COUNTRIES RISING. 161 



regions of the globe are regions of active life, 

 and by no means the dark and unstirred abysses 

 of our usual imaginings. It is satisfactory to 

 add the testimony of one of the most learned 

 philosophers of the day upon this point. " Geo- 

 logical phenomena of all kinds," writes Baron 

 Humboldt, " indicate alternating periods of 

 activity and repose. The repose we are now 

 enjoying is only apparent. The shocks which 

 the surface experiences under every variety of 

 climate, and along with every description of 

 rock, Sweden rising in its level,* and the ap- 

 pearance of new eruptive islands, bear no testi- 

 mony to quiescence in the internal life of our 

 globe." 



But these phenomena impress upon us con- 

 siderations of more moment even than those of 

 science. How precarious is the position of the 



* The northern provinces only of Norway and Sweden are 

 rising ; the southern are subsiding. This gradual elevation of 

 a whole region is a most wonderful circumstance. It has been 

 ascertained by certain grooves being cut in the rocks on the 

 sea-coast, marking the ordinary level of the water at a proper 

 state of the tide on a calm day. Fourteen years afterwards, 

 the spot was visited, and, under precisely the same circum- 

 stances, the level was taken, and it was found to be four or 

 five inches lower than before. The fishermen also state that 

 they now find they cannot sail through many channels easily 

 passed in their younger days. Many sunken rocks have also 

 become visible. If this rising goes on, in course of time, 

 sea-port towns will become inland ! 



M 



