26 



There are a great number of rocks, whose points, or 

 heads* at complete low water, just shew themselves 

 above its surface, and have been well known in that 

 situation for more than one hundred years past, and 

 without the smallest visible alteration in their appear- 

 ance, at that particular state of the tides. 



The Lattimer rock, lying about midway in the 

 Khode Island passage, through Long Island Sound, 

 affords a striking instance of this kind. This rock 

 has been well known for more than one hundred years. 

 Its head or apex, at a certain state of the tide, appears 

 just above the water near the middle of the passage 

 between Fisher's Island, and Watch Hill, on the 

 Stonington side, (Connecticut.) 



Now, it is doubtful whether the Nilometer affords a 

 better standard to judge of the increase and decrease 

 of the river Nile, than the above rock does, of the ac- 

 tual increase, or decrease of the ocean on the coast of 

 America. 



I could enumerate several others, equally as well, 

 if not better known, and no less suitable objects by 

 which to regulate our opinions on the subject. Among 

 these are the Hogsback, and several others, at, and 

 near Hurl Gate at the western extremity of Long 

 Island Sound. 



Now although no visible difference is perceptible in 

 these rocks, as to their positions, and appearances for 

 more than a hundred years, it may be said that they 

 have not been sufficiently long known and observed, to 

 enable us to determine a point of so great importance. 



