2 S 6 OF NATURE, 



the weftern mores, it deferts thofe of the eaft. 

 This vaft mafs of water, though naturally inac- 

 tive, is agitated by the influence of the celeftial 

 bodies, which produces the regular motions of 

 the flux and reflux. It riles and falls with the 

 courfeof the moon, and, when the action of the 

 fun and moon concurs, it rifes (till higher. Both 

 thefe caufes uniting during the time of the e- 

 quinoxes, is the reafon why the tides are then 

 higheft. This is the ftrongeft mark of our 

 connection with the heavens. Thefe conftant 

 and general movements give rife to variable and 

 .particular motions ; to tranfportations of earth, 

 which, falling to the bottom in the form of fe- 

 diment, produce mountains fimilar to thofe on 

 the furface of the land; to currents, which, fol- 

 lowing the direction of thofe chains of moun- 

 tains, beftow on them a figure whofe angles cor- 

 refpond,and, running in the midft of the waves, 

 as waters run on the land, are really fea-rivers. 



The air, ftill lighter and more fluid than 

 water, is likewifefubject to a number of powers. 

 Continual agitations are produced in it by the 

 diftant influence of the fun and moon, by the 

 immediate action of the fea, and by the rarefac- 

 tion and condenfation of heat and cold. The 

 winds are its currents. They pufh and col- 

 lect the clouds. They produce meteors, and 

 tranfport to the arid furface of iflands and con- 

 tinents the moift vapours of the ocean. They 

 give rife to ftonjisj and cluTufe and dillribute 



the 



