CHAPTER VIII. 



# general current having prevailed, $fc. Not only 

 does this continent present abundant and undeniable 

 proofs of the prevalence of currents, both impetuous 

 and extensive, over its surface, but also that of al- 

 most every other in the known world, that has been 

 visited by men, capable of observing and tracing 

 the effects of their operations. Yet. strange as it may 

 appear, few indeed have ventured, after having point- 

 ed out their effects to explain the cause of these cur- 

 rents, the source from whence they flowed, the course 

 which they pursued, or the periods of time at which* 

 they probably may have existed. 



Had a Telas, Gmelin, Cronstedt, Faber, Pallas, 

 Charpentier, Born, Werner, Arduino, l)e Luc, Saus- 

 sure, Patrin, or a Dolomieu, turned their attention 

 more particularly to this subject, they might have ren- 

 dered still more important and essential services, to 

 the science of Geology, by lifting the veil that ob- 

 scures from our present view, the mysterious phenom- 

 ena that are involved in this interesting subject, and 

 thereby enabling us to contemplate it in a Light, more 

 consistent with truth and philosophy. 



