THE EARTH. s\ 



m this case, we must previously examine its prc perties, before we un- 

 dertake the explanation. The other property to be mentioned is, that 

 of their ascending in small capillary tubes. This is one of the mos; 

 extraordinary and inscrutable appearances in nature. Glass tubes 

 may be drawn, by means of a lamp, as fine as a hair ; still preserving 

 their hollow within. If one of these be planted in a vessel of water, or 

 spirit of wine, the liquor will immediately be seen to ascend ; and it 

 will rise higher, in proportion as the tube is smaller ; a foot, two feet, 

 and more. How does this come to pass ? Is the air the cause ? No : 

 the liquor rises, although the air be taken away. Is attraction the 

 cause ? No : for quicksilver does not ascend, which it otherwise would. 

 Many have been the theories of experimental philosophers to explain 

 this property. Such as are fond of travelling in the regions of conjecture, 

 may consult Hawksbee, Morgan, Jurin, or Watson, who have examined 

 the subject with great minuteness. Hitherto, however, nothing but 

 doubts, instead of knowledge, have been the result of their inquiries. 

 It will not, therefore, become us to enter into the minuteness of the 

 inquiry, when we have so many great wonders to call our attention 

 away. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



OP THE ORIGIN OF RIVERS. 



" THE sun ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and pants for the 

 " place from whence he arose. All things are filled with labour, and 

 " man cannot utter it. All rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not 

 " full. Unto the place whence the rivers come, thither they return 

 " again. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hear- 

 " ing."* Thus speaks the wisest of the Jews. And at so early a 

 period was the' curiosity of man employed in observing these great 

 circulations of nature. Every eye attempted to explain those appear- 

 ances ; and every philosopher who has long thought upon the subject, 

 seems to give a peculiar solution. The inquiry whence rivers are pro. 

 duced ; whence they derive those unceasing stores of water, which 

 continually enrich the world with fertility and verdure, has been va- 

 riously considered, and divided the opinions of mankind more than 

 any other topic in natural history. 



In this contest the various champions may be classed under two 

 leaders. M. De La Hire, who contends that rivers must be supplied 

 from the sea, strained through the pores of the earth ; and Dr. Halley, 

 ivho has endeavoured to demonstrate that the clouds alone are suf- 

 ficient for the supply. Both sides have brought in mathematics to 

 their aid ; and have shown that long and laborious calculations can at 

 any time be made to obscure both sides of a question. 



De La Hiret begins his proofs, that rain-water, evaporated from 

 \he sea, is sufficient for the production of rivers ; by showing, that 



Ecclesiastes, chap. i. 5, 7, 8. t Hl st. de I'Acad. 1713, p. 56. 



VOL. 1. F 



