3 C<^'^ 



No. XIX, 



A DISSERTATION 



ON THE 



ORIGIN OF SPRINGS. 

 By SERENO DWIGHT, Esc^, 



iHILOSOPHY has long been defirous of Inveftigat- 

 ing the Caufes of things ; but has ufually made 

 flow progrefs, where the modus operandi, or the con- 

 nefling link between caufe and effe6t, could neither be 

 feen nov felt. To explain the phenomena of Thunder 

 and Lightning, fhe firft created a Jupiter, and then 

 forged his thunderbolts. For the caufe of Tempefts, 

 fhe reforted to the influence of the Stars. And HhRO- 

 DOTus very gravely tells us, that the return of the Sun 

 from the fouth, after the winter folftice, is owing to 

 the prevalence of a violent South Wind in Egypt. 



The Origin of Springs is a fubject of this invifible and 

 impalpable nature ; and, as might have been expecfced, 

 has long agitated the Republic of Letters, Aristo- 

 tle informs us, that the air, which is inclofed in the 

 vaults and caverns of the Earth, is condenfed into wa- 

 ter near the furface ; and thence flows out in fprings. 

 In the prefent ftate of fcience, probably, no one will 

 think, that this fcheme needs a refutation. Many au^ 



