268 rnYsicAL geography of thk bea, and its meteorology. 



again, if tlie evaporating surface were to grow Salter and Salter, 

 whence would the winds derive vapour duly to replenish the 

 earth with showers ? for the Salter the surface, the more scanty 

 the evaporation. Here is compensation, again, the most exquisite ; 

 and we perceive how, by reason of the salts of the sea, drought 

 and flood, if not prevented, may be, and probably are, regulated 

 aud controlled ; for that compensation which assists to regulate 

 tlie amount of evaporation is surely concerned in adjusting also 

 the quantity of rain. AVere the salts of the sea lighter instead of 

 heavier than the water, they would, as they feed the winds with 

 moisture for the cloud and the rain, remain at its surface, and be- 

 come more niggardly in their supplies, and finally the winds would 

 howl over the salt-covered sea in very emptiness, and, instead of 

 cool and refreshing sea-breezes to fan the invalid and nourish the 

 plants, we should have the gentle trade-winds coming from the 

 sea in fitful blasts of parched, and thirsty, and blighting air. 

 But sea salts, with their manifold and marvellous ada^Dtations, 

 come in here as a counterpoise, and, as the waters attain a certain 

 degree of saltness, they become too heavy to remain longer in 

 contact with the thirsty trade-winds, and are carried down, 

 because of their weight, into the depths of the ocean ; and thus 

 the winds are dieted with, vapour in due and wholesome quantities." 

 — Maury's Sailing Directions, 7th ed., p. 862. 



497. TJie harmonies of the ocean. — Since the offices which, in the 

 operations of the physical machinery of the earth, have been 

 assigned to the salts of the sea, are obviously so important and 

 manifold, it is fair for us to presume that, as for the firmament 

 above, so with that below, the principles of conservation were in 

 the beginning provided for each alike, for the world in the sky 

 and the drop in the sea ; that when the Creator gathered the 

 waters together into one place, and pronounced his handiwork 

 " GOOD," some check or regulator had already been provided for 

 the one as well as the other — checks which should keep the sea 

 up to its office, preventing it from growing, in the process of ages, 

 either larger or smaller, fresher or salter. As we go doAvn into 

 the depths of the sea, we find that we are just beginning to 

 penetrate the chambers of its hidden things, and to comprehend 

 its wonders. The heart of man was never rightly attuned to the 

 music of the spheres until he was permitted to stand with his eye 

 at the telescope, and then, for the first time, the song of the 

 morning stars burst upon him in all its glory. And so it is witli 



