54 On the Terrestrial Arrangements connected with 



whole mass of vegetables which had been reared by the aid of 

 a high temperature. A pious mind cannot but feel deeply 

 moved, on contemplating the infinite wisdom and goodness of 

 the Creator, which is manifested in the works of nature. 

 " O Lord," so we may exclaim with the Psalmist (Ps. civ. 24), 

 ** how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made 

 them all : the earth is full of thy riches.'' I have already 

 observed, that the temperature and the waters of the sea 

 have always been on the decrease since the period character- 

 ised by the growth of a monstrous vegetation. What was 

 the consequence \ This decrease of the temperature and of 

 the waters of the sea involved a decrease in the amount of 

 vapours, which arise from the latter, and descend again, 

 under the form of rain. In order to remedy this, and to 

 restore the balance, it became necessary to raise up chains of 

 lofty mountains. 



It is a well-known fact, proved even by our hills, the Sie- 

 bengebirge,and the Slate Mountains of the Rhine, that a greater 

 quantity of moisture is condensed from the atmosphere by the 

 action of mountains, than by that of plains. 



We observe, that the clouds are attracted by the mountains, 

 that they discharge upon them their contents, and give origin 

 to springs, brooks, and rivers. It is said in the same Psalm, 

 that the Lord sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run 

 among the hills. 



It was sufficient to raise the chain of the Alps in order to 

 supply with water, through the medium of the largest streams, 

 a considerable portion of Europe, — ^the south and west of Ger- 

 many, the Netherlands, the south of France, the north of Italy, 

 Hungary, and European Turkey. 



Those parts of the Alps which have been lifted above the 

 snow-line, became, of necessity, covered with eternal snow. 

 There was nothing lost by this arrangement, though large 

 tracts of country were thus rendered inaccessible to the growth 

 of plants and animals ; for beyond a certain altitude there is 

 an end to every species of organized products. Add to this, 

 that on the other side of the Alps a large extent of country, 

 traversed by low ranges of hills, is well adapted for the growth 

 of organized products. A fertile mould, covering the ground 



