126 SOIREES AT THE LIVERPOOL ROYAL INSTITUTION. 



their angles and perpendicular precipices, which have a marked smoothness and 

 nakedness ; many examples of this kind were to be seen in the Alps. The 

 breaking off of large portions of granite rock was sometimes followed by dangerous 

 results, in overturning into ruins, and burying all that opposed them, like a 

 falling avalanche. The scenery of Mont Blanc was described to us in a most 

 vivid and eloquent manner. The secondary formation included a vast variety of 

 scenery ; it presented to us what is commonly called landscape seenery, and the 

 romantic ; boundless plains, mountains, and lovely fruitful vallies. Limestone 

 surface presented a great variety of surface ; the colour varies very much, some- 

 times being of a bluish cast, and the mountains are generally conical, the scenery 

 of Berne affording the finest specimens of it. The Sandstone had a very 

 extensive range in England ; it was generally distinguished by flowing hills and 

 fertile vallies, as the beautiful vale of Wharfedale, in Yorkshire. Alluvian 

 formations ought to be considered rather as a covering to others than as a distinct 

 class ; the most remarkable specimen of this kind of surface was seen in the 

 plains of Lombardy, and their fertility was well known. The Basalt formations 

 of the Giants' Causeway, and the peculiar construction of Basaltic rock pillars, 

 was alluded to, and the volcanic formation was slightly touched upon. The 

 whole country round Rome was flat and barren, with occasional hills, the result 

 of volcanic action, and in the bottoms of extinct craters several lakes occurred. 



The south coast of Italy also afforded striking evidence of subterranean action, 

 appearing as if shaken into fragments. The paper was illustrated by a series of 

 paintings of different scenery, and of chalk drawings, prepared for the occasion by 

 one of the pupils of the Institution schools. 



We had a great many fresh paintings and works deposited for the amusement 

 and gratification of the company, principally relating to Ornithology. Amongst 

 them were Selby's Illustrations of British Birds, Gould's Birds of Europe, 

 Gould's Century of Himalayan Birds, and some fine engravings of the plants 

 of Coromandel. 



Mr. R. Adie attempted to perform some experiments with the large plate 

 electrical machine belonging to the Institution, but the evening was unfavourable 

 for it, and he exhibited to the company the action of a powerful electro-magnetic 

 apparatus. 



Woodside, near Liverpool, 

 Jan. 1G, 1838. 



