rupt. This is as true of the ocean as it is of a ditch. By this increasing declivity of growing. shores, the additional gravity to be overcome, will, in time, check the alluvion of any current,. however strong. An opposite equalizing tendency occurs, where the coast is worn away by the ocean. Successive fragments of rocks and precipices, by sloping the shore, gradually abate the impetus of the waters, until the coast attains that due inclination by which, the gravity to be overcome, exactly counterbalances the projectile force of the ocean. Without doubt, small variations continually take place in the outline of all coasts; but the equilibrium for which I contend, is founded on correct principles, and every coast, whether eastern or western, approaches to that form, if it has not already attained it, when what it loses by the ocean, will be precisely equal to what it gains.

It should be remarked that Buffon, in his last addition to his Theorie, conscious of the insuffici ency of alluvion in the formation of continents, supposes that the cavities with which the earth abounds, are continually falling in, and, from the consequent retreat of the Ocean, that continents are continually approximating. This conjecture certainly renders his theory more consistent, but it substitutes a cause for the emersion of the earth totally different from his first hypothesis of alluvion, and it has been that alone which I have considered. This last supposition is merely gratuitous, as neither observation nor history afford us any proofs of the existence of these immense Caverns, or of any general retreat of the ocean.

For the reasons which I have given, and for

many more, the theory of this celebrated naturalist has long been deemed both improbable and inadequate, and is now confined to the merit, (no small merit by the bye) of having collected valuable materials, and detected the fallacies of Burnet, Woodward and other dreamers on the subject. It has accordingly given place to new theories, more consistent at least, if not more satisfactory. Volcanoes, an intense heat in the centre of the earth, the recrements of animals and vegetables, have been employed, as separate or joint agents, by the speculators on this curious subject. Dr. Hutton, by far the most celebrated of these, supposes the exuviae of shell fish to have constituted the basis of the earth, and that it has assumed its present form and appearance by the fusion produced by the earth's internal heat. He supports this opinion by a train of elaborate reasoning, and a chemical examination of the bodies which compose the outer crust of the earth. I regret that I am acquainted with the work only at second hand. But I believe that even this theory, ingenious and scientific as it is, gives little more general satisfaction than those which preceded it. It is, in common with the other late hypotheses, opposed by the fine reasoning of Buffon, in favor of the immediate action of water in producing the correspondent angles of mountains, their waving outline, parallel strata, &c. as well as by many of the facts I have glanced at, and it is moreover, said to be contradicted by some chemical experiments, at once pertinent and clear.

On the whole, then, I fear we have not yet arrived at that certainty which will satisfy the en•

quirer who is neither enamoured with the fancies of his own brain, nor seduced by the eloquence of others, and therefore, to use the words of an elegant writer of our own country, who discovers the same acuteness, the same philosophic caution on this as on other occasions, 66 we must be con"tented to acknowledge that this great phenome"non is, as yet, unsolved. Ignorance is prefer"able to error; and he is less remote from the "truth, who believes nothing, than he who be"lieves what is wrong."

Before we can obtain a sober conviction on the subject, or even properly compare the probability of the respective theories, many questions now contested must be settled....new facts must be discovered....new powers of nature developed.

How far does the power of aqueous solution and of crystallization extend? Does the earth borrow all its heat from the sun, or has it a perennial source in its own bowels? are there general currents in the ocean....If so, what are their courses, periods and strength ?....It is clear that every rain that falls, every wind that blows, transports some portion of the earth we inhabit to the ocean. Is there any secret and magical process in nature, as some have supposed, by which this perpetual waste is perpetually repaired, and do mountains receive accessions by rain, by attraction, or any other mode equal to what they evidently lose? Again, water is converted into vegetables, vegetables into animals, and both of these again into earth. Is this same earth reconverted into water, and by one unvaried round of mutation, each preserved in its present propartion to all eternity?

Science, with an ardor of enquiry never before known, and a daily encrease of materials, advances with hasty steps to answer these preliminary questions....but till they are solved, I incline to think that every theory is premature, and shall therefore, remain satisfied with the safe, but hum ble character of

AN ENQUIRER.

LETTER IV.

Richmond, September 22.

I HAVE just returned, my dear S......., from an interesting morning's ride. My object was to visit the scite of the Indian town, Powhatan ; which you will remember was the metropolis of the dominions of Pocahuntas' father, and, very probably, the birth place of that celebrated princess..... The town was built on the river about two miles below the ground now occupied by Richmond; that is, about two miles below the head of tide water. The land whereon it stood is, at present, part of a very beautiful and valuable farm belonging to a gentleman by the name of William Mayo.

Aware of the slight manner in which the Indians have always constructed their habitations, I was not at all disappointed in finding no vestige of the old town. But as I traversed the ground over which Pacahuntas had so often bounded and frolicked in the sprightly morning of her youth, I could not help recalling the principal features of her history, and heaving a sigh of mingled pity and veneration to her memory,

Good Heaven! What an eventful life was her's! To speak of nothing else, the arrival of the English in her father's dominions, must have appeared (as, indeed, it turned out to be) a most portentous phenomenon. It is not easy for us to conceive the amazement and consternation which must have filled her mind and that of her nation at the first appearance of our countrymen. Their great ship, with all her sails spread, advancing in solemn majesty to the shore; their complexion; their dress; their language; their domestic animals; their cargo of new and glittering wealth ; and then the thunder and irresistible force of their artillery; the distant country announced by them, far beyond the great water, of which the oldest Indian had never heard, or thought, or dreamed....all this was so new, so wonderful, so tremendous, that I do seriously suppose, the personal descent of an army of Milton's celestial angels, robed in light, sporting in the bright beams of the sun and redoubling their splendor, making divine harmony with their golden harps, or playing with the bolt and chasing the rapid lightning of Heaven, would excite not more astonishment in Great-Britain, than did the debarkation of the English among the aborigines of Virginia.

Poor Indians!...Where are they now?. Indeed my dear S......., this is a truly afflicting consideration. The people here may say what they please; but, on the principles of eternal truth and justice, they have no right to this country. They say that they have bought it....bought it! Yes;.... of whom?....Of the poor trembling natives who knew that refusal would be vain, and who strove