i64 LETTER VIL 



conceive that the Water of that Inundation, 

 which fell from Heaven, and was confequent- 

 \y fweeter and lighter than Salt Water^ was 

 not fo thoroughly mixed and confounded, with 

 " the Waters of the Sea, but that the one ftill 

 preferved its Frefhnefs, and the other its Salt- 

 nefs, or Bitternefs, and each of them their 

 particular QuaUties^ which being granted, this 

 " confideration alone, will furnifh us with Infe- 

 rences (which I leave you to deduce,) that are 

 fufficient to deflroy all your Conjedtures. 

 1 6. '' Nor is it lefs vain, to have recourfe to 

 Winds, Storms, and Inundations, for a Solu- 

 tion of this Mydery. The way of Eruption, 

 by which the New Fejiivius^ or little Moun- 

 tain, that had been caft up upon the top, 

 *' from the Bowels of the Old Mount, and the 

 ** MG?ite Nuovo wxre formed, is not, I confefs, 

 '* to be altogether rejefted, as being in itfelf im- 

 *^ probable; for, fuch Hills that fhould be com- 

 " pofed of Mud, or Slime, and of Sandy Earth, 

 " mixed with Shells, and other marine Bodies, 

 " efpecially in Countries fubjedt to Earthquakes, 

 ^' could well enough admit of fuch an Explana- 

 " tion. But after all, I fee no reafon that fliould 

 " oblige us to take fo wide a compafs, for a fa- 

 " tisfaftory folution of this Pha^nomenon ; for to 

 *^ give you my thoughts of it in few Words, I 

 " think it may be eafily comprehended, that the 



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