1819.] Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 373 



It would have produced an enormous agitation, and would 

 explain the seeming- alteration which has taken place in the 

 northern climates. 



Such is our author's reasoning on the debacle or deluge. It 

 .possesses considerable plausibility as he has placed the argu- 

 ments. But I have no doubt that Deluc, were he now alive, and 

 in the vigour of his understanding, could write an equally plau- 

 sible refutation of the whole essay ; that Sir James Hall could 

 give an air of plausibility to his doctrine of elevations ; and that 

 Mr. Jameson could state very plausible reasons for supposing 

 that the mountains and valleys either existed originally, or have 

 been produced by the gradual action of the weather. The sub- 

 ject does not admit of precise reasoning. I consider it as but of 

 second-rate importance, and am of opinion that those persons 

 who confine the science of geology to such speculations mistake 

 its true nature, and rather injure than promote its progress by 

 •calling off the attention of its cultivators from the investigation 

 ■of facts to loose discussions which are not susceptible of accu- 

 rate demonstration. 



(To be continued.) 



Article X. 

 Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 



ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AT PARIS. 



in Analysis of the Labours of the Royal Academy of Sciences 

 during the iear lolo. 



(Continued from p. 225.) 



Memoirs read to (lie Academy, but which have not as yet been 



transmitted to us. 



On the Motion of Elastic Fluids in Cylindrical Tubes ; by M. 

 Poisson. 



A Notice on bringing the Colorigrade to Perfection; by 

 M . Blot. 



On the Usefulness of the Laws of the Polarization of Light, 

 in finding the State of Crystallization, and of Combination in 

 those Cases where the Crystalline System cannot be observed 

 in a direct Maimer: by M. 13iot. 



Printed Works. 



I'icrcises on the Integral Calculus; Construction of Elliptic 



Tables; continuation of vol. hi.— M. Legendre 'continues 



his vast and useful labours. The determination of the 



functions E and F, according to the different values of the. 



