COMPOSITION OF WATER, 25 



the first knowledge of the true form of the earth, and on the 

 pursuit of astronomy, and of all the mathematical and physi- 

 cal sciences. 



Since Columbus was sent to unbar the gates of ocean, 

 man has boldly ventured into intellectual as well as geo- 

 graphical regions before unknown to him. How perfect. 

 Infinite One, are all thy works, and how shortened our 

 aspirations I 



If the existing waters were increased only one-fourth of 

 their present area, they would drown the earth, with the 

 exception of some high mountains. If the volume of the 

 ocean were augmented only by one-eighth, considerable por- 

 tions of the present continents would be submerged, and the 

 seasons would be changed all over the face of the globe. 

 Evaporation would be so much extended, that rains would 

 fall continually, destroy the harvests, fruits, and floAvers, and 

 overturn the whole economy of nature. 



There is, perhaps, nothing more beautiful in our whole 

 system than the process by which the fields are irrigated 

 from the skies, the rivers are fed from the mountains, and 

 the ocean restrained within bounds which it never can ex- 

 ceed so long as that process continues on the present scale. 

 The vapor raised from the sea by the sun floats wherever it 

 is lighter than the atmosphere ; condensed, it falls upon the 

 earth in water. And what is water? It is composed of 

 two important gases — oxygen and hydrogen — these being, 

 probably, the two most abundant and essential substances in 

 nature, as regards ourselves and our earth. 



These, when combined, become converted into vapor, 

 many gallons of them in this state forming one small drop 

 of fluid water. It is the simplest of combinations, and the 

 compound most resembling a simple element ; the most uni- 

 versal solvent at all temperatures; the most widely dis- 

 tributed substance in nature; the most powerful agent; the 



