PHK»iOty;Vl'TA OP THE OCEAN, 311 
A ^ AtVlca along the southern coasts of Asia, 
iJ’tiotiJj general width with the preceding one. 
feASkf 
:' those less expansive sheets of water, 
seas, may be mentioned the Baltic, the 
k'Sf, Sea. and the Blank and Red Seas. The CaS- 
with 
ater 
of saltuess, it is ranked amons; the 
h^^*^ Sea, and the Black and Bed Seas. 
entirely encompassed by land, might, wit 
I'ave been styled a lake ; but as its wat€ 
' V *1 ^«aiity 
'jJyiftij ^ ^'otwiihstanding, certain that I.ake Superior, 
'^■'ica, has a still greater circumference, ex- 
*■;•!? its shores at least fourteen hundred miles, 
(j'ktl. of the Caspian Sea does not exceed twelve 
of this division into difi'erent seas, and seas 
V '!>at little is known ; but it is highly pro- 
larger excavations and partitions 
V '.''t'tiit' !■’ existed, wiibout much change as to 
from the creation. Others have undoubtedly 
, coiiflict which is perpetually taking 
''i^ the elements of land and water, and which 
Sreaier part, given rise to islands, isthmuses, 
; while subteiTatieous volcanoes, and those 
and iiulefatigable exertions of corals, mad- 
k's^ j^,'*rires, and other restless and muliitudinons 
S5'tti(]« ^'^laid, and are daily laying the foundation of 
li^'Hly 
,tij *‘t‘it<i; but, notwliJistanding its most violent 
Vi’ ttrtjuon, continues vhiWe within certain limits. 
rv au[’ ■ 
comiiiejits m tire middle of thb widest and 
■■‘6 ly of water in the ocean not only remains 
, ^ *'S what cai'.not be inferred from observa- 
to in the almost inlinitc variety of distur- 
s Jf \ '•Ire ocean is liable, from the action of 
It may appear to return to its former state 
■y ^ ’ ^tili it may bi; apprehended that some ex- 
"r^y communicate to it a shock, which, 
usicler, ' ■ 
in, - - ^ 
- — at its origin, may augment contuiu- 
• it above the highest mountains. It i*. 
. 'irr 
'rlbjp, , , “"OUiUli; OL.UJI1UJ, UJl LHC CCC.. 
“y the Celebrated Laplace, who has de« 
the equilibrium of tlie ocean must be 
tl:e 
, d 
tliat 
g to investigate the conditions which are 
absolute stability of tlie ocean. This 
