THE 



EDINBURGH NEW 

 PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNAL. 



Oil the Physical Structure of the Site of Rome ^ and the adjoin- 

 ing Cou7itry *. Communicated by the Author -|-. 



It has seldom happened that those who have undertaken to 

 illustrate the classics, have endeavoured to throw light upon ob- 

 scure passages in their authors by the aid of physical science. 

 A great proportion of the most eminent commentators lived, it 

 is true, at a period when science was little cultivated, or at least 

 with that minute observation of facts which can alone give weight 

 to its conclusions. But, of late, our classical scholars have often 

 displayed considerable scientific attainments, and many of our 

 men of science have given proofs of their accomplishments in 

 classical learning. Of the latter, the interesting Treatise on Vol- 

 canoes by Dr Daubeny of Oxford, may be adduced as an ex- 

 ample in this country ; and the Memoria dello Stato Fisico del 

 Suolo di Roma, of the accomplished and lamented Brocchi, may 

 serve as a specimen of the classical attainments of the geologists 

 of the continent. The science of geology bids fair to contribute 

 largely towards this end, and the study of the physical structure 

 of Italy, especially the neighbourhood of Rome and Naples, 

 offers a wide and promising field to the researches of the scholar. 

 Nor is it unimportant in the education of our youth, who are 



• A coloured geological map of the vicinity of Rome, will be found in 

 vol. viii. for 1830, of Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, 

 f Transmitted from Bonn. 

 VOL. XIV. NO. XXVI r. — .taxuahy 1833. a 



