FUTURE S.^LMON LEGISLATION. 211 



Nevertheless, some people venture to say that the 

 infliction of sterility on the waters by artificial means is 

 natural, because river-courses are the natural drains of 

 the country, and because thus it is natural that all 

 dirt should descend through these drains. But there is 

 neither proof nor probability as to this being a correct 

 interpretation of the designs of Nature in the making of 

 rivers ; and though it were otherwise, the fact would not 

 be much to the purpose. Nature, we beg to suggest, 

 intended river-courses for rivers, and rivers are naturally 

 composed of water that rises from the ground and water 

 that falls from the clouds. There is no written proof 

 nor visible probability that Nature designed river-courses 

 as conduits or open sewers for the running off of lime, 

 soda, and vitriol. On the contrary, there is good evi- 

 dence that Nature intended rivers, among other good 

 purposes, to furnisli a supply of drink to man, beast, and 

 bird, to say nothing of fish ; and it is a fair inference 

 that whatever renders rivers unfit for so obvious and 

 great a purpose, is a violation of the designs of Nature. 

 Indeed, it would be quite enough to say that Nature, 

 beyond all doubt, designed rivers to be the habitation of 

 fish ; and that if lime, vitriol, soda, and filth are in- 

 compatible with fish, it is not the fish, but the filth, that 

 is out of place. But suppose it proved or likely that 

 Nature had any such grotesque and inconsistent design 

 as is so unwarrantably imputed to her, it is sometimes 

 necessary, for the preservation of life and for other good 

 and sufficient causes, to counteract or neutralize even 

 natural operations. People do this habitually in personal 

 and domestic matters, and even in this very matter of 



