166 HISTORY OF 



foot, two feet, and more. How does this come 

 to pass ? Is the air the cause ? No : the liquor 

 rises, although the air be taken away. Is attrac- 

 tion the cause? No: for quicksilver does not 

 ascend, which it otherwise would. Many have 

 been the theories of experimental philosophers to 

 explain this property. Such as are fond of tra- 

 velling in the regions of conjecture, may consult 

 Hawksbee, Morgan, Jurin, or Watson, who have 

 examined the subject with great minuteness. 

 Hitherto, however, nothing but doubts instead 

 of knowledge have t>een the result of their inqui- 

 ries. It will not, therefore, become us to enter 

 into the minuteness of the inquiry, when we have 

 so many greater wonders to call our attention 

 away. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



OF THE ORIGIN OF RIVERS. 



" THE sun ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and 

 pants for the place from whence he arose. All 

 things are filled with labour, and man cannot 

 utter it. All rivers run into the sea, yet the sea 

 is not full. Unto the place whence the rivers 

 come, thither they return again. The eye is not 

 satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing."* 

 Thus speaks the wisest of the Jews ; and at so 

 early a period was the curiosity of man employed 



* Ecclesiastes, chap. i. ver. 5. 7, 8. 



