362 Mr D. Milne on Eartli^uake-Shocks felt in Great Britain, 



That, however, granular limestone can occur as the upfill- 

 ing of fissures, that sometimes it contains true fragments of 

 the including rock, and in the vicinity of the latter is accom- 

 panied by peculiar mineral products, is willingly conceded ; but, 

 as I hope to make apparent afterwards, all this is no proof of 

 the pyrogenic origin of marble. The chief object I had in view 

 in quoting the passage, was to direct attention to the pernicious 

 consequences of the mode of proceeding at present followed by 

 so many geologists. I maybe forgiven for not being able to help 

 thinking that we really have here an example of the manner 

 in which the science may be deprived of that impartial obser- 

 vation and delineation of facts so perfectly indispensable for 

 its advancement ; and this either because the observer had 

 previously a particular opinion as to what must and should be 

 found, and thus was led quite involuntarily to construct rather 

 than to observe and remark directly, or because the describer 

 was unwilling to represent facts which, perhaps, he could not 

 at once satisfactorily account for to himself and others. As, 

 in the description which has been quoted, the occurrence of 

 the limestone as the upfilling of fissures, is alone mentioned^ 

 we are thus only informed of the very rarest case met with ; 

 while the usual mode of occurrence of the marble in the crys- 

 talline slates, and precisely that which constitutes the general 

 rule, is altogether omitted. As I speak here from my own 

 observation, I believe that my distrust will be thought natural, 

 and that, therefore, no disapprobation is to be expected even 

 from the respected author himself, on account of my candid 

 expression of opinion. 



(To be continued.) 



Notices of Earthquake-shocks felt in Foreign countries, in 

 Britain, ^c. By David Milne, Esq., F.R.S.E., M.W.S., 

 F.G.S., &c. Communicated by the Author* 



(Continued from page 86*) 



This comparison is facilitated in regard to one portion of the 

 continent, by there having been a regular register kept of the 



