Theory of the Earth

forming dry land above its surface, it will be allowed, that we have discovered the secret operations of nature concocting future land, as well as those by which the present habitable earth had been produced from the bottom of the abyss. Here, therefore, we shall at present rest the argument, with endeavouring to shew that such is actually the case.

IT appears from CRONSTEDT's Mineralogy, that the rockstone, called trap by the Swedes, the amygdaloides and the schwarts-stein of the Germans, are the same with the whinstone of this country. This is also confirmed by specimens from Sweden, sent me by my friend Dr GAHN. Whatever, therefore, shall be ascertained with regard to our whinstone, may be so far generalised or extended to the countries of Norway, Sweden, and Germany.

THE whinstone of Scotland is also the same with the toadstone of Derbyshire, which is of the amygdaloides species; it is also the same with the ragstone of the south of Staffordshire, which is a simple whinstone, or perfect trap. England, therefore, must be included in this great space of land, the mineral operations of which we explore; and also Ireland, of which the Giants Causeway, and many others, are sufficient proof.

IN the south of Scotland, there is a ridge of hills, which extends from the west side of the island in Galloway to the east side in Berwickshire, composed of granite, of schistus, and of siliceous strata. The Grampians on the north, again, form another range of mountains of the same kind; and between these two great fields of broken, tumbled and distorted strata, there lies a field of lesser hardness and consolidation, in general; but a filed in which there is a great manifestation of subterraneous fire, and of exerted force.

THE strata in this space consist, in general, of sandstone, coal, limestone or marble, ironstone, and marl or argillaceous strata, with strata of analogous bodies, and the various compositions of these. But what is to the present purpose is this,

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