ORIGIN OF SALINE MATTERS. 419 



plexity arises, for the solution to which refer- 

 ence must be made to the concluding chapter of 

 this work. 



There are probably few subjects upon which 

 such erroneous opinions have been held, as upon 

 the origin of the saline matter in the ocean. For 

 a considerable time it was said, that the saline 

 matter was derived from the solution, by the 

 waters of the sea, of certain conjectural masses 

 of rock-salt, which were supposed to exist at 

 its bottom ; and that the ocean became salt, as 

 a dish of tea becomes sweet, by simply dissolving 

 the soluble matters conveniently arranged at its 

 bottom. Other views equally erroneous have 

 been entertained. The presence of the saline 

 matter is now accounted for, either on the sup- 

 position that, when God created our world, it 

 pleased Him to create the ocean of its present 

 composition, or upon the view already offered ; 

 namely, that the saline matter owes its origin 

 in a manner equally exhibiting the Divine wis- 

 dom and power as upon the former suppo- 

 sition, to the ocean being the receptacle for 

 the drainage and washing-out of the solid parts of 

 the earth. 



Dr. Fownes observes : " The rain which falls 

 upon the earth is due to condensation of aque- 

 ous vapour previously existing in the atmo- 

 sphere, and which is supplied in great part by 



