398. On the southern coast of Italy similar facts have been observed. BREISLAC, in his _Topographia Fisica della Campagnia di Roma_,[206] from certain appearances in the Gulfs of Baja and Naples, concludes, that at the beginning of the Christian era, the level of the sea was lower on that part of the coast than it is now. The facts which he mentions are the following: _1mo_, The remains of an ancient road are now to be seen in the Gulf of Baja at a considerable distance from the land. _2do_, Some ancient buildings belonging to Porto Giulio are at present covered by the sea. _3tio_, Ten columns of granite at the foot of Monte Nuovo, which appear to have belonged to the Temple of the Nymphs, are also nearly covered by the sea. _4to_, The pavement of the Temple of Serapis is now somewhat lower than the high water mark, though it cannot be supposed that this edifice when built was exposed to the inconvenience of having its floor frequently under water. _5to_, The ruins of a palace, built by Tiberius in the island of Caprea, are now entirely covered by the sea. [Footnote 206: Cap. vi. p. 300.] Thus, it appears that the level of the sea is sinking in the more northern latitudes, and rising in the Mediterranean, and it is evident that this cannot happen by the motion of the sea itself. The parts of the ocean all communicating with one another, cannot rise in one place and fall in another; but, in order to maintain a level surface, must rise equally or fall equally over the whole of its extent. If, therefore, we place any confidence in the preceding observations, and they are certainly liable to no objection, either from their own nature or the character of the observers, we must consider it as demonstrated, that the relative change of level has proceeded from the elevation or depression of the land itself. This agrees well with the preceding theory, which holds, that our continents are subject to be acted upon by the expansive forces of the mineral regions; that by these forces they have been actually raised up, and are sustained by them in their present situation.