ON tllE BASALTIC COUNTRY IN IRELAND. 1 7^ 



in the second some faint lights were thrown upon the history 

 of its events by fable and tradition ; in the third, the histo- 

 rian had the common aids, from which history is usually 

 compiled. 



The natural history of the world seems to admit of a cor- f erio f °f abs «- 

 responding division. In the first I include the formation of 

 our strata, their induration, their derangement from the 

 horizontal position in which they seem originally to have 

 been placed, and the operation of cutting them down by so 

 many whyn dikes. 



In the second division, corresponding to Varro's fabulo- Fabulous pt» 

 sum, I comprehend the operations performed upon our globe 

 posterior to its final consolidation, and antecedent to all 

 history or tradition ; operations therefore that can be esta- 

 blished by the visible effects alone which still exist, written 

 in strong characters. 



The third division contains the period since we acquired Historical p& 

 eome knowledge of natural history, became acquainted with n * 

 causes and effects, and able to trace the connection between 

 them. 



With the operations performed in the first division (cor- 

 responding with Varro's prolepiicumj modern theorists as* Modern thet* 

 sume that they are well acquainted, able to account for every nsls * 

 appearance, and to detail the whole process of original 

 formation. I however shall decline noticing these early pro- 

 cesses of nature, and limit myself to the second division of 

 natural history, hoping from the prominent features of my 

 country that remain still undefaced, and from its curious 

 facts, to trace and demonstrate the great effects, that have 

 been produced upon our surface ; and though I do not pre- 

 sume to advance farther, I perhaps may assist in clearing 

 the way for future naturalists, and by establishing effects, 

 encourage them to proceed to causes, and help them to dis- 

 cover the powers and agents, by which these grand opera- 

 tions have been executed, 



(To be concluded in our next.) 



n> 



