l6o STUDIES OF NATURE. 



The ports of Marfeilles, Carthage, Malta, 

 Rhodes, Cadiz, &c. are ftill frequented by Navi- 

 gators, as they were in the remoteft Antiquity. 

 The Mediterranean could not have funk at any 

 one point of its fliores, without finking at every 

 other, for water in the bafon always comes to it's 

 level. This reafoning may be extended to all the 

 coafts of the Ocean. If there are found any where 

 tracks of land abandoned, it is not becaufe the Sea 

 retires, but becaufe the Earth is gaining ground. 

 This is the effeâ: of allufions, occafioned frequently 

 by the overflowing of rivers, and fometimes by the 

 ill-advifed labours of Man. The encroachments of 

 the Sea on the Land are equally local ; and are the 

 effed of earthquakes, which can be extended to no 

 great diftance. As thefe reciprocal invafions of 

 the two Elements are particular, and frequently in 

 oppofition on the fame coafts, which have, in other 

 refpeds, conftantly preferved their ancient level, 

 it is impofTible to deduce from them any general 

 law for the movements of the Ocean. 



We (hall prefently examine, how fo many ma- 

 rine foffds could have been extraded from it's 

 bed ; and I confidently believe that, conformably 

 to refpedable traditions, we fliall be able to ad- 

 vance fomething on this fubject, not unworthy of 

 the Reader's attention. To return, then, to other 

 mountains, fuch as thofe of granite, which are the, 



higheft 



