of Gibralter, greater than Africa and Afia, called Atlantis, and by a great Earthquake and Inundation in a Day and Night, that it was afterward funk (viz. a Part of it); by which we may understand there was a Tradition among the Egyptians, who were given to Learning, that America was feparated from the old World, many Ages before. It is much more probable as to the North part of America, that New-France, NewEngland, and Canada, did of old join Ireland; the Antients fay the Streights of Gibralter were dug by Hercules.

2. WHEN the Sea is driven on the Shore with strong Winds breaking down the Shores and Banks, made by Art or Nature; there are feveral Inftances of Inundations, as in Theffaly of old, and not long ago in Friefland and Holstein.

3. WHEN it doth, by the fame Caufes, go over the Land in feveral Places making Islands; as we faid of thofe in the East Indies, and the Bay of Bengal and Camboia, which flowed into the Land.

4. WHEN it wears off the Shores, and spreads in upon the Land: thus the Baltic Ocean came in upon Pomerania, and deftroyed Vineta, a most famous Sea-Port. Thus on the Shore of Norway it broke in, and cut off fome Iflands from the Continent, and the German Ocean broke in on Holland, near the Village of the Catti, and overfpread a great Tract of Ground; thus the Ruins of an old British Caftle, that was a Garrison of the Romans, is, a great way in the Sea, hid under Water. And on the North part of Ceylon near India, the Sea took off twenty Miles, and made the Island lefs; and there are many other Examples also.

COROL

COROLLARY.

HENCE we understand, that where there is now Sea there was Land, and again may be, if the Earth hath lafted, and shall continue, fome thoufand Years; of which fee Ariftotle in his Book of Meteors, Chap. xii. Lib. i. and Stevin's Geography. If it be asked how the Sea can cover the Mountains, we answer they are not to be covered, but will be high Rocks therein, or Islands, for all Islands almost have Mountains in them; as Ceylon, Sumatra, Java; and fome are nothing but Mountains; as St Helen, the Ifle of Afcenfion, the Hefperides and feeing these Places were once Land, then these Islands and Mountains in it were high Places on the Continent.

PROPOSITION XVIII.

Whether the whole Surface of this Globe may be either all Land or Sea; or if there may be more Land or Water one time than another.

IT is fufficiently fhown in the fecond Propofition, that there may be lefs Earth, and confequently more Sea, one time than another. But to that Question, whether there may be a Deluge that fhall cover the whole, even the very Islands; we anfwer the way how fuch a thing may happen, may be conceived and explained, yet can fcarce ever happen, the Earth being fo compactly joined and the Mountains fo high. The way it may happen is the fame as in in the fecond Propofition. If the Ocean continually wash away the Shores and lay them in deep Places, at laft all the high Parts will come down and be wafhed away, and the Sea come in on the whole Earth; there may be fome Mountains or their Roots

wafhed

washed away, and they fall down; and it were eafier done if, as fome think, the Sea were higher than the Land, but this we have before refuted. And to that, whether the Sea can ever go all into Caverns of the Earth, and there be nothing but dry Land, we anfwer the fame way; tho' it may fcarce ever be there is only one way by fuppofing the Caverns fo large as to contain the Sea, and none have yet demonftrated the contrary; and tho' they are not, they may be made fo by the force of the Water or fubterraneous Spirits.

PROPOSITION XIX.

Why there are few Islands in the middle of the Ocean, and no Clusters of them, except at large Islands, or near the Continent.

WE need not doubt of the Truth of this, being confirmed by Experience. There is scarce one little Inland in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and there are but few found in the vaft Ocean between Africa and Brafil, except St Helen and the Ifle of Afcenfion; but on the Shores of the Ocean, or great Continent, are all the Islands, except the few I mentioned, efpecially the Clufters of Islands; those of the Egean Sea are near Europe and Afia, the Hefperides near Africa, the Maldives near India, and all the Indian Iflands lie between Afia and the South Land, only the Azores, or Flandrian Ifles, feem to be in the middle of the Ocean, between America and the Old World; tho' they are nearer the later.

THE Caufe of this Phænomenon no doubt is, that they were cut off the main Land by the Sea's breaking in upon it, which could not cover all Places it came to, because of their Height. It is likely they are alfo fome of them made thus: VOL. I. Ee

the

the Sea wafhing off fome Lands cannot carry their fmall Parts far off, but lets them fall down by degrees near the Shore, which being done for a long Time, Islands are at laft formed. 1. But in the middle Ocean there are few Iflands, for the Particles wafhed off the Shore do not go fo far. 2. Because there is a greater Motion and Force of the Water, which rather increases the Depth of the Chanel than caufes any Iflands. 3. Because there being no Continent there, no Clufter of Islands can be formed, according to the first way that we fhewed they were made; yet of old when the middle of the Ocean was not where it is now, there might be a Clufter of Islands, which might be gradually washed away.

SECT. VI.

Containing the Explanation of the Atmosphere and Winds, in three Chapters.

CHAP. XIX.

Of the ATMOSPHERE and AIR.

PROPOSITION I.

There are continually Vapours and Fumes exhaled from the dry as well as moist Parts, into the Space which furrounds the Earth.

HE Caufe is twofold; 1. The celeftial Heat

TH

of the Stars, efpecially the Sun and Moon. 2. The terreftrial Heat, or fubterraneous Fire, mixed with the Earth, for we find all Bodies almost send out Exhalations when brought near the Fire, tho' very gentle; and feeing celeftial and terreftrial Heat is nothing but Fire, therefore Vapours and Fumes must be raised thereby. And as the Nature of Heat, fo Experience confirms the Truth of it; for Travellers in the Night may fee, especially when the Moon fhines, and near Waters, the Vapours that are raised wandering about the Air, and that they are raised in the Day-time by the Sun is commonly known; as alfo when little Clouds afcend, which is a fure fign of Rain,