Hence we never can have ice formed at the bottom of deep water, though it is not uncommon to find it thus situated, in shallow streams or rivers of rapid flow. Here the temperature of the whole body of water is brought down to the freezing point, and in freezing the ice adheres to the sides and bottom of the

stream. What a beautiful provision is this, that the coldest water should rise to the surface, and there freeze and remain, exposed to the warmth of the sun-beams and

the air, to be speedily dissolved upon the return of spring ! This is owing to the well known fact, that in the act of freezing a still further expansion takes place, so

that the specific gravity of ice is less than water of any temperature, and consequently floats upon the surface. We thus see that by the contraction of water by cold, the temperature of various times and places is equalized, though were that

contraction without limit, a great portion of the earth would be bound in fetters of

ice. Such a disastrous result, is prevented by the substitution of expansion for contraction, when the temperature is reduced to 40°, and the benevolent purposes of an

all-wise Designer, are made still more manifest by the further expansion of water in

the act of freezing. As water becomes ice by cold, it becomes steam by heat. We generally understand by steam the vapor of hot water, but steam or vapor rises from