I N T R O D U C T I O N .
T H E iludy oi geology, or the theory of the earth, feems to be one of the moil natural
delights of the human mind. It is not therefore fuprizing that it fhould intereft fo many
of our men of fciencc, and excite the refearches of the greateft part of our ingenious
travellers. One cannot tlien blame a perfon who, in the idea of having colleded in the
courfe of feveral years, in various parts of Europe, fome obfervations and remarks, fliould
prefent them to the public, with a defire of being ufcful to fociety; pointing out fads
that may have cfcapcd the notice of fome, who probably have vifited the very fpots
which he is now going to defcribe ; and- alfo indicating to men much more enlightened
than himfelf new objeds that might be worthy their attention.
I t is with this view folely that the author prefumes to ofFer this feeble produce of his
obfervations to all admirers of natural hiftory, carefully defcribing whatever attraded
his notice, not omitting at the fame time to mention whatever might be of fervice to
thofe who are more verfed in lithology and mineralogy than he is.
THE theory of the earth, taken in its fullcft extent, opens a field much too extenfive
to render the obfervations of an individual fufficient clearly to explain the caufe of the
various changes and revolutions that our globe has experienced fince the firft sra of its
exiftence, as alfo what relates to the atmofphere, the formation of its continents, the
principal origin of the primitive and fecondary mountains, 8cc. It therefore appears,
that notwithftanding the numberlefs hypothefes which have been tranfmitted to poiie-ity,
and the various conjedures advanced by the moft eminent naturalifts of our time, there
will ftill remain obftacles to prevent any one's proceeding with certainty in this laborious
and wide purfuit, without a thorough knowledge of every part that conftitutes the
globe; and, as the formation of the primitive mountains, which, according to all appearance,
are its moft ancient monuments, remains ftill undecided by the ableft among
our naturalifts, notliing effedxial can be determined till that important point ihall
be afcertained, viz. whether thofe enormous pyramids of granite have been formed by
chryftallization or precipitation ? That queftion muft however remain unanfwered till
tliofe great and wonderful primordial chains, which crofs our globe, have been properly
inveftigated in every diredion, their extent certified, and alfo the exad diftances between
the mountains of the firft, fccond, and third order, witli their refpedive heights, their
inclination, See. But, as I liave already obferved, the undertaking would not only be
too hazardous, but impofiible for any fingle perfon to attempt. It is greatly to be
lamented that our naturalifts, as well as other well-informed travellers, have not been
tempted to favour the public witli the obfervations and remarks that have occurred to
them in the different parts of the world they have vifited. This idea has already been
fuggefted by Mr. Dcodat de Dolomieu, in his difcourfe read to the Society of Natural
Hiftory at Paris, the 29th of July, 1791. See Le Journal de Phyfique de Monficur de
b la