Projekt: Bestände der Universitätsbibliothek Freiberg
LDP: UB Freiberg Druckschriften
Strukturtyp
Band
Parlamentsperiode
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Wahlperiode
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Titel
Chap. V. Theory Of The Diminuation Of The Waters Of The Globe. - Description Of Overlying Formations. - An Investigation Of The Contents Of The Original Waters Of The Globe During The Different Periods Of The Earth's Formation. - The Division Of Rocks Into Five Great Classes
Diminution of the Water. 77 The mod probable explanation is that of the gradual diminution of the water from the furface of the. earth. It was firft obfcurely hinted at by Herodotus, Strabo, and other ancient writers. Maillet, French confuliat Alexandria, in a work entitled Telliamed, publilhed in 1740, was the firlt in modern times who diredted the attention of philofophers to the theory of the diminution of the waters of the globe. This opinion was eager ly adopted, and keenly fupported by Linnaeus, Celsius, and other Swedifh naturalifts. They collected many fadts, to ftiew that the waters of the Baltic are diminifliing; and the fcholars of Linnaeus obferved many fimilar appearances in other countries. Of thefe many interefting in dances are detailed in the writings of Pallas, Gmelin, Ferber, Niebuhr, Vancouver, Per ron, and others. Even although all thefe proofs were wanting, it is' evident that if the water re mained unaltered in quantity, it would rife and overflow its boundary, owing to the great quan tity of earthy matter which is daily carried into it by rivers and dreams. This opinion, as fup ported by Linnaeus and feveral others, met with confiderable oppofition. Many fadls were brought forward, to fliew, that while the land is left by the fea in one place, it is invaded in an equal propor tion in another; and confequently that there is no diminution of the water. The invafion of the land by the fea, is, however, a comparatively rare occurrence;