refpeSling the Caufe of the Tides, 277 



the courfe of the Teas from one pole to the other is in a 

 fpiral line round the globe, like the courfe of the fun 

 from one tropic to the other : admitting therefore the alter- 

 nate fufion of the polar ices, all the phasnomena of the tides 

 and currents of the ocean may be explained with the greatett 

 facility. 



I have then eftabliflied by facts fimple, clear, and nume- 

 rous, the difagreement of the tides in moft feas with the 

 moon's action on the equator, and their perfect coincidence 

 with the fun's action on the polar ices. 



I have no doubt various objections may be urged againft 

 this hafty explanation of the courfe of the tides, &cc. But 

 thefe phyfical caufes prefent themfelves with a higher degree 

 of probability, fimplicity, and conformity to the general 

 progrefs of nature, than the aftronomical caufes by which it 

 is attempted to explain them. — Thus far St. Pierre. 



I hefitate whether I ought not to apologife for occupying 

 fo much of your time and attention in the detail of a theory 

 which may be deemed unworthy of ferious notice ; yet I 

 flatter myfelf it will afford an opening to curious and intereft- 

 ing difcuffion. St. Pierre complains that the prejudices of 

 mankind are fo ftrong in favour of received opinions, that he 

 cannot obtain a hearing. 



To the heft of my judgment I have offered a fair and can- 

 did expolition of a hypothefis which he has dreffed up with 

 fomc eloquence and much declamation, and ufhered into the 

 world with a folemn and impofing air of confidence and af- 

 furance, tolerably well calculated to confound the ignorance 

 and candour of his readers. I am not confeious of having 

 omitted any material fact or argument which tends to the 

 fupport and elucidation of his theory ; I have neglected much 

 abfurd reafoning, yet not without retaining fome curious 

 fpecimens. I did once intend to have entered into a ge- 

 neral examination of his principles and reafoning ; to have 

 ihown the fallacy of the former, the inconclufivenefs and 

 inconfiftency of the latter; but I (hall now be fatisfied with 

 offering a few facls and obfervations extracted from the 2d 

 ;md third voyage of Captain Cook, which appear to me de- 

 ufivt of the (jueliion, 



Captain 



