Lakes have been more numerous, &c. 3 
snceflant caufes: And why may not lakes have 
fuffered injuries fimilar to thofe to which the 
other great works of creation are fubject; and have 
been demolifhed or totally deftroyed, like rivers, 
rocks, or volcanos? —that analogy of conduct and 
defign, which pervades the whole vifible fyftem of 
things, at leaft authorizes the fuppofition. 
_ We will therefore, jfirft, enquire what means are 
in the poffeffion of Nature for producing fuch a 
revolution; and, then, endeavour to difcover, 
whether any proofs of fuch alterations having taken 
place are ftill extant. —This method of proceeding 
feems beft calculated, either, to remove the objec- 
tion, or to eftablifh it. 
Vegetation is a favorite procefs with nature: for 
fhe has not only cloathed the plains’ and eminen- 
‘ces with herbs and trees, but has alfo appropriated 
feveral fpecies, and fome whole genera to the water, 
for which element they are evidently intended by 
the fingularity of their ftruéture. Every part of 
a lake abounds with vegetables, where its depth will 
“permit them to grow, and this circumftance is, for 
the moft part, regulated by the variety of plants 
produced in it, and the climate where it is fituated. 
—The fterility of deep waters depends on the fol- 
lowing caufes: Every plant muft be placed in 
‘a fituation where the temperance of the furrounding 
water never defcends below a point fixed by the 
‘conftitution of the plant; otherwife, lofes its 
"vegetative powers. Succeffive and increafing degrees 
ios B2 of 
