84 



perfect demonstration; aiid, particularly, Mr. Hocpfner, of 

 Viel, who was so anxious for the solution of this question, 

 that he promised a premium, of twenty-five rixdollars, to 

 whoever would satisfactorily resolve it. AVliat a pity, should 

 this gentleman be unfortunately carried off, before he had 

 an opportunity of witnessing Dr. Hamilton's demonstration, 

 and contemplating the magnificent spectacle he promises ! 



1 do not insinuate, that he relies solely on the evidence 

 to be produced at remote periods: for he tells us; " of such 

 " phenomena as these, we have even some anticipation, in 

 " the present living volcanos." 



Thus, he says, " the mountain de la Coupe rests on a 

 *' colunmar base; whose pillars have been laid bare, by 

 " tiie impetuous torrents of the river Ardesche; Avhose 

 " banks are formed of columnar basalts;" which, by this 

 new theory, were formed in the bottom of the crater. 



Here we have a happy instance of the dexterity, with 

 which modern theorists select, from the same fact, such 

 circumstances, as seem favourable to their opinions: never 

 troubling their readers with those that make against them. 

 For, though Dr. Hamilton refers us to Mi\ St. Fond, for 

 his account of this mountain, he takes no notice of the 

 current of lava, which Mr. St. Fond traced from its crater 

 to the plain; by which all the paves about it were 



' • ^d, as he says: and he both states, that basalt prisms 



,formc. , • , • ' 1 , ■ .1, • 1, 



jv 'd m this current; and, also, in the view he 



were louu. , . x- i t_ 



f. ,, • mountain, and its current oi lava, he ex- 

 gives 01 'this . ' 



hibits the pillars, i" tlie vei-y current. ^^ 



^<i: 



"C^x "^ 



