And if it grew a tenth of an inch a year, or even a whole inch, how many years must it have taken to make the chalk of our downs, which is in some parts 1300 feet thick?
How many inches are there in 1300 feet?
Do that sum, and judge for yourself.
One difference will be found between the chalk now forming at the bottom of the ocean, if it ever become dry land, and the chalk on which you tread on the downs.

The new chalk will be full of the teeth and bones of whales--warm-blooded creatures, who suckle their young like cows, instead of laying eggs, like birds and fish.

For there were no whales in the old chalk ocean; but our modern oceans are full of cachalots, porpoises, dolphins, swimming in shoals round any ship; and their bones and teeth, and still more their ear-bones, will drop to the bottom as they die, and be found, ages hence, in the mud which the live atomies make, along with wrecks of mighty ships "Great anchors, heaps of pearl," and all that man has lost in the deep seas.

And sadder fossils yet, my child, will be scattered on those white plains:-- "To them the love of woman hath gone down, Dark roll their waves o'er manhood's noble head.
O'er youth's bright locks, and beauty's flowing crown; Yet shall they hear a voice, 'Restore the dead.' Earth shall reclaim her precious things from thee.
Give back the dead, thou Sea!".