FROM MIRBEL. &#9 



In proportion as man, who finds himself cramped in 

 countries of long standing civilization, extends the 

 boundaries of his domain by stripping the soil of its 

 ancient forests, so the wind and sun disperse the su- 

 perabundant moisture ; the springs exhaust themselves ; 

 the lakes dry up ; inundations cease altogether, or 

 confine themselves to a smaller extent ; the volume 

 of water carried along by rivers diminishes ; and the 

 atmosphere becomes warmer and drier. These are 

 results that cannot be denied, and, without mentioning 

 the numerous evidences which history offers, it will 

 be sufficient to adduce the United States of America as 

 a proof. It is a fact admitted by all, that the clearing 

 of the woods began two centuries ago in the European 

 colonies, and continued unceasingly to this day, has 

 occasioned a very evident diminution in the quantity 

 of water, and a perceptible elevation in the tempera- 

 ture of the climate. But where, from improvidence 

 or brutal selfishness, man has destroyed the woods of 

 a country without reserve, the soil, bereft of the mois- 

 ture requisite to the maintenance of vegetation, has 

 been reduced to the most fearful sterility. The Cape 

 Verd islands, once watered by numerous springs, and 

 covered with lofty forests and luxuriant herbage, now 

 present to our view only waterless gullies, rocks bared 

 of their mould, with here and there a patch of parched 

 herbs, some stunted bushes, and a few plants of the 

 succulent kind. The Isle of France, formerly so 

 fruitful, is at this moment threatened with the same 

 sterility, if the wisdom of government does not hasten 

 to set proper bounds to the improvident waste of the 

 woods by the falls now carrying on. 



In mountainous countries, above all others, the des- 

 truction of trees produces the worst effects. The for 

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