104 BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 



The all-wise Creator foresaw this, and, in mercy 

 to the inhabitants of the dry parts of this earthly ball, 

 diffused his watery treasures over such a consider- 

 able portion of its surface ; carefully balancing the 

 Atlantic with the Pacific, and the Northern with the 

 Southern ocean ; and if the old Continent can boast 

 of its Mediterranean, Caspian, Baltic, Black, White, 

 and Red seas, the New World is deeply indebted 

 by the gulf of Mexico, and North America has ob- 

 tained the appellation of the Country of lakes. 



But the ocean, as well as being the source of fer- 

 tility, by the exhalations drawn up from its surface 

 by the sun, is also the great receptacle of filth, and 

 mighty purifier and restorer of nature. Almost all 

 the rivers, indeed, run into the sea; but it is not mere- 

 ly to empty their liquid stores, and to keep up the 

 circulation in the huge machine of the universe ; they 

 convey also, as they go along to this capacious re- 

 ceiver, the refuse of nations, and deposit in the bo- 

 som of the great abyss thp accumulated fillh of our 

 towns anr! cities. How, then, it may be asked, are 

 the waters of this mighty basin preserved from being 

 contaminated? And. instead of continuing the sa- 

 lubrious element of vitality to so many living crea- 

 tures, how comes it to pass that the sea is not con- 

 verted into a source of corruption, a fountain of pu- 

 tridity, disease, and death ? 



The two great efficient causes, which produce 

 these happy results, are, that incessant -motion by 

 which the ocean is kept in perpetual agitation, even 

 in its most tranquil state, and the saltness of its wa- 



