Bursting of Lakes through Mountains. 253 



of Pocahontas, is continued from the North River into 

 Georgia, without interruption from even one ridge. I have 

 travelled along it nearly five hundred miles, at least I am 

 acquainted with it from Newburgh to Fincastle in Virginia. 

 The tide flows across this valley in the North River, of 

 course it is here much lower than at Fincastle, which is two 

 hundred miles from the sea-board. So that the waters of 

 James River might be brought by a canal into the Hudson 

 river near Newburgh. 



To say nothing of the unphilosophical hypothesis that 

 represents the mountain torn asunder at six points simulta- 

 neously, it is most evident, that the supposed lake could 

 never have risen within five hundred feet of the summit of 

 the Highlands at West Point, as they would have discharg- 

 ed themselves over the summit of the mountain below Har- 

 risburgh. The same remark applies with still greater force 

 to the passage of the Potomac, at Harper's Ferry. 



But what is most decisive, the height of land on the route 

 of our northern canal, is only one hundred and fifteen feet 

 above the head of the tide at Still Water, on the Hudson. 

 Hence the waters of the lake would have discharged them- 

 selves by lake Champlain and the Sorrel into the St. Law- 

 rence, before they could rise within fourteen hundred feet of 

 the summit of Butler Hill, near West Point. 



Is it not the best theory of the earth, that the Creator, in 

 the beginning, at least at the general deluge, formed it with 

 all its present grand characteristic features ?* 



If the above short dissertation comports with the design 

 of your Journal it is at your service. 

 Truly yours. 



J. W. WILSON. 



JYeivhurgh, 29th March, 1821. 



* The Creator undoubtedly brought all matter into being and established 

 the laws which govern it ; the operation of those laws then is always a fair 

 subject of discussion, and although it is the shortest itis not the most 'instr-'j^' 

 five course, to cut the knot where it mav be vMied.'-~E(l. 



