"The author declares the theories of Grotius, De Laet, Hornius, and other writers on the origin of the Americans untenable -  that America was peopled (before the Deluge) by a race superior to the present - that the Deluge did not extend to America, and that the principal theories of the Deluge are erroneous, particularly that of Whiston. He gives his own theories on all these points, as well as upon many others of equally high interest, not excluding the origin of the negro." - Sabin. Samuel Engel, librarian of the city of Bern in 1736, magistrate of Aarberg in 1748, resigned his functions in the "Grand Conseil" in 1755. He was an agriculturist, geographer, and one of the most educated inhabitants of Bern in his day. Engel was the author of several works on geography and economics. From his early years he was interested in geographical discoveries, particularly those dealing with the polar regions. He examined diligently the maps and writings of Kirilov, Buache, Delisle, Müller, Gmelin, and others. He examined these works with regard to the northern parts of both Asia and America. Most of the questions he raised were valid. Howes E-147; Sabin 22568; Ward & Carozzi, Geology Emerging, 747