44 



the neighbouring country, and poured forth its waters 

 in torrents into the Connecticut and Hudson rivers, 

 bearing away, by its irresistible force, every moveable 

 substance,* 



From hence, and the increasing influx of the Atlan- 

 tic, propelled by a corresponding current into the gulf 

 of Mexico, we may attribute the increase in breadth of 

 the alluvial district, from Long Island to the capes of 

 Delaware, and perhaps further* 



Before I proceed to a more general view of the con- 

 tinent of America, with the intention of pointing out 

 the operations of a general current which once flowed 

 over its surface ; or in search of facts to prove the pro- 

 bable existence of such a current ; I shall enter into a 

 partial examination of a few circumstances or features, 

 which present themselves in several parts of the dis- 

 trict of country which I have mentioned, both as to 

 their locality and extent ; and afterwards to apply 

 them as, at least, strong presumptive evidence of the ex- 

 istence of such a current at some remote period of time. 



* With persons who have read the additions to Cuvier's 

 Theory of the earth, by Dr. S. L. Mitchell, of New-York, 

 it may be supposed that this hint, together with those which relate 

 to tht- formation of alluvial districts at the mouths of rivers, was de- 

 rived from that work : of which see pages S35- 345 383 393, 

 and particularly 395, 



In justice to myself* it becomes necessary to observe, that having 

 been free to communicate my opinions to him on this subject, long be- 

 fore th^ publication of that work, (see the preface,) there is reason 

 to hopp, from the known liberality of that gentleman, that he will, 

 if required, shield me from the imputation of having borrowed 

 cither of those sentiments from that work. 



