On GRANITE, 8 
fize, which to every perfon who has feen them, leave no manner 
of doubt with regard to the propofition which I have main- 
tained. 
We are now fully affured that granite has been made to 
break, difplace and invade the Alpine fchiftus or primary ftrata 
having been previoufly forced to flow in the bowels of the 
earth, and reduced into a ftate of fufion. From this too we are 
to draw the following conclufion: 
Granite, which has been hitherto confidered by naturalifts 
as being the original or primitive part of the earth, is now 
found to be pofterior to the Alpine fchiftus ; which fchiftus, 
being ftratified, is not itfelf original; though it may be confi- 
dered, perhaps, as primary, in relation to other ftrata, which 
are evidently of a later date. 
_ Tue fucceflive operations of the globe, in producing, deftroy- 
ing and replacing ftrata, for the purpofe of land, are a fub- 
jet of natural hiftory moft interefting to every theory of the 
earth. The view of granite which has now been given, forms 
one great ftep in this enquiry ; and it is connected with fome 
other very important facts with regard to the fucceffions of 
ftrata, or a certain order of geological periods, which may be 
afcertained by the natural hiftory of our minerals. Of this I 
fhall alfo treat in another place ; and I wifh what I now lay be- 
fore the Society, to be confidered merely as a notice given of 
certain new fa¢ts and obfervations, which I mean fully to de- 
fcribe and explain hereafter. © 
Vox. III. L [Read 
