132 On the Easaltes of Saxdnij* 



answer will be very simple, — It proceeds from basaltes it* 

 self, which constitutes a large portion of the soil of Italy 

 and Sicily : and this answer is the decisive word of the me-* 

 moir, and the fundamental opinion of its author. 



We shall add, that this is the opinion also of the best 

 English and German mineralogists, and particularly of the 

 celebrated Klaproth, who announced it almost in the same 

 terms in his analysis of basaltes, translated and inserted in 

 the Journal des Mines by C. Daubuisson*. 



Hence real prismatic basaltes, which is found in volcanic 

 soil, will belong to the mass e>f mountains, and not to their 

 lava: Lava having the aspect of basaltes, and being com- 

 posed of its constituent principles, will be basaltic lava, and 

 not basaltes. The greatest difficulties, therefore, of this 

 great question would rest, in some measure, on ambiguities^ 

 and would be removed by a simple distinction* 



Let us now stop, and terminate here the analysis of the 

 memoir, the examination of which has been confided to us. 



C. Daubuisson first examined the basaltes of Saxony. 

 He then gradually rises to more extensive considerations oii 

 basaltes in general, and deduces from them conclusions 

 which form the subject of the fifth and last article of this 

 memoir. 



In regard to the first object, we are of opinion that he has 

 discharged well the task imposed on him, and that his ob- 

 servations give a new degree of probability to the opinion 

 received in Germany on the origin of the basaltes of that 

 part of Europe. 



In regard to the general considerations, by which h<? 

 raises the basaltes known to him to that which he has not 

 had an opportunity of observing, we are of opinion that he 

 must naturally have been conducted to this extension of his 

 first conclusions, either in the course of reasoning or by the 

 authority of observers whose testimony he invokes. 



A subject, however, where hazarded analogies seem al- 

 ready to have occasioned more than one mistake, requires, 

 more than any other, great reserve in the employment of 

 them ; and on ground which two parties dispute inch by 

 inch, each step ought to be justified by an observation and 

 marked by a fact. 



C. Daubuisson never saw those of volcanoes still burn^ 

 ins;, nor those of extinguished volcanoes, the existence of 

 winch Us has not disputed. Being placed hitherto in the 

 midst of the works of water, we wish he would proceed to 



* Brumaire, year if. 

 5 those 



