33 JLfcVlfc'H VfJ*. 



Jfiaid, is not embellished with that variegated scenery 

 Vihkh adorn?, and every where diversifies, the earth. 

 The sen, however, is not without its wonders, which 

 proclaim the power and wisdom of its Creator, and 

 of which the tkles are the most conspicuous and re- 

 markable. The waters of the ocean have, from the 



emote antiquity, been observed regularly to 

 well uiki subside twice in about twenty-five hours ; 

 but the cause of this phenomenon continued during 

 iiiaay ages undiscovered. Our great philosopher, 

 Sr Jkuac Newton, has, however completely unveiled 

 hc mystery, established the theory of the tides upon 

 UKJ basis of demonstration, and proved in the most 



-us manner, that they an: caused by the at- 

 vuction of the moon; for the waters, immediately 

 siiKierueath the moon, will, by the force of attraction, 

 b*r drawn upwards, and consequently swell, and gra- 

 dually rise from the -horizon, 1 while those on the op- 

 po&ite side of the globe, being but feebly attracted, 

 will likewise swell. If you were better acquainted 

 whh cosmography, and the philosophy of attraction, 

 1 might further explain this by saying, that wherc- 

 evtr the moon is vertical, or directly ever a place, the 

 waters will swell by reason of its attractive powers 

 drawing them upwards ; those in the opposite part of 

 the globe, having no attraction but towards the centre 

 of the earth, will be light, and consequently swell up- 

 ward ; and those which are at the distance of ninety 

 degrt'ic-i from each of the opposite points, will naturally 

 flow towards the swelling parts of the ocean. If you do 

 iot at present, you, will, 1 doubt not, my dear Sir, 

 soon comprehend these matters, when you arv a little^ 

 more advanced in the knowledge of philosophy. 

 From this sketch you will, however, perceive, that 

 the moon, by revolving round the earth once in twen- 

 ty-four hours, produces two tides. 

 " These tides must naturally flow from east to west ; 

 for they must necessarily follow the moon's course in 

 its revolution. The course of the tides is, however, in 

 many parts of the globe, intercepted by continents 



