des
Alpes, mais tirant un peu plus du nord au midi: que la chaine la plus
elevee et la plus voisine des Alpes, a eu originairement la forme d'une
dos d'ane dont les pentes partent du faite, recouvrent les flancs, et
descendent jusques au pieds de la montagne: que les chaines suivantes du
cote de l'ouest, sont composees de montagnes graduellement moins elevees
et moins etendues; que les couches de ces montagnes ont generalement la
forme de voutes entieres ou de moitie de voutes; et qu'elles viennent
mourir dans des plaines, qui ont pour base des bancs calcaires tout a
fait horizontaux de la meme nature que ceux du mont Jura, et qui furent
peut-etre anciennement continus avec eux."

Our author has here described most accurately, not only the present
shape and positions of particular strata, but the general shape and
structure of the land him the Saleve and Jura, which are not in the
Alps, to the plains of France, where the strata are generally in a more
horizontal situation.

Having thus seen the structure of what are commonly termed the secondary
mountains, a structure which prevails generally in all parts of the
land, at least in all that which is not primitive in the estimation of
naturalists, who suppose a different origin to different parts, it
will now be thought a most interesting view of nature, to see the same
accurate examination of the structure of the earth, from those secondary
mountains of Geneva to the center of the Alps, where we find such a
variety of mountains of different materials, (whether they shall be
called primitive or secondary) and where such opportunity is found for
seeing the structure of those mountains. For, if we shall find the same
principles, here prevailing in the formation of those supposed primitive
mountains as are found over all the earth in general, and as are
employed in fashioning or shaping every species of material, it will be
allowed us to conclude, that, in this situation of things, we have
what is general in the formation of land, notwithstanding imaginary
distinctions of certain parts which had been formed one way, and of
others which are supposed to be operations of an opposite nature.

This question therefore will be properly decided in our author's journey
to the Alps; for, if we shall there find calcareous strata perfectly
consolidated, as they should be by the extreme operation of subterranean
heat and fusion; if we find materials of every species formed after the
ma