262 0N THE DECLIVITIES OP MOUNTAINS. 



former, the primaeval mountains were formed, and during 

 the lair, mod of the fecondary mountains and ftrata were 

 formed. 



4. That all mountains extend either from E. to W. or from 

 N. to S. or in fome intermediate direction between thefe car- 

 dinal points, which need not be particularly mentioned here, 

 as the fame fpecies of reafoning mull: be applied to them, as to 

 thofe to whofe afpecl they approach moft. 

 In the firft the Thefe preliminary circumftances being noticed, we are next 

 tainT^ereXrm- to °bferve that during the firft aera, this vaft mafs of water 

 ed, and the wa- moved in two general directions, at right angles with each 



E"to m W. ed and° m ° ther ' the 011e fr0m E « to W * which needs ,10t t0 be V TW **, 

 ftom N. to S. being the courfe of tides which ftill continue., but were in that 



ocean neceflarily ftronger and higher than at prefent : the other 

 • from N. to S. the water tending to thofe vaft abyffes then 



formed in the vicinity of the fouth pole, as (hewn in my former 



eifays. Before either motion could be propagated, a confides 



able time muft have elapfed. 

 The primaval Now the primaeval mountains formed at the commencement 

 ?r?!i inS T of the firft xr *> and before this double direction of the waters 



lifted the waters, 



which occafion- took place, muft have oppofed a confiderable obftacle to the 



ed the greateft mot i n of that fluid in the fenfe that crofled that of the direc- 



depofitions on . r . , r 



the N. and E. tl0n ot tnele mountains. Thus the mountains that ftretch from 



fidcs » N. to S. muft have oppofed the motion of the waters from 



E. to W. this oppofition diminifhing the motion of that fluid 

 difpofed it to furTer the earthy particles with which in thofe 

 early periods it muft have been impregnated, to cryftallize or 

 be depofited on thefe eaftern flanks, and particularly on thofe 

 of the higheft mountains, for over the lower it could eafily 

 pafs ; thefe depofitions being inceflantly repeated at heights 

 gradually diminifliing as the level of the waters gradually low* 

 ered, muft have rendered the eaftern declivities or defcent, 

 gentle, gradual, and moderate, while the weftern fides re- 

 ceiving no fuch acceffions from depofitions, muft have rer 

 mained fteep and craggy. 



Again, the primaeval mountains that run from E. to W. by 



oppofing a fimilar refiftance to the courfe of the waters from 



N. to S. muft have occafioned fimilar depofitions on the 



* northern fides of thefe mountains againft which thefe waters 



impinged, and thus fmoothed them. 



Where 



