248 ON THE BASALTIC COUNTRY IN IRELAND. 



undisturbed, while on the lower side all the materials of 

 which that part of the stratum was once composed are com- 

 pletely carried off.— (See 6th fact.) 



We are now unavoidably led into a discussion of a ques- 

 tion, which has at all times occupied the attention of na- 

 turalists. 



Whence arise the Inequalities, with which the Surface of the 

 Earth is so exceedingly diversified ? 



Whence arise I shall not attempt to encounter this question generally, 



theinequah- nor * to extend my inquiries beyond the limits I have pre- 

 ties on the sur- ■ J J ' . r 



free of the scribed to myself; but I shall try whether the curious facts, 



Earth? ^ profusely exhibited over our basaltic area, throw any light 



upon the formation of our own inequalities, or lead us a 

 step toward the discovery of the operations, by which such 

 stupendous effects have been produced. 



Som« say from Some, to escape the difficulties in which this question is 



original forma- j nvo | ye j^ ascribe our inequalities to original formation ; as 

 if the world had come from the hand of the Creator with 

 the variegated surface, which now contributes so much to its 

 beauty. But the frequent interruptions and resumption* 

 of the strata in our area, with the perfect resemblance of the 

 corresponding parts, however great the interval by which 

 they are separated, can scarcely leave a doubt, that these 

 strata were at first continuous; of course the figure of our 

 surface at that time must have depended on the original 

 positions and inclinations of these strata, which, as appears 

 by the 3d fact, are now unconnected with the superficial 

 line, the figure of which is governed by their abruptions 

 and removals alone. 



others from Naturalists have differed much in opinion as to the direc- 



causes within tmn j n wn i c h t he causes acted that produced the inecmali- 

 or on the sur- ' ^ 



face of the ties on the surface of our globe; some referring us to the 



Earth. bowels of the Earth as to the scene of action; while others 



assert, that the operations were performed upon the surface 

 itself. 



But the slightest inspection of our facades will at once 

 prove, that the first hypothesis cannot be correct; for obli- 

 quity of direction must have been the result of a disturbing 

 cause acting from below; whereas parallelism. and a steady 



rectilineal 



