350 



(Long) island, we meet with nothing but a flat of pure 

 sand; almost level with the ocean. This sand has evi- 

 dently been left by the sea, and is traced to a consider- 

 able distance inland.* 



And further, " Between this bank" (the granite 

 ridge) " and the sea, the surface, in a breadth of from 

 thirty to a hundred miles, is composed of sand, evi- 

 dently deposited by the sea, which once flowed at the 

 foot of this bank."f 



A similar inference may be drawn from the remarks 

 of Mr. Stoddard, who says, " The eastern part of 

 New Spain along the gulf, exhibits abundant proofs 

 of similar advances ; owing, perhaps, to the constant 

 accumulation of sand by the trade winds which is 

 driven to the shore by the perpetual action of the 

 waves in that direction."! 



Without offering any remarks, or even asking the 

 simple question, whence comes the incredible quantity 

 of sand thus supposed to have been brought by the 

 gulf stream, to produce these wonderful changes at the 

 mouth of the Mississippi, and in the bay of Mexico ; 

 it is sufficient to observe, that enough has been said on 

 the transportation of sand by currents, and of its spe- 

 cifick gravity, when compared with water, to convince 

 any person acquainted with the first principles of hy- 

 draulicks, or the fundamental maxims of gravitation, 

 that such extraordinary effects are physically impossi- 



* Volney's View of America, p?o;e 16. t Do. page 56. 

 | Sketches of Louisiana, page 158. 



