S20 A Differtation on the 



miffion, that feveral reafons of a contrary efficacy have 

 fatisfied me, that the Abyfs, even if it were originally 

 frefli, muft now conlift of fait water. The Deluge 

 prevailed on the Earth one hundred and fifty days. The 

 waters of the Abyfs, according to Mr. C. were employ- 

 ed, as fubfidiary to thofe of the Ocean, in drowning 

 the dry land ; and then were returned to their appointed 

 bed. Great indeed muft have been the care, taken dur- 

 ing that long period, to prevent the brine of the Ocean 

 from intermixing with the frefh water of the Abyfs. 



The Ocean, alfo, according to Mr C. communicates 

 dire6lly with the waters of the Abyfs ; or in other 

 words, is a part or continuation of it. If this be the 

 cafe, the waters of the Abyfs muft be at leaft as fait as 

 thofe of the Ocean ; for fait water is heavier than frefh, 

 and will fink in it until there is produced an equilibri- 

 um of fpecific gravity. 



If the Ocean is not a part of the Abyfs, but refts 

 upon a fubftratum of earth, which in its turn refts up- 

 on the furface of the Abyfs ; then, no reafon can be 

 affigned why a due proportion of the cracks and fiffures 

 in the cruft fhould not be affigned to the bed of the 

 Ocean. Only one fifth of the furface of the globe is 

 dryland. The remaining four fifths are covered by 

 the Sea. The Dry Land, according to the hypothefis, 

 has as many fuch fiffures as it has Springs. And fin- 

 gular indeed muft have been the care neceffary after 

 the Deluge, in fettling the Wreck of Elements, to dif- 

 tribute these fiffures in fuch a manner, that fo many 

 ihould be found in the Land, and not one in the bot- 

 tom of the Ocean. 



If thefe cracks and fiffures are impartially diftributed 

 over the Cruft of the Earth ; it is clear, that the wa- 

 ters beneath muft be as fait as thofe above. Let us fup- 

 pofe that, during the Deluge, the waters of the Abyfs, 

 by a ftrange coynefs, were preferved from contamina- 

 tion ; and that, after their briny ordeal^ they returned 

 pure to their native bed. Still they could only have re- 

 turned to meet dangers infurmountable. The brine of 



