S69 



Of this continent, by this cause are sufficient, it is pre- 

 sumed, to warrant the conclusion, that they are found- 

 ed in truth and the premises correct. 



Taking these for granted, no person will pretend 

 that the alluvial regions in Lower Louisiana, and par- 

 ticularly on the Mississippi river, below the thirtieth 

 degree of latitude, were exempt from the operations of 

 this general current ; on the contrary, no one, it is be- 

 lieved, will hesitate to admit, that this part or portion 

 of the country, and also the whole valley of the Mis- 

 sissippi must have been, not only the principal theatre, 

 of its action, but most liable to the full force of its ope- 

 rations. 



I have observed that as the waters of the deluge 

 overran the continent, being at first confined between 

 the great chains of mountains, the soil and earth were 

 torn up, and transported to the borders of the sea, and 

 deposited ; that in this manner the whole alluvial re- 

 gion was formed. >iow ? if it be admitted, that any 

 part or portion of this region was formed in this way 

 and by this cause, it follows of course that, whether an, 

 extensive estuary once existed at the mouth of the Mis- 

 sissippi or not, the whole of the alluvial region from 

 Natches,* to the line of coast extending direct from 

 Pensacola bay, to the mouth of the Colorado river, 

 must have been formed in the same way, at the same 

 time, and by the same means. There is no other source 



* Spe Mr. M-riur< *s Geologic)! c*<art, or Beaujours* map of 

 America, ID his Sketches of the United States. 



