BOOK OP NATURE LAID OPEN. 109 



while undergoing the process of purification amongst 

 the sandy particles at the bottom. There the most 

 offensive impurities having subsided into the mud, 

 may be said to be buried in the depths of the sea ; 

 but not to remain, for even there a species of worms 

 await their farther decomposition, and the last stage 

 of corruption is made to assume a new form. 



The saltness of the sea, besides the important part 

 it bears in the renovating power of the watery ele- 

 ment by its saline quality, is also -of use in lending 

 its aid to preserve that motion, the beneficial efficacy 

 of which has just been demonstrated ; for the salt- 

 ness of the sea renders its waters less apt to freeze, 

 and in those countries where, in the absence of heat, 

 it is not so necessary otherwise, tends not a little to 

 retard the progress of congelation. This serves only 

 to render the water of the ocean heavier, and con- 

 sequently of a proper consistency for supporting 

 those numerous burdens which float on its surface. 



Among the wonders of the great deep, we may 

 justly reckon those awful phenomena, termed Wa- 

 ter-spouts ; yet these no doubt have their uses. 

 They are of two kinds; one of which is no other 

 than a thick compressed cloud, reduced to a small 

 space by contrary winds, which, blowing at fhe same 

 time from many corners, give it a cylindric form, 

 and cause the water to fall by its own weight. The 

 quantity of water is so great, and the fall so sudden 

 and precipitate, that if, unfortunately, one of these 

 spouts break on a vessel, it shatters it to pieces, and 

 sinks it in an instant. It is asserted, and possibly 



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