of the sea, and again restored ; or, that this extent of 

 country has been recovered by man, from the sea, by 

 artificial dikes, or mounds. This is by no means the 

 case ; for wherever alluvial formations exist, it is in 

 consequence of direct inroads on the ancient limits of 

 the ocean, rivers, &c. 



Fortunately, however, Mr. Stoddard has in the fol- 

 lowing page, removed that degree of obscurity, with 

 \vhich the subject seemed to be veiled, and enabled us 

 to understand what, in reality, is his opinion on this 

 point, by the following. "No doubt the elevated 

 islands scattered along the coast and already, in most 

 instances, connected with the main land by marshes, 

 were, not long ago, situated at some distance in the 

 sea. These projections are caused by the deposition 

 of the sediment from the rivers, particularly from 

 the Mississippi. The Gulf of Mexico, though of 

 great extent, is filled with shoals and sand banks, es- 

 pecially near the land, which render the navigation 

 dangerous ; and the materials of which they are com- 

 posed have been rolled from the sources of the great 

 rivers"* 



It is a prevalent opinion with many, that the entire 

 alluvial district has been formed, in the course of time, 

 by the alluvial deposites from the rivers that discharge 

 themselves into the sea. Others are of opinion that it 

 is a part of the great .whole, but of more recent forma- 

 tion than the primitive or secondary rocks. 



That considerable quantities of matter are daily 

 formed and deposited at the mouths of rivers, is with- 



* Sketches of Louisiana, page 184. 



