VICINITY of EDINBURG.’ 407 
Ir is generally admitted, that no city in Europe is more favour- 
ably fituated than the metropolis of Scotland, for the ftudy and 
purfuit of geology: even the ground which it occupies, when 
laid open for the erection of buildings, has occafionally prefented 
fome very interefting phenomena. ‘he hills in the immediate 
neighbourhood, always at command, afford a neyer-failing 
fource of refearch; and in the furrounding country, a greater 
variety of foflils is to be met with, than almoft in any {pace 
of the fame extent. 
TuE importance of a complete acquaintance with the pheno- 
mena which furround this city, cannot therefore, I think, be 
confidered of a trivial nature. Indeed, by the number of in- 
genious works already before the public, it may be thought 
that the fubject is exhaufted. But this is an error I am very 
defirous to combat, not only becaufe in my own experience I 
have found it to be one, but becaufe, as fcience advances, our ha- 
bits of inveftigation improve, phenomena become more fami- 
liar, we learn to trace and to feize not only the objects we are in 
purfuit of, but alfo to dete@ others, which our lefs practifed 
eye had originally paffed over unnoticed. 
- We all think ourfelves perfectly acquainted with the rock, on 
which our Caftle ftands. But I fufpect there are many mem- 
bers of this Society, who will be furprifed to learn, that fand- 
ftone occurs near its fummit, and alfo at its bate. Sa- 
or lifbury 
