116 HISTORY Ol 



»rnie philosophers make them to maiikind, it would be a very 

 melancholy consideration that such benefits were diminishing 

 every day. But the truth is, tne valleys are fertilized by that 

 earth which is washed from their sides ; and the plains become 

 richer, in proportion as the mountains decay. 



CHAP. XIII. 



OF WATER. 



In contemplating nature, we shall often find the same sub- 

 stances possessed of contrary qualities, and producing opposite 

 effects. Aw which liquefies one substance, dries up another. 

 That fire which is seen to burn up the desert, is often found in 

 other places, to assist the luxuriance of vegetation ; and water 

 which, next to fire, is the most fluid substance upon earth, 

 nevertheless gives all other bodies their firmness and durability ; 

 so that every element seems to be a powerful servant, ca|)able 

 either of good or ill, and only awaiting external direction to 

 become the friend or the enemy of mankind. These opposite 

 qualities, in this substance in particular, have not failed to excite 

 the admiration and inquiry of the curious. 



That water is the most fluid penetrating body, next to fu-e, 

 and the most difficult to confine, is incontestably proved by a vari 

 ety of experiments. A vessel through which water cannot pass, 

 may be said to retain any thiiig. It may be objected indeed, 

 that syrups, oils, and honey, leak through some vessels that 

 water caimot pass through ; but this is far from being the result 

 of the greater tenuity and fineness of their parts j it is owing to 

 the rosin wherewith the wood of such vessels abounds, which 

 oils and syrups have a power of dissolving ; so that these fluids, 

 instead of finding their way, may more properly be said to eat 

 their way, through the vessels that contain them. However, 

 water will at last find its way even through these; for it is 

 known to escape through vessels of every substance, glass only 

 excepted. Other bodies may be found to make their way out 

 more readily indeed ; as air, when it finds a vent, will escape at 

 once; and (]uicksi]v<r, bucausr of its weiglil, quickly penetrates 



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