162 M. Smaer on the Geological Structure of the AlpB. 



General Conclusions. 

 It mav be seen from what has been said, that we are still 

 far from being acquainted with all the phases of the h.sto y 

 01- U formaL of the Alpine system. Nay it .s probaWe 

 that science is vet ignorant of the very principles "PO^^^f 

 irexp anation'of the most characteristic features ought to be 

 Tas d It Is, therefore, not astonishing if the geolog. who 

 «ts to ive a summary of the precise ideas a jred f m 

 the time of Saussure to the present day, should at everj 

 tp Cafraid of advancing too far, or of being forced o re- 

 let what he has asserted, owing to the insuftc.ency of s 

 f c After thirtv-six years of travels and stud.es, the un- 

 royal De Saussu.; himself wished to have the power o re- 

 Tmrnencing the examination of the Alps «f ed by t le ex 

 Lrience which he had acquired during a life devoted to th. 

 Sec Since then more than half a century has elapsed and 

 "e still find ourselves embarrassed when we are asked for an 

 abstract of the chief facts regarding the structure of the Alps. 

 ^'?he documents which nature affords us, do not reach b- 

 yond the epoch of the lias. We possess no ^no-l^The Abs 

 condition of the surface of the earth in the domam of the Alps 



"* ESeTtd w«ch elapsed between the deposition of 

 the isand Ihlt of the last portions of the ^^^ 

 portion of the surface of Europe d;-ot^PP a^t^^^^^^^^^ 

 «,ihiected to derangements m Its relief, i.^erywnel 

 seres is arranged conformably with the macigno, and the 

 vhoTe mass forms a whole which it is almost miposs.ble b 

 We N-Ivertheless this series of jura-cretaceous dcixs.t, 

 : tt Alps and of all the south of Europe, differs cons.der- 

 iLmJhat which corresponds with it in age in northern 

 Europe e would say that' they were sedimentary deposits 

 tSin Afferent se^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 



r::tSlt::t:trS:;nolasse.^hc Alpine syste. 



