The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-01

October
November
Is 10
December Is
IS 90
It is not to be under2aod that the rife and fall
of the Mltiihippi, in any one year, ever arrives
to the extent of the above table it is found
that years of leaf elevations will generally be
thoie of ereatcf depreiious. The table is calcil-
lated only to convey fome idea of the extremes
which have been noted in ferries of years, and
Of the general progrefs OF the inundation both
In its advancement ard retreat.
BY information from the inhabitants Of the
iGand of New-Orean6, about % leagues above
The capital, in the year l774 1t appears that the
MiGiflippi had overhowed its banks yearly for
three years preceding, by which they had loft
their crops, and which caufed great aAonilh-
hoSpt, becauie from the commencement o. their
rments, which exceeded 20 years, they had
efsceiy ever feen the HiGiippi furmount the le-
vel Of It's banks, and that an embankment, CAL
Led By the French name OF levee, was required
only in very few places. Since that period,
from year to year, the river has continued to
rife higher and higher, which has obliged the in
tabitants Of Lower LouiGana to prolong and re-
inforcc their leyees infomuch that embanz-
1eFts &C feet perpendicular ale now re-
CURED, where as many inches were formerly
Efficient. This ircreai:ng afcent of the inur-
6atiou may be naturally accounted for by the
gradual e;<tsnliOn OF the levees on both iides of
the river, which became each fucceeding year
more necenary for the defence of the new G.t.le-
nlents againt the encroachments of this great
river. Thofe eitabGihments are now extended
on either bank to the difance of 60 leagues a.
hove the capital it is not therefore wonderful
that high banks III the lower parts of Louiiiana
ihopid be required to receive and confine BODY
Of water which formerly efcaped over great
extent, now occupied by the establishments In
fpite of this mode of reafoning, which appears
10 be Efficiently satisfactory, the MGiiipri has
ceaied to rife to its ufhal height for thefc three
years paf the defect al Natchez has not been
!ef8 than from 10 l2 feet, and proportionably
in the lover country. Many are the coniec-
lures which have been formed to account for
this unexpected great change. Some OF the old
inhabitants fay trat the M;flili;p ii has returned
90 its ancient Level, while others pretend (udi-
crouny en0Ugh) that the M.louIi has found
XIV pailage into the weitcIn Pacific Ocean. II
es not appear, that we can align any phyical
Nfe why this river fhould have certain periods
q Years in relpea TO its foundations nor ha G
CbftrydtiOnS been made for iuiiicient length of
time to efahlifll the fact. The late period Of
great foundations, which have fallen chiefly IN
der my obi.Yvation, has been about 81 years
not much ihori of a cycle of the fun but whc-
Their the foundations of this great river are flb-
jcct to the Influence of any regular caufs, mutt
te left to the inveAication Of future Dhilofo-
pnsrs, profoundly fkilled in the laws of meteo
Tology.
Tbs waters OF the hIhGippi are not, at any
time, perfectly transparent during the abf.nce
Of the iuusdatons, they are not much troubled,
prelentiHg fight milky appearance, which is
attributed to the MliOliiI but during the time
D. the iuundatior, all The riylrs which difcharce
th-i- Ga.;s:;,;'i:'siit waters MIC Inc fi:iippi
are more or lefs charged with terrene matter,
and during Tie decline Of the inuGdation, the
apbdnefJ is f1netimes 70 great that giafs filed
With is water appears TO depoGt, in a few mi
0utes, iedment equal 10 one eighth Of its
bulk this extreme mpuritv is not TO be atsri-
buted entirely to the immediate effect of the
Miouri, but principally 60 the falling liz OF the
mud banks, either newly formed beneath the in-
tlence OF the current of the river or underuii-
no by It's raDidlty, psrpgtu1lly changing its
I'D, by enlarslng the concavity OF its bends, and
pOi.ttlEE It's points or head lands this OPERATE
O. his naturlsteGdency to lengthen The crcu-
Ious couTic OF the river but the eject is amply
ompcriated by it's own progrc!s for the en-
brgcmeat Of the bends f. uuentlv brings them
~ near each other, tina, the weight Of the wa
trs burfs at once through the fold foil, form
ng in few days new bed capable Of convey
~ the whole waters Of this mighty river, and
Rortening thereby lis courfc many leagues.
The dlrnption which took place at Point Cou-
pee, cut of ten leagues, and within this territory
The cutoff at the Homccd,o has thrown to the
can Of the MiHiGippi an iilud of leyen leagues
N circuit, and at the Yazooz iimilar efe & has.
been produced on the wef fde By the formation
OF an Hand Of i've leagues in circumference.
bhofe Hands arc now both converted into De
nniuas, by the formation Of new land acrofs
ore OF the mouths ofthe old channel, while tie
other ApartlaiIy kept open BY the d.fchlrge Of
the NParatiycly) fuali rivers Of the Yazooz
and Homoclito (; the former ofthQGe, neycrthe-
leis, is not inferior in magnitude 10 that great
Commercial river the Thames. The confequencc
81 thele difup.ions, is the formation of lakes,
Which, IL process Of time, may be fat removed