34 Hints for the Formation of 



appears important by engaging his whole attention makes 

 him often forget others : ibmetimes he is difcouraged by 

 bad weather, or becomes abfent through fatigue f and ths 

 neglect produced by all thefe caufes gives rife to deep regret, 

 and even frequently oblige hi-m to turn back ; whereas if he 

 has a collection of memorandums- on which he can from time 

 to time caft his eye, he will be reminded of all thofe objects 

 which ought to engage his attention. This collection, con- 

 fined at firft, will be extended and improved in proportion 

 as he acquires ideas, and may furniih hints to travellers 

 who, without being verfed in geology, wiih to collect, in the 

 countries they vifit, obfervations that may be ufeful to thofe 

 who ftudy that fcience *.. 



Agreeably to thefe principles I have always prepared for 

 all my journeys a lift of thofe objects, for examining which 

 that journey was intended. I propofe here, however, a more 

 cxteniive plan, I wifh to direct the traveller, and even the 

 fedentary philofopher, in all the refearches- which ought to. 

 engage their attention, if they are defirous of contributing 

 towards the progrefs of a theory of our globe. I do not 

 natter myfelf that I (hall be able to give a complete view of 

 every thing that remains to be done : what I offer will be 

 only an imperfect fketch, but this fketch will be at lcaft 

 ufeful till fome one produce a better. Several of the obfer- 

 vations and queftions which I here propofe as problematic, 

 feem indeed to have been already refolved; but as mod fo- 

 lutions of this kind are founded merely on- analogy, the con- 

 trary of which is always phyfically poffible, it is proper, in 

 my opinion, to keep the eyes of naturalifts always open to 

 the grand facts which may be interefting to a theory, fo dif- 

 ficult and of fo much importance. 



* Voyage dans les A4pes, vol. i. Preliminary Difcourfe. 



CHAIV 



