22 THE OCEAN. 
ithe attracting influence, and move towards it. The 
time of. high water in the open sea is about two 
hours after the moon passes the meridian, owing 
to the impetus which the waters have been receiving 
not ceasing immediately; just as the hottest part of 
the day is not noon, but about two hours after it; 
and the hottest month of the year is not June, but 
July. On the coast, however, high water is delayed 
to a greater or less extent by the obstructions of 
straits, mouths of rivers, harbors, &. It appears 
strange that the sea should be elevated, not only on 
the side next the moon, but also on the side which 
is diametrically opposite; so that it is high water at 
the same moment on two opposite points of the 
globe, each of which points follows, so to speak, 
the moon in the daily revolution, and, consequently, 
every part of the surface of the Ocean is raised twice 
in each day, The singular phenomenon is thus 
explained: the attraction of the moon elevates the 
particles of water on the nearest side, by slightly 
separating them from each other, which their im- 
perfect cohesion readily admits; it also affects the 
earth itself; but this being a solid body, the cohe- 
sion of its parts cannot be overcome, and the whole 
mass is therefore moved towards the moon, while the 
particles of water on the farther side remain, owing 
to their freedom, nearly in the some position as be- 
fore. The fact is, that the earth is drawn away from 
the water on the remote side, and then the water is 
drawn away from‘ the earth on the near side. The 
sun is greatly larger than the moon, but his attrac- 
tion, owing to his great distance, does not affect the 
