MAGNITUDE OF THE OCEAN. 53 



globe, except a few chains of mountains. Whether 

 this be exact or no, we can easily conceive the 

 quantity of water which lies in the cavities of our 

 globe to be greater or less than it at present is. 

 With every such addition or subtraction the form 

 and magnitude of the dry land would vary, and 

 if this change were considerable, many of the 

 present relations of things would be altered. It 

 may be sufficient to mention one effect of such a 

 change. The sources which water the earth, both 

 clouds, rains, and rivers, are mainly fed by the 

 aqueous vapour raised from the sea ; and therefore 

 if the sea were much diminished, and the land 

 increased, the mean quantity of moisture distri- 

 buted upon the land must be diminished, and the 

 character of climates, as to wet and dry, must be 

 materially affected. Similar, but opposite changes 

 would result from the increase of the surface of 

 the ocean. 



It appears then that the magnitude of the ocean 

 is one of the conditions to which the structure of 

 all organized beings which are dependent upon 

 climate must be adapted. 



