80 



But it will be asked, why is not the same effect pro- 

 duced on the shores of Lakes Huron, Michigan, and 

 particularly Superiour, whose northern shore Mr. 

 McICenzie tells us, " is a continued mountainous em- 

 bankment of rock, from three hundred, to one thou- 

 sand five hundred feet high." 



In reply, I have remarked that in proportion to the 

 extent of country or superficies over which this cur- 

 rent had to pass, so will be the extent and breadth of 

 alluvious deposites both on lakes as well as seas. And 

 this, I think, is fully verified in the present case ; for 

 the distance from Hudson's bay, or the southern part 

 called James' bay, across to Lake Superiour in a 

 south-westerly direction, is but about five degrees ; 

 while that from Cape Chidley to Lake Ontario is 

 about twenty degrees ; and more than half of this 

 immense district Mr. McKenzie tells us " is destitute 

 of soil, presenting nothing but enormous rocks." 



Admitting that this country was once covered with 

 soil, though in a sparing degree, need we be surprised 

 that a small quantity of alluvial deposite should be 

 formed on the shores of Ontario and a part of Erie ? 

 Nay, admitting the truth of this position, and that the 

 space between the Alleghany Ridge and Rocky 

 Mountains, to have been once an inland sea like that 

 of the Red Sea ; need we wonder that it should be 

 filled up ; while an impetuous current was tearing up 

 the soil, and sweeping it over a surface extending 

 from the Arctic sea, to the mouth of the Missouri 

 river, a distance equal to about 40 degrees of lati- 



