10 THE OCEAK. 



the attracting influence, and move towards it. The 

 time of high water in the open sea is about two 

 hours after the moon passes the meridian, owing 

 to the impetus which the waters have been receiving 

 not ceasing immediately ; just as the hottest part of 

 the day is not noon, but about two hours after it ; 

 and the hottest month of the year is not June, but 

 July. On the coast, however, high water is delayed 

 to a greater or less extent by the obstructions of 

 straits, mouths of rivers, harbours, &c. It appears 

 strange that the sea should be elevated, not only on 

 the side next the moon, but also on the side which 

 is diametrically opposite ; so that it is high water at 

 the same moment on two opposite points of the 

 globe, each of which points follows, so to speak, 

 the moon in the daily revolution, and, consequently, 

 every part of the surface of the Ocean is raised twice 

 in each day. The singular phenomenon is thus 

 explained : the attraction of the moon elevates the 

 particles of water on the nearest side, by slightly 

 separating them from each other, v/hich their im- 

 perfect cohesion readily admits ; it also affects the 

 earth itself ; but this being a solid body, the cohe- 

 sion of its parts cannot be overcome, and the whole 

 mass is therefore moved towards the moon, while the 

 particles of water on the farther side remain, owing 

 to their freedom, nearly in the same position as be- 

 fore. The fact is, that the earth is drawn away from 

 the water on the remote side, and that the water is 

 drawn away from the earth on the near side. The 

 sun is far larger than the moon, but his attrac- 

 tion, owing to his great distance, does not affect the 



