were originaly formed in the Cavities of Shells of those Kinds which they fo refemble; thefe Shells having ferved as Ma*Concern- trices or Moulds to them; the Sand, ing the fe Myite, Sparry,and FlintyMatter,being then Cochlite, foft, or in a State of Solution, and fo, fufceptible of any Form, when Conf. 2. it was thus introduced into these Shelly-Moulds and that it confolidated, or became hard afterwards.

&c. See

Part 4

Part 5. Conf. 5. infra.

3.

Conf. 2.

That for the Metallick and Mineral Matter which fometimes adheres to the Surfaces of thefe Shells, or is intruded into their Pores, and lodged in the Interstices of their Fibres, 'tis Part 4 all manifeftly adventitious; the Mineral Particles being plainly to be distinguished from the teftaceous ones, or the Texture and Substance of the Shell, by good Glaffes, if not by the naked Eye. That though the Thing had been fo that this Accretion had not been thus difcernible,

infra.

and

and confequently the Alteration of thefe Shells could not have been accounted for, fo that we had been perfectly in the dark as to the Origin of the Bodies thus alter'd, and that nothing at all could have been determined concerning them; yet this would not have been any the leaft Impediment or Objection against that which I infift upon; there being fo very few of thefe in Comparifon of those which have undergone no fuch Alteration. There being, I fay, befides thefe, fuch vast Multitudes of Shells contained in Stone, &c. which are intire, fair, and abfolutely free from any fuch Mineral Contagion: which are to be match'd by others at this Day found upon our Shores, and which do not differ in any Refpect from them; being of the fame Size that those are of, and the fame Shape precifely; of the fame Substance and Texture ; as confifting of the fame peculiar Matter, and this conftituted and difpofed in the fame Manner, as is that of their respective Fellow-kinds. at Sea: the Tendency of the Fibres and Strie the fame: the Compofition

of the Lamella, conftituted by these Fibres, alike in both the fame Veftigia of Tendons (by Means whereof the Animal is faftned and joyned to the Shell) in each: the fame Papilla: the fame Sutures, and every thing elfe, whether within or without the Shell, in its Cavity, or upon its Convexity, in the Subftance, or upon the Surface of it. Befides, thefe Foffil Shells are attended with the ordinary Accidents of the marine ones, ex. gr. they fometimes grow to one another, the leffer Shells being fixed to the larger they have Balani, Tubuli vermiculares, Pearls, and the like, fill actualy growing upon them. And, which is very confiderable, they are moft exactly of the fame fpecifick Gravity with their Fellow kinds now upon the Shores. Nay farther, they answer all Chymical Tryals in like Manner as the Sea-Shells do: their Parts when diffolved have the fame Appearance. to View, the fame Smell and Tafte: they have the fame Vires and Effects in Medicine, when inwardly adminiftred to Animal Bodies: Aqua. fortis, Oyl of Vitriol, and other like

Menftrua,

Menftrua, have the very fame Effects upon both. In a Word, fo exactly conformable to the marine ones are thefe Shells, Teeth, and Bones, which are digged up out of the Earth, that though feveral Hundreds of them, which I now keep by me, have been nicely and criticaly examined by very many Learned Men, who are skill'd in all Parts of Natural Hiftory, and who have been particularly curious in, and converfant. with Shells, and other marine Productions, yet never any Man of them went away diffatisfy d,or doubting whether thefe are realy the very Exuvia of Sea-fifhes or not. Nay, which is much more to my Purpofe, fome of the most eminent of thofe very Gentlemen, who formerly were doubtful in this Matter, and rather inclinable to believe that thefe were natural Minerals, and who had wrote in Defense of that Opinion, do, notwithstanding, upon ftrict and repeated Infpection of these Bodies in my Collection, and upon farther Enquiry, and Procuration of plain and unalter'd Shells from feveral Parts of this Ifland, fully af C 3

fent