rU(5 Dr James Macaulay on the Physical Geography ^ 



at the same time is of a kind different from what, in ahiiost 

 any other country, can be met with, from the pecuHar geologi- 

 cal character of the formations of which it is composed, of 

 which I will now give some description. 



Geology,* — To the geological observer the island of Madeira 

 everywhere presents the marks of igneous action. Whether 



to in this paper ; and is at present preparing eight lithographic views for 

 publication. To the geologist, these will give a very good idea of the ap- 

 pearance and physical geography of the island, and will be generally inte- 

 resting as representations (as far as art can imitate nature where she has 

 played at will her sU-angest fancies, wild above rule and art) of the most re- 

 markable natural scenery in the world. 



* For my information regarding the geology of the island I am chiefly in- 

 debted to Mr Smith of Jordanhill, who was in Madeira last winter, and in 

 wliose company I enjoyed many agreeable excursions in the island. Mr 

 Smith wrote some letters on the geology of the island, which were translated 

 into Portuguese, and published in a newspaper of the island, the Flor 

 d'Oceano. In the same paper was reprinted, from the Transactions of the 

 Lisbon Academy, a memoir by Senhor Mousinho d' Albuquerque, formerly 

 Governor at Funchal. Sr. Mousinho's memoir is very valuable for tlie mi- 

 nute and accurate description given of the various pyrogenous rocks and 

 minerals. Mr Bowditch gives some geological observations in his " Excur- 

 sions in Madeira." In the first vol. of the Geological Transactions of Lon- 

 don is a paper by the Hon. Mr Bennet, which refers only to one or tM'o sec- 

 tions and appearances on the south coast. Many scattered remarks occur in 

 the works of travellers, both English and foreign, who have touched at the 

 island ; but, for the most part, their observations are exceedingly limited, 

 and often erroneous. Mr Smith first pointed out, fr.om some fossils found 

 at St Vincente, Mr Bowditch's error in describing the limestone there as 

 transition ; and determined the age of the island as an extinct volcano of the 

 tertiary epoch. Mr Smith's remarks on this and other points were published 

 in the Portuguese Journal already mentioned, which was conducted last 

 winter by a young militaiy engineer, Sr. Antonio Azevedo, a man of sci- 

 ence and of varied acquu*ements, who labours for the promotion of science 

 and the introduction of improvements in the island. The natives could not 

 yet, perhaps, support a scientific association ; but Sr. Azevedo and one or 

 two of his friends published, in the FJor d'Oceano, papers and letters of an 

 ideal academy, " The Philosophical and Mechanical Institute of Madeira," 

 which, we trust, may soon be converted into a real and useful institution in 

 this little " Nova Atlantis J^ We endeavoured last winter to establish an 

 English journal of literature and science, " The Stranger ;" but, from the 

 want of workmen and printing materials at the time, had to desist after pub- 

 lishing one small number. Every encouragement was given to the under- 

 taking. "We had the use of the Government printing-press ; abundant mate- 

 rials were contributed, and the support obtained of many of the Portuguesa 



