CHAPTER II. 



I HAVE been thus particular, in order to prove that the 

 sea is not likely soon to be dried up ; and that allu- 

 vial formations are not produced by the sea. 



I shall, in the next place, pass over that kind of 

 alluvial formation, which is said to occasion the ex- 

 tinction of lakes, but which I shall notice hereafter, 

 and endeavour to prove, that the alluvion of rivers, 

 \vith some few exceptions, is by no means so common, 

 and so extensive as is generally imagined ;* or if there 

 be a visible increase of alluvial districts in some few 

 instances, it is too small and limited to. afford any sup- 

 port to those, who maintain that alluvial districts in 

 general, are formed by rivers. 



The alluvion that is formed by rivers may be said 

 to depend, both in its quantity and extent, on three ma- 

 terial circumstances. 



1st. On the extent of country through which the 

 rivers pass. 2d. On the nature of the soil, of which 

 the country is composed. And 3d. on the rapidity 

 with which the current flows in those rivers. 



* See Chapter llth. 



