442- Geological Observations on unstratified Mountains. 
Immediately on my return from viewing of Chernwood 
Forest, in Leicestershire, in August 1807, I stated my 
opinion, that this primitive tract, as some call it, not only 
formed one of these exceptions to regular stratification, but 
‘that it was a huge nodular concretion in the red earth or 
gypseous marl, underlaying the lias clay; and L have been 
more and more convinced by reading, correspondence and 
conversation ever since to the present time, that most, or 
perhaps every one of the tracts deemed primitive, or sup- 
posed hitherto, to be projecting points of the solid nucleus 
of the earth, m the British isles, are referable to similar 
concretions or anomalous masses in the upper, or in some 
of the inferior strata of these marls, of which I suspect that 
there are three at least, of very great- thickness, interlaid 
with coal-measures and limestone rocks, also of great thick- 
ness. Whether the larger of the nodular concretions’on 
the surface of the earth, such for instance as the lofty Alps, 
which I see strong reasons for referring to nodular masses 
in strata, that are underlaid by the chalk of London and 
Paris, were ever entirely covered by strata, that have been 
stript off them, or only partially on their skirts, that is, 
whether the world was ever as much larger, as to include 
the summits-of these- vast mountain chains or not, as Dr. 
Richardson hints, it may be very difficult to determine; but 
it will be easy I think to show, in the smaller nodular tracts, 
like that of Chernwood Forest and others in England, that 
the surrounding and covering strata have been denudated 
or swept away, and that in this sense they have been /ef?, 
according to Dr. Richardson’s concluding remark. T much 
wish that Dr. R. could be induced to extend his observa- 
tions beyond the regularly stratified district to which, if { 
mistake not, they have been confined, to the nearest moun- 
tain or primitive ‘tracts, and favour the world with his 
observations on the connection and distinctions between 
them; and fof'that purpose I have thrown out these hints 
for his consideration, and comparison with the phenomena: 
assuring him, that I am not less sensible of the importance 
of facts than himself, and hope to live to prove the same 
to the world: but as the philosophic end of al] experimental 
or observed facts, is to obtain a theory or general know- 
ledge of the principles which connect all those facts, my 
opinion is, that they ought to go on together; and that they 
may beneficially do so, I am satisfied fully, from my own 
experience in this particular pursuit, and in attending to 
the progress of chemical knowledge and others, of which I 
may state myself to be rather a spectator, than as taking 
any 
