of Magnefian Earth. 457 
Philofophers have been much puzzled to 
account for the original faltnefs of the Sea. 
Some have imagined it muft have been furnifhed 
by rivers, which flowing from the land, con¬ 
veyed with them fuch quantities of fait, from 
accumulations of that mineral, formed within 
the bowels of the earth, as to communicate, 
and continually fupply faltnefs to the Sea j while 
others hatfe attributed its impregnation to rocks 
of fait, fituated at the bottom of the Ocean. To 
both thefe opinions, objections have been made j 
and the learned Bifliop of Landafr, * has chofen 
to adopt another, viz. that the Sea was originally 
created fait. In fupport of this theory, and in 
objection to the others, efpecially to that which 
aflerts the origin and fupply from the land, 
it has been advanced, that a great part of the 
finny inhabitants of the ocean cannot exift in 
frefli water, and therefore it is not to be fup- 
pofed, that they (hould ever have been placed 
in a fltuation unfuited for their fupport. It 
might alfo have been added, that, there is as 
much difficulty in accounting for the origin of 
the fait, which the rivers are fuppofed to wafh 
down, as for its formation in the Sea. But 
might not the great Creator, by whole Fiat 
all things were produced, accommodate the firfl; 
inhabitants of the Sea to their temporary 
* Watfon’s Chemical EiTays, vol. II. 
fuuation; 
