45 



The question at issue, is thus reduced to a mere pdint. 

 Were these currents of lava ? or were they not ? 



On a former occasion, I had the hardihood to differ from 

 Mr. Dolomieu, on the subject of the basalts of Sicily, M'hich 

 I had never seen; and attempted to prove, from his own 

 facts and admissions, that what he pronounced to be cur- 

 rents of lava, had never flowed from any volcano. (Biblio- 

 theque Britannique, No. 144.) 



A similar attempt, in the case of Mr. Desmarest, will, I 

 hope, be deemed more excusable, for two reasons ; the first, 

 that he himself has set me the example, by discussing the 

 features, and products, of my country, which he, also, has 

 never visited. 



The second, that, as Mr. Desmarest, on the spot, confesses 

 his doubts, and hesitates about pronouncing on his currents 

 of lava; I hope I too may be forgiven for having my doubts, 

 and thai I shall be excused for examining these facts, which, 

 it will appear, staggered himself. 



The first seems to have been, the solitary masses of basalt, 

 which he found in great abundance; for he admits, had 

 these been all, he never could have pronounced basalt to 

 be lava. 



He is again puzzled, and confesses, that often he cannot 

 find the volcano itself, at the upper extremity of the current 

 which issued from it. 



But the fact, which seems to have embarrassed him most 

 of all, was, the groupes of pillars he found standing vertical 

 on the summits of hills. These, he confesses, cost him much 



G reflection, 



