Indeed, since the time of Saussure, when
the study of the secondary strata was in its
infancy, little farther has been done to illustrate
the geology of Savoy, nor has any
thing been published respecting it that I
know of, by the numerous English travellers
who have visited Chamouny. The
same remark will apply, in a certain degree,
to the canton of the Valíais, and other
parts of Switzerland described in the second
volume.
I believe no English travels contain an
account of the ancient volcanoes in Auvergne*,
nor to my knowledge have any
views or sections ever been published of
the volcanic country round Clermont. The
description of a part of this district, with
the explanatory section and outlines, will,
I hope, convey a tolerably correct idea of
its present state and appearance.
* On my return to England, I found that Dr. Daii-
beny had published a short account of the volcanoes of
Auvergne, in the Edin. Phil. Journal, Vol. II. and III.
1820, 1821, but without any drawings or sections.
Excepting Geneva, those parts of my route
that have been much frequented, I have
seldom noticed, unless where facts or circumstances
presented themselves that are
not generally known, or that appeared to
possess sufficient interest to be placed before
the reader.
The range of country travelled over may
be thought limited, compared with the time
that I was on the continent, but I have
rarely given any account of places where
I did not reside some days or weeks, or had
not the opportunity of making repeated
observations, as I have too frequently found
how much correction, first observations
require. I speak this in reference only to
myself, for I envy the amazing powers of
those. travellers who can fly through a
country with the rapidity of a swallow, and
see at one intuitive glance the details of its
geology, or the state of society in all its
ramifications. What delightful emotions
must press on the mind of such a tourist,
when he draws on his “ seven-leagued
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