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prevails to the westward of the Scilly Islands. 
sea current will be shown, by the arrangement of the alluvial 
ground ; or by the sand or mud banks contiguous to it, in the 
sea. The process is explained in a note : and those, to whom 
I may not have rendered myself intelligible, may easily satisfy 
themselves, by observing the junction of any two streams, 
that are very much disproportioned to each other, in point 
of bulk ; and in which, no art has been employed to coun- 
teract the natural course of things.* 
* The point of junction of two rivers (or of a river with the sea, provided that the 
sea has a predominant stream of current) will always form an acute angle, if the 
soil, through which they run, be not of a texture, firm enough to resist the corroding 
power of the stream ; but composed of alluvial matter, deposited by one, or both of 
the waters ; as is ordinarily the case. This point of junction, may be either firm 
alluvial land, or a bank of sand or mud, under water ; as the case may happen. And 
finally, the acute angle of junction will always point in the direction of the stream 
of the recipient water ; be it a river, or the sea. 
The reason of this is, that two streams, at their confluence, have a natural ten- 
dency to slide into each other, as the easiest mode of effecting their junction ; and 
were they, either by reason of the natural solidity of their banks, or by artificial 
means, compelled to join at right angles, or at a very large angle, the meeting of their 
waters, in a case where they had any degree of rapidity, would produce an agitation ; 
that would prove injurious to their banks, and inconvenient to the navigation. 
For the sake of illustration, let it be supposed that a small river is conducted arti- 
ficially, into a larger one (or into a sea which has a current along shore,) through a 
cut made through the alluvial soil; and the angle of junction to be very large, or ap- 
proaching to a right angle; and without any artificial aid, to keep it in that state; 
the following train of consequences would ensue : (It is to be supposed, of course, 
that the recipient river had its bed previously enlarged, to receive the other, in order 
to prevent floods). 
The first effect would be, that the head of the adjunct river, entering with an 
almost perpendicular course, into that of the recipient, would meet with so much re- 
sistance from it, that it would be partly beaten back, and compelled to seek its way 
along the bank of the recipient river. This bend in its course, would induce such a 
pressure on the bank, at the lower angle of junction, as would soon wear it 
away; and an oblique course of approach, of the whole body of the adjunct stream. 
