the Diluvian Epoch, 278 



his argument in favour of a period when ice covered the entire 

 surface of the earth. Granting all the importance which is 

 due to this opinion, whether in the theory of MM. Venetz 

 and Charpentier, who simply admit the former extension of 

 our glaciers to the foot of Jura, or in that of M. Agassiz ; and 

 an inspection of polished and striated rocks near actually ex- 

 isting glaciers, being in some measure a necessary addition to 

 our observations on the lake of Bienne ; it afforded me the 

 highest gratification to make a journey, this summer, to Mount 

 Rosa, in company with M. Agassiz and many of our friends 

 who took part in the discussion the preceding autumn.* We 

 visited in company Zermatt, in the bottom of the valley of St 

 Nicholas in the Valais, and devoted two days to the examina- 

 tion of the extensive and magnificent glaciers which descend 

 from Monte Rosa and Mont Cervin, towards the bottom of this 

 great amphitheatre surrounded by the highest peaks of the Alps. 

 After these excursions, we separated, and I then made a jour- 

 ney round Monte Rosa and Mont Blanc, passing by Monte 

 Moro, Val Sejia, Ivrea, Col du Bonhomme, Sixt, and Evian. 

 Although the study of rocks was the principal object of this 

 journey, I did not fail to attend to every thing calculated to 

 throw more light on the great question of diluvial phenomena, 

 and the transportation of rolled masses of rock. Convinced 

 that we are still deficient in data to enable us to come to a 

 determinate opinion on this difficult problem, I do not hesi- 

 tate to add my small contribution to the general stock, by 

 presenting to the Society my observations relating to these 

 subjects. Should they be considered of little importance, 

 they will at all events escape the imputation of having been 

 influenced by my too great predilection for any particular 

 glacial system, whatsoever name it may bear. 



We commenced at Zermatt with the examination of the rocks 

 in contact with the great glacier of Gorneren, the lower part of 

 which is formed by the union of the glaciers of theCima de Jazi, 

 Monte Rosa, and Breithorn. When we had ascended about 



For a uotice of this tour, by M. Agassiz, see Inst number, p. 184.— Edit. 



