66 



junction with "BaffinVbay, and the Aortic sea, defy- 

 ing all bounds, overrun their ancient limits, and hurled 

 their united forces, in dread confusion, across the 

 bleak regions of the north to consummate the awful 

 scene. Thus lakes and seas uniting, formed one 

 common Ocean, which was propelled with inconceiva- 

 ble rapidity across the continent between the great 

 chains of mountains, into the Gulf of Mexico, and, 

 probably, over the unpeopled wilds of Smith America, 

 into the southern ocean. 



Let us now see what were the probable consequen- 

 ces, when examined in this view, as it respects the 

 geological appearances which prevail in almost every 

 part of this country. 



As has been observed, the operation of the current, 

 flowing across the south eastern coast of Labrador, 

 which was immediately exposed to its fury, was to 

 deprive it almost, if not entirely, of its soil which it 

 carried away ; but being too small in quantity, no vi- 

 sible alluvial formation was occasioned upon the 

 coasts, at the eastern extremity of the United States. 

 Nevertheless a considerable change has been wrought 

 upon the coasts near the sea in those parts, particular- 

 ly on the margins of rivers having a northwardly and 

 southwardly direction. Professor Cleaveland, in a 

 letter to me on this subject, observes " I have attend- 

 ed the digging of several wells in this vicinity (Bruns- 

 wick, Maine,) which gave decided indications of impor- 

 tant, but probably gradual changes on our shores. 

 These indications appear in the existence of blue clay 



