294 Transactions of the Geological Society of France. 
ranean fire, it has been converted into sulphate of lime, and also giv- 
en rise to the sulphate of strontian, which in the tertiary clays of 
Sicily is associated with the preceding minerals: an idea which may 
well becompared with the ancient opinion that volcanoes are kept ac- 
tive by the inflammation of coal beds. 
General view of the Progress of Geology for 1833.—The num- 
ber of observers has become so great, that one year suffices to give 
us information respecting the largest part of the globe ; ina few years 
no countries will remain untrod by the feet of civilized man. The 
past year has been especially remarkable for the important descrip- 
tions it has furnished of the three peninsulas of Southern Europe, 
of Mexico, South America, and Hindostan. For the rest, England, 
France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States continue to 
hold the first rank in this kind of publications. Their number gives 
after the order in which they have been mentioned, the succession 
of the following figures: 45, 46, 31,19, 15, and 16. 
Of treatises on Geology, those of Lyeun and De ta Becue are 
the most distinguished of this period. As to particular subjects of 
geology, numerous facts have been collected, especially in France, 
England and Germany. Upon craters of elevation, the theory of 
dislocations and of the formation of mountains has been perfected ; 
finally new ideas have been daily made respecting the origin of cer- 
tain rocks, such as the quartz rocks, primitive limestone, porphyry 
and trap. Mineral waters and artesian wells continue to afford in- 
teresting observations. During 1833, they have principally been 
made in Germany, France and Italy ; and the theory of their origin 
as well as that of internal heat, is becoming better and better estab- 
lished, especially in England and France. Paleontology does not 
cease to develope the riches of the ancient vegetable and animal 
creations. The year, 1833, has been marked by the appearance of 
special works, upon plants, and different classes of animals, such as 
the mammifere and the fishes. If Germany has taken the Jead in 
information relating to fossil geology, i it has not furnished more than 
France and England concerning vegetable impressions. In palzeon- 
tology, all other countries except the United States are quite in the 
back ground. This proves that a highly advanced state of civiliza- 
tion is necessary for the entire and minute cultivation of a science, 
as well as for the discussion of the highest theoretical questions, 
whilst works purely descriptive are well adapted to a less advanced 
state of national intelligence 
