t_
with regard to time which is limited, whereas they want to explain
appearances by a cause acting in a limited time; _secondly_, with regard
to operation, their supposition of a great _debacle_ is altogether
incompetent for the end required. How, for example, accumulate the
_debris_ of the Breven, as we have now seen, upon the summit of that
mountain, by the force of running water? But this is only one of a
thousand appearances that proves the operations of time, and refutes the
hypothesis of violent causes.

[Footnote 19: See Part II. chap. 30.]

From the top of those decaying pyramids to the sea, we have a chain of
facts which clearly demonstrate this proposition, That the materials of
the wasted mountains have travelled through the rivers; for, in every
step of this progress, we may see the effect, and thus acknowledge the
proper cause. We may often even be witness to the action; but it is
only a small part of the whole progress that we may thus perceive,
nevertheless it is equally satisfactory as if we saw the whole; for,
throughout the whole of this long course, we may see some part of the
mountain moving some part of the way. What more can we require? Nothing
but time. It is not any part of the process that will be disputed;
but, after allowing all the parts, the whole will be denied; and, For
what?--only because we are not disposed to allow that quantity of time
which the ablution of so much wasted mountain might require.

CHAP. X.

_The Theory illustrated with a view of the Valleys of the Alps._

Such is the summit of the Alps, a body wasting by the influence of the
elements, slowly changing, but in actual decay. This mass of granite is
arrived at such a perfect state of degradation as leaves no trace of
its original shape or height, from whence we might compute the quantity
which has been lost, or time which had flowed in bringing about that
event. We are now to take a view of the valleys that are formed at the
same time that the mountains are degraded.

To the valleys of ice succeed those formed by water upon the same
principle by moving the hard materials procured from the summits. Let
us now begin at the bottom of one of those fertile valleys, and ascend,
tracing the marks of time and labour in those operations by which the
surface of the earth is modified according to the system of the globe.

(M. Bourrit[20], _Nouvelle Description des Alpes_.) "Saint-Maurice est
entre le Rhone et une montagne