36 Observatimis on the 



teresting district, which can be exposed to our observation, ig 

 like a portion of a dissected map, necessary to be gathered up, 

 and adapted to the whole for the completion of the geographical 

 system. By a proper division of circumscribed spaces, each be- 

 ing allotted to the attention of a single qualified individual, who 

 should confine himself to that solely, the geology of our isles 

 would be improved beyond all moderate speculation, and less 

 imperfect data furnished for comparative reasoning and perma- 

 nent conclusions : still further extended we should have ma- 

 terials for a consistent theory of the earth. With the former 

 view during the summer of 1819, I devoted much attention to 

 the stratified arrangements of certain hills, principally side by 

 side folding over each other, through the gorges of which the 

 Wye flows towards the sea ; and I must repeat that if the collo- 

 cation of these strata should be found uninteresting in detail or 

 common in occurrence, yet viewed as forming a necessary frag- 

 ment for the construction of an authentic system, a conviction 

 will be obtained that their tameness should not preclude them 

 from regular description. These hills have seldom been viewed 

 but as the parts, which in union compose scenes of picturesque 

 beauty, as the site of architectural antiquities and as the orna- 

 ments to the gentle banks and irriguous course of the Wye. 

 The first of these hills near the town of Ross, to the S.E, com- 

 mences the chain, which forms the septum between the counties 

 of Hereford and Monmouth, and the forest division of Glouces- 

 tershire; continuing on, they pass the barrier line of Hereford- 

 shire, and commence in Monmouth with Symonds Gate Hill and 

 the New Weir, scenes of extraordinary picturesque loveliness, 

 and are continued to the junction of the Severn and the Wye, at 

 their disgorgement into the Bristol Channel at Chepstow. The 

 provincial names of the principal of these hills are, the Pen- 

 y-ard, the Coppace Hill, Symond's Gate Rocks, New Weir, 

 Great Doward, the Kymin at Monmouth, the Tintern Hills, and 

 WindclifF from Monmouth to Chepstow. Their geology will in- 

 clude a pretty correct statement of that of all the minor hills 

 on the general surface of Monmouthshire and Herefordshire, and 

 the low ground will likewise be included. When I remark that 



