116 BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 



not'a fountain that gushes in the unfrequented desert, 

 nor a rivulet that Hows in the remotest continent, nor 

 a cloud that swims in the highest regions of the fir- 

 mament, but is fed by this all-replenishing source. r 

 Thus, in the great, as well as in the lesser world, a 

 continual circulation is kept up. The waters of the 

 clouds ascend from the sea in vapours; they descend 

 to the earth in showers, and return again to the deep 

 in rivers, after having watered and fertilized the 

 earth. The ocean, instead of being a bar of sepa- 

 ration, is the great bond of union among the nations; 

 for look at a map, and behold with admiration how 

 wisely the sea, which the ancients looked upon as 

 an impassable gulf, is disposed and distributed for 

 connecting the remotest realms, and facilitating the 

 intercourse of one nation with another. '* By means 

 of this element we travel farther than birds of the 

 strongest pinion fly, and discover tracts which the 

 vulture's eye has never seen. We make a visit to 

 nations that lie drowned in midnight slumbers when 

 every industrious person on this part of the globe is 

 bestirring himself in all the hurry of business. We 

 cultivate an acquaintance with the sun burnt Negro 

 and shivering Icelander. We cross the flaming line, 

 we penetrate almost to the pole, and wing our way 

 even round the globe."' 



The ocean is the great vehicle of commerce, and, 

 instead of limiting the industry of man, enlarges his 

 sphere, and excites him to action. There go the 

 ships which transport the produce of nations from 

 clime to clime, and enable one people to supply their 



