STUDY XI. 167 



Dutch Admiral ; it is one of the loftieft in the 

 Ifland. 



Thofe peaks are formed of folid rock, vitrifi- 

 able, and mixed with copper : they are real elec- 

 trical needles, both in form and fubftance. The 

 clouds perceptibly deviate from their courfe to 

 collect upon them, and there accumulate, fome- 

 times to fuch a degree, that the pinnacles become 

 totally invifible. They thence defcend into the 

 cavity of the vallies, along the declivities of the 

 forefts, which likewife attract them, and there dif- 

 folve into rain, frequently forming rainbows on 

 the verdure of the trees. This vegetable attrac- 

 tion, of the forefls of that ifland, is in fuch perfect 

 harmony with the metallic attraction of the peaks 

 of it's mountains, that a field fituated in an open 

 place, in their vicinity, very often fuffers for want 

 of rain, whereas it rains almoft the whole year 

 round in the woods, which are not above a gun- 

 mot diftant. It was by the deftruction of part of 

 the trees that clothed the heights of the ifland, 

 that moft of the brooks which watered it have 

 been dried up : and now nothing remains of them 

 but the empty channel. 



To the fame injudicious management, i afcribe 

 the fenfible diminution of a confiderable part of 

 the rivers of Europe, both great and fmall ; as is 



m 4 evident 



