on Rivers and Canals. 6 1 1 
carried off, it has the fame tffedt as if a greater quantity 
ftill continued to come down. 
It may not be ufelefs to remark here, that what we 
have often laid in this effay becomes evident from thefe 
obfervations on nature, as well as from the principles 
laid down in it; to wit, that the moft diredf and effica- 
cious method of preventing inundations is by deepening 
the bed and railing the banks of the river. 
It may likewife be obferved, with regard to inunda- 
tions, that if the wind blows diredlly contrary to the cur- 
rent of the river, the overflowing will be greater than it 
would have been otherwife, becaufe this accident dimi- 
nifhes the velocity of the ftream: but, on the contrary, 
if the winds blow in the fame direction with the cur- 
rent of the river, the inundation will be lefs than other- 
wife, and fooner at an end ; becaufe this accidental caufe 
augments the velocity of the ftream. 
VI. On the confluence of rivers , and on the feparation of 
the fame river into divers branches and mouths , with 
the ejfedls thereof upon the velocity of currents , inunda- 
tions , &c. 
48. All great and long rivers receive into their beds 
many others of different magnitude throughout the ex- 
tent 
