96 PAPERS, ETC. 



from the smallest brook to the Mississippi or Ganges, flowa 

 onwards for any conslclei'able distance in the direct line of 

 its descent. Its bias continually oscillates from one side 

 to the other, iu proportion to the inequalities of the sides 

 of its Channel. From this osclllatoiy mode of advancing 

 forwards, all streams have a tendency to wear themselvea 

 a Channel in a Serpentine form. Where the Stratum is of 

 a uniform character and density, the curves of the river 

 are generally alternate on each side, and correspond with 

 almost geometrical exactness ; the angle of incidence 

 equalling the angle of reflection. 



It may not be irrelevant to our present subject, to notice 

 in this place, the singular curvatures of the Channels of the 

 rivers Parret, Axe, and Briie, at a short distance before 

 they enter the Bristol Channel. On casting the eye to the 

 map of the county of Somerset, we discover each of these 

 streams to make a curve of considerable extent near their 

 embouchure, almost encompassing a large tract of alluvial 

 land. 



5. The filUng up of these morasses, next claims our 

 attention, and here vve find two causes in Operation at the 

 same time ; the one, the growth of aquatic vegetables, 

 subsequently converted into peat ; and the accumulation 

 of alluvial matter brought down by the rivers in floods, 

 and deposited on the lands within reach of their influence. 



The action of running water is a powerful agent in 

 carrying away the finer particles of the earth's surface, 

 when rendered soft and friable by the efFects of frosts, and 

 by the descent of raln in sudden showers and storms, 

 sweeplng away a considerable portion of the softer strata. 

 And vve also find a volume of water rushing down an 

 inclined plane, Avith a force increased by being confined 

 between high banks, or contracted between projecting 



