STUDY IV. 169 



to convince the candid Reader, that the bed of the 

 Seas was fcooped out, exprefsly for receiving them. 



Neverthelefs, I muft produce one argument 

 more, calculated to remove every poffibility of 

 doubt on the fubjedt. Had the bed of the Seas 

 been formed, as is fuppofed, by a finking down of 

 the folid parts of the Globe, the fhores of the Sea, 

 under water, would have the fame declivities with 

 the adjoining Continent. Now, this is not found 

 to be the cafe on any coaft whatever. The decli- 

 vity of the bafon of the Sea is much fteeper than 

 that of the bounding lands, and by no means a 

 prolongation of it. Paris, for example, is raifed 

 above the level of the Sea, about 26 fathoms, 

 ^reckoning frorn the bafe of the bridge of Notre- 

 Dame. The Seine, accordingly, from this point, 

 to where it empties itfelf into the Sea, has a decli- 

 vity of little more than 130 feet, in a diftance of 

 forty leagues ; whereas, meafuring from the mouth 

 of the river, out into the fea, only a league and a 

 half, you find, at once, an inclination of from 60 

 to 80 fathom, for this is the depth at which vefTels 

 anchor, in the road of Havre-de-Grace. 



Thefe differences of level at Land, from the le- 

 vel of the bed of the Sea, in the fame line of direc- 

 tion, are to be met with on all eQafl:s, more or 



lefs. 



