places of the
earth, the operation peculiar to each of these may be considered by
itself, in abstracting those of the others, more or less. Thus there are
several views in which the subject is to be examined, in order to find
facts with which the result of the theory may be compared, and by which
confirmation may be procured to our reasoning, as well as explanation of
the phenomena in question.

CHAPTER I.

_Facts in confirmation of the Theory of Elevating Land above the Surface
of the Sea._

The first object now to be examined, in confirmation of the theory, is
that change of posture and of shape which is so frequently found in
mountainous countries, among the strata which had been originally almost
plain and horizontal. Here it is also that an opportunity is presented
of having sections of those objects, by which the internal construction
of the earth is to be known. It is our business to lay before the reader
examples of this kind, examples which are clearly described, and which
may be examined at pleasure.

No person has had better opportunities of examining the structure of
mountains than M. de Saussure, and no body more capable of taking those
comprehensive views that are so necessary for the proper execution of
such a task. We shall therefore give some examples from this author,
who has every where described nature with a fidelity which even
inconsistency with his system could not warp. Speaking of the general
situation of the beds of the Saleve, (p. 179.)

"Dans quelques endroits, et meme presque partout, les couches descendent
tout droit du haut de la montagne jusques a son pied: mais au dessus
de Collonge le sommet arrondi en dos d'ane presente des couches qui
descendent de part et d'autre, au sud-est vers les Alpes, et au
nord-ouest vers notre vallee; avec cette difference, que celles qui
descendent vers les Alpes parviennent jusques au bas; au lieu que celles
qui nous regardent sont coupees a pic, a une grande hauteur.

"Ces deux inclinaisons ne sont pas les seules que l'on observe dans le
bancs du mont Saleve, ils en ont encore une troisieme; ils sont releves
vers le milieu de la longueur de la montagne, et descendent de la vers
ses extremites. Cette pente, qui sur le Grand Saleve n'est pas bien
sensible, devient tres remarquable au Petit Saleve, et meme tres rapide
a son extremite. Les dernieres couches au nord au dessus d'Etrembieres
descendent vers le nord-nord-est, sous un angle de 40 au 50