20S STUDIES OF NATURE, 



On the fuppofition, then, of the re-eftablifliment 

 of the equilibrium between the Poles, and of the 

 Earth's conftantly prefenting it's Equator to the 

 Sun, it is extremely probable, that, in this cafe, it 

 would be fet on fire. In fact, on this hypothefis, 

 the waters which are under the Equator, being 

 evaporated by the unremitting action of the Sun, 

 would become irrevocably fixed in ice at the Poles, 

 where they would receive, without effeft, the in- 

 fluence of that luminary, which would be to them 

 conftantly in the Horizon. The Continents being 

 thus dried up, under the torrid Zone, and in- 

 flamed by a heat every day increafing, would 

 quickly catch fire. Now, if it be probable that 

 the Earth would perifh by fire, were the Sun's 

 motion confined to the Equator, it is no lefs pro- 

 bable, that it muft be deluged with water, if the 

 courfe of the Sun were in the diredtion of the Me- 

 ridian. Oppofite means produce contrary effedls. 



We have jufl; feen, that the alternate effufions of 

 part of the polar ices merely, are fufficient for re- 

 newing all the waters of the Ocean, for producing 

 all the phenomena of the Tides, and for effefting 

 the balancing of the Earth in the Ecliptic. We be- 

 lieve them capable of entirely inundating the Globe, 

 were the fufion to take place all at once. Let 

 it but be remarked, that the eifufion of only a part 

 of the ices of the Cordeliers, in Peru, is fufficient 



to 



