Origin of Springs* S^S 



Ocean. Moft of the vapour thus raifed is drawn from 

 the fea to the land. As mountains are more highly e- 

 ledrified than plains, they attrad the great body of the 

 vapour which retains the form of mift j while of that, 

 which defcends in a more folid form, much more falls 

 on the former than on the latter. The mill on moun- 

 tains condenfes, and is precipitated in water. This uni- 

 ted with the water of rain and fnow, penetrates the 

 flrata of fand and the lighter earth, till it is flopped in 

 its courfe by more impervious fubllances ; particularly 

 llrata of clay. In thefe, it forms a bafon or refervoir ; 

 fi'om which, gradually working a paflage, it iffues out 

 of the fide of the hill, in the form of a Spring. 



Dr. Halley was the inventor of this Theory. His 

 attention was directed to the fubjecl by the following 

 fact. While bufied in making fome celellial obfer na- 

 tions, on a hill in the ifland of St. Helena, he found, 

 even when the fky was perfe6lly clear, that the quan- 

 tity of vapour colleded on his lenfes^ every few min- 

 utes, was fo great, as wholly to impede his vifion. 



The following well-known facls may be adduced in 

 its fupport. 



Water, in the form of Vapour, is conflantly rifing 

 from the Sea, in very large quantities, and in a Hate 

 of frelhnefs. 



Rains are far more frequent and copious on moun- 

 tains, than on plains ; and in mountainous countries, 

 than thofe that are level. 



The earth on mountains is always moift ; even dur- 

 ing a drought. 



Almoft all fprings iffue out of the fides of hills or 

 mountains, or from lands adjoining them. 



The loftieft mountains yield the mofl: numerous riv- 

 ers ; and the largell, alfo, where they are far enough 

 from the fea. 



Brooks are uncommon in champagne countries ; and 

 in countries, which have a fl:ift" clay on the furface. 



Brooks and Rivers may univerfally be traced to hills 

 or mountains. 



