1 can only add one to the number of those who
would fsei inclined to maintain the probability. The
whole region through which the Mississippi flows, from
the Falls of St. Anthony, which we reached as you
will find, in the following year, bears ample evidence of
this having been the case, or at least such as it would
be very difficult to refer to any other theory than that



THE MISSISSIPPI. 275

of the OceBU having gradually retired, leaving the
waters gushiug out on the surface of the earth to
follow and wear themselves channels through the
inclined plane, as they pursued the retiring footsteps
of their great parent to the several points of the com-
pass. If not to this great natural revolution, to what
shall we refer the evident proofs of the gradual descent
of the bed of the Mississippi, to be gathered from the
ruarks of the gentle, but long~continued action of
water in the upper parts of its course. Where the river
has woni itself a bed many hundred feet deep; or
the regular horizontal deposition of earthy strata.
