192 THE OCEAN. [Book VIH. 



equator, carry tlie warm water from the equator on 

 the east side of each ocean, and the cold water to the 

 equator on the west side of each ocean, and conse- 

 quently eastwards through the equatorial regions ; 

 all three of which conditions are exactly the reverse 

 of what is known to be the actual circulation of the 

 ocean. The idea of the Trade Winds being consi- 

 dered a suflficient cause to account for this complete 

 reversal of the course which the currents would natu- 

 rally take under that influence of the axial rotation 

 of the earth which Sir Charles Lyell admits is one 

 which I do not suppose anyone will seriously main- 

 tain : and, indeed, I do not see how it can be ac- 

 counted for otherwise than by admitting the action 

 of vis-inerti£e ; in which case, change of latitude 

 being an attribute of the westward pressure which 

 results from axial rotation, and, that influence of 

 axial rotation admitted by Sir Charles Lyell being 

 an attribute of change of latitude, — then, the action 

 of the latter cannot . annihilate that of the force of 

 which it is an attribute ; but, a sufficiency of force 

 must be created by the direct action of westward 

 pressure, setting the water in motion westwards in 

 the regions of greatest force, to keep the currents in 

 motion in whatever course the attributes of westward 

 pressure may subsequently tend to give them. 



Major Rennell, as quoted on page 179, says that — 

 ' The tides do not occasion an absolute removal of 

 water from one place to another, except very near 



