48 



the alluvial district opposite to it ; and the distance 

 from Sandwich bay, across to the mouth of the straits 

 of Bell-Isle and the alluvial district opposite to it ; and 

 more particularly so, between the distance of the latter, 

 and that from the coast of Labrador and Trenton, in 

 New- Jersey, and the alluvial district through which 

 the Delaware river runs at that meridian. This is ad- 

 mitted, but let us see if this difficulty cannot be ob- 

 viated in such a way, as will tend to strengthen and 

 support my opinion, rather than militate against it. 



It must be observed, in this case, that the current of 

 the Atlantic ocean, in its due course* would pass 

 through the straits of Bell-Isle, the gulf of St. Law- 

 rence, and the bay of Funda, in a line nearly parallel 

 to that part of the coast of America ; consequently, 

 much alluvial formation could not be expected, except 

 on the margin of the rivers. But a still more impor- 

 tant circumstance is yet to be considered. As soon as 

 the waters of the Atlantic ocean had risen to such a 

 height as to sweep its current, (which it must be re- 

 membered was in a south west direction,) across the 

 eastern part of this continent, the full force of its ope- 

 rations was acting in direct opposition to the current of 

 the river St. Lawrence. Hence, meeting with an in- 

 surmountable check in its course, and the waters of 

 Lakes Erie and Ontario, urging on their accumulated 

 forces in their usual channel, it occasioned a reflux up- 

 on Ontario and lake Champlain. The consequence 

 was, that their natural boundaries were no longer ca- 

 pable of retaining the increasing tide ; it overwhelmed 



