Excerpt from The Age of the Earth

Now if this be the true reason of the saltness of these lakes, it is not improb able but that the ocean itself is become salt from the same cause, and we are thereby furnished with an argument for estimating the duration of all things. From an observation of the increment of saltness in their waters. For if it be observed what quantity of salt is at present contained in a certain weight of the water of the Caspian Sea, for example, taken at a certain place, in the driest weather; and after some centuries of years the same weight of water, taken in the same place and under the same circumstances, be found to con tain a sensibly greater quantity of salt than at the time of the first experiment, we may by the rule of proportion, take an estimate of the whole time wherein the water would acquire the degree of saltness we at present find in it.

And this argument would be the more conclusive, if by a like experiment a similar increase in the saltness of the ocean should be observed: for that, after the same manner as aforesaid, receives innumerable rivers, all which deposit their saline particles therein; and are again supplied, as I have elsewhere shewn, by the vapors of the ocean, which rise therefrom in atoms of pure water, without the least admixture of salt. But the rivers in their long passage over the earth do imbibe some of the saline particles thereof, though in so small a quantity as not to be perceived, unless in these their depositories after a long tract of time. And if upon repeating the experiment, after another equal num ber of ages, it shall be found that the saltness is further increased with the same increment as before, then what is now proposed as hypothetical would appear little less than demonstrative. But since this argument can be of no use to our selves it requiring very great intervals of time to come to our conclusion, it were to be wished that the ancient Greek and Latin authors had delivered down to us the degree of the saltness of the sea as it was about 2000 years ago; for then it can not be doubted but that the difference between what is now found and what then was, would become very sensible. I recommend it therefore to the Society, as opportunity shall offer, 'to procure the experiments to be made of the present degree of saltness of the ocean, and of as many of these lakes as can be come at, that they may stand upon record for the benefit of future ages.

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