Cities in deserts, woods in cities plants.
So that to us nothing, no place is strange,
While his fair bosom is the world’s exchange.
O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream
My great example, as it is my theme!
Tho’ deep yet clear, tho’ gentle, yet not dull,
Strong without rage, without o’erflowing full.
Heav’n her Eridanus no more shall boast,
Whose fame in thine, like lesser currents lost.
The great advantage of this river is the tides flowing above seventy miles up it, twice in every twenty-four hours, and hence arises its great convenience with respect to trade and navigation; and as the tide is influenced by the moon, so each tide is twenty-four minutes later than that before, and therefore wants but twelve minutes of a whole hour in twenty-four: by this rule the return of the tide at any distance from the new or full moon may be easily computed by the following tide table at London Bridge.