40 



The most then, that the Mississippi river ought to 

 claim, is that which extends beyond a line drawn from 

 lake Borgne, across to the bottom of Atchafalaya bay, 

 which line will correspond very nearly with the line 

 of coast from East Florida, to a great distance west 

 of the Mississippi river. 



Whether this be the case or not, we must look to 

 some other source for the cause of the formation of this 

 immense district which lies on our Atlantic coast. 



Viewing the subject in all its bearings, there is no 

 circumstance that affords so strong an evidence of the 

 cause of its formation, as that of its having been depo- 

 sited by a general current, which, at some unknown 

 period, flowed impetuously across the whole continent 

 of America ; and that from north east to south west. 



With this in view, I shall, in the next place, pro- 

 ceed to examine the subject, and endeavour to sub- 

 stantiate the fact : should I fail in the attempt, 1 flat- 

 ter myself that it will not be through a deficiency in 

 the force of evidence, but of the amount at issue. 



Admitting that such a current may have existed, it 

 will be necessary to inquire, what, in all probability, 

 was the character and extent of its operations ? That 

 would no doubt depend on the extent, gravity, velo- 

 city, and duration of this current. 



In regard to its extent, 1 believe I shall make it ap- 

 pear that it was general over the whole surface of, at 

 least, this continent. Of its operations, although they 

 are strikingly obvious, I shall endeavour to point them 



