[ 3^5 ] 



laminar ftrudlure, the leaves all parallel to each other, and per- 

 fedly ftraight or flat ; their compofition, nnd the nature of their 

 contents, all flrongly attefting formation in a horizontal pofition : — 

 and their want of continuation, the extremities being fuddenly 

 and fliarply cut oft'; fo many circumftances concurring, and 

 tending all to the fame conclufion, give it a degree of evidence 

 that may almoft be called demonflration. 



But if it be admitted that the prefent fituation of thefe mafles 

 muft be regarded as foreign from their native place of forma- 

 tion, we have, in this, another objedl of inveftigation, no lefs 

 remarkable in itfelf than interefting to the natural hiftory of 

 that country. 



That thefe mafles, in their original pofition, mufl: have 

 formed part of a continued, and horizontal ftratum of fomc 

 confiderable extent, feems highly probable. If the account juft 

 now given of the origin of this ftone be well founded, the thickr 

 nefs of the ftratum evinces that the quantity of calcareous mat» 

 ter, fuddenly poured into the fuperincumbent water, muft have 

 been immenfe: — But this matter, immediately on its fubfidencc 

 being pulverulent, or in the ftate of a foft mud, muft have lain 

 to a great depth at the bottom of the water, and, from the le- 

 velling nature of that fluid, muft have been fpread out over a 

 greater or lefs furface, as the ftiape of the ground, or bottom on 

 which it lay, or the intervention of fliores or other obftacles 

 may have permitted. At all events it is fcarcely poflible to 



Vol. V. ■ 0, q imagine 



