( 153 ) 

 the general furf ace of the water ? Now, (confidering the whole of 

 this globe to be one third part land, ^nd two thirds water) I compute 

 that the whole furface of the waters would be thereby raifed between 

 one fourth and one third of an inch. And, fuppofing all the rivers in 

 the world, which are very numerous, (for according to our maps 

 Spain and Portugal only, contain one hundred) do yearly carry with 

 their waters into the fea fo much earth as is equal in fize to one half 

 of the Peak of TenerifFe, the fea would, in the fpace of one hundred 

 years be elevated nearly two feet. 



This being fo, it is not to be v/ondered, that we find our flood tides, 

 in flrong winds from the North-Welt, to rife higher than they were 

 known to do in former times, and that the Rhine, which heretofore 

 fell into the fea at Catwick, cannot now have any outlet that way ; 

 and laftly, that on the fame account, we are obliged to raife our dykes 

 higher than formerly. Indeed, we may conclude, that if in a courfe 

 of many years, there fhould not be more fpace gi\'en to the waters of 

 the ocean, by earthquakes or fubterraneous fires, producing cavities 

 in the "deep, the low lands near the fea will at length be overflowed. 



As to the quantity of land excavated in digging Peat, which fome 

 may imagine affords room to the waters, the fpace of earth or foil 

 fo taken away, does not, in my judgment, amount to a thoufandth 

 part of the fand and clay which is brought down the rivers, and be- 

 fides, the places fo excavated are, for the moll part, afterwards 

 drained. 





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