en de ces memes eaux que le fond actuel de cette plaine a pris ce
niveau et cette pente insensible vers un pays plus ouvert qui est
au-dela. On a deja fait mention de pareils mamelons qui se trouvent dans
le vallon du Vallais parcouru par le Rhone."

These examples may also be supported by what this author observes in
another place[25].

[Footnote 25: Discours, etc. page 201.]

"Le vallon ou est situe Meiringen, est visiblement forme par le depot
des eaux, il est de niveau, et s'etend trois lieues en longueur jusqu'au
lac de Brientz, a la suite duquel est le meme terrain nivele, qui
va jusqu'au lac de Thun, dont on a parle. Une autre observation
qui concourt a favoriser ce sentiment, c'est que toutes les roches
calcaires, qui entourent le vallon, sont a pic, qu'on y remarque des
cavites circulaires et des enfoncemens a meme hauteur et a differents
points, qui constatent la fouille et le mouvement des eaux contre ces
parois."

Thus we have seen the operation of the atmospheric elements degrading
mountains, and hollowing out the valleys of this earth.

The land which comes from the mineral region in a consolidated state,
in order to endure the injuries of those atmospheric elements, must be
resolved in time for the purposes of fertilising the surface of this
earth. In no station whatever is it to be exempted from the wasting
operations, which are equally necessary, in the system of this world, as
were those by which it had been produced. But with what wisdom is that
destroying power disposed! The summit of the mountain is degraded, and
the materials of this part, which in a manner has become useless from
its excessive height, are employed in order to extend the limits of the
shore, and thus increase the useful basis of our dwellings. It is our
business to trace this operation through all the intermediate steps of
that progress, and thus to understand what we see upon the surface of
this earth, by knowing the principles upon which the system of this
world proceeds.

CHAP. XI.

_Facts and Opinions concerning the Natural Construction
of Mountains and Valleys._

The valley of the Rhone is continued up to the mountain of St. Gothard,
which may be considered as the centre of the Continent, since, from the
different sides of this mountain, the water runs in all directions. To
the German Sea it runs by the Rhine, to the Mediterranean by the Rhone,
and to the Adriatic by the Po. Here it may be proper to take a genera