20 Dr Wight on the Lattnts Casxia of Li/iiiauis. 



of this chain, and on its two declivities. This is the case with 

 the chain of Mont Blanc ; boulders occur (though in much 

 smaller quantities) on the eastern declivity as well as on the 

 western, and if these have not attracted observation, it is be- 

 cause these collections of stones were taken either for the 

 moraines of ancient glaciers, or for the debris of great convul- 

 sions happening in modern times. 



P. S. — I confess that I was surprised to observe that M. K. C. 

 de Leonhard, the skilful professor of geology, should have 

 allowed himself to be drawn into error by M. Venetz, chief 

 engineer of the Valais, respecting the cause of the transporta- 

 tion of the boulders observed in the central valleys of the 

 Alps, by taking them for moraines. He expresses himself to 

 the following effect in the French translation of his popular 

 geology (p. 411), published in the present year. 



" This force, which has put the masses of rocks found in 

 the valleys and on the summits of the Alps in motion, does 

 not appear to be currents, but rather glaciers, according to 

 the researches of M. Venetz,* a geologist of the Valais ; the ice 

 precipitating itself from the region of snows carries along with 

 it masses of rock. The blocks of the Alps are therefore the 

 moraines of ancient glaciers ; accumulations similar to those 

 we see in the present day round actually existing glaciers." 



It is this opinion which I have ventured to oppose. 



On the Laurus Cassia of Linnceus, and the plants producing 

 the Cassia Bark of Commerce. By Robert Wight, M. D.t 



The next subject on which I have some remarks to offer is 

 the Laurus Cassia of Linnaeus, and the plants producing the 

 Cassia Lignea or Cassia Bark of commerce. My attention 

 was first directed to this subject, by a communication from 

 Government, in which I am requested to endeavour to ascer- 

 tain " whether the common Cassia Bark of the markets of the 



* For an account of the results of the investigations of M. Venetz, our 

 readers are refen-ed to the 21st vol. of this Journal, p. 210.— Edit. 



t From Madras Journal of Literature and Science, No. xxii. January 

 —March 1839. 



