60 - Analysis of the Protog@a of Leibnitz. 
5, An enumeration of certain mountain ranges, which he supposes 
to be part of the original skeleton of the globe. He does not deny 
that smaller conflagrations, earthquakes, and deluges of less extent, 
have changed the aspect of particular countries. Mankind will de- 
cide these things more correctly, when they shall have more accu- 
rately examined the surface and strata of the earth. 
. The Deluge. It is proved by the occurrence of marine or- 
ganic remains upon the mountains. A number of different theories 
of the modus operandi, by which the highest mountains were cover-_ 
ed with water, are stated. He prefers the opinion, that the contents 
of vast caverns in the interior of the earth, were forced out by the 
falling in of the earth and rocks above, and that these superfluous 
waters afterwards found their way into other caverns, that had before 
been empty, and so disappeared. 
7. The Brocken, inaccessible during the greater part of the year, — 
and infamous in the surrounding country from concerts of owls, is 
described. The rivers rising near its summit, are.no valid objec- _ 
‘tion to the theory that ascribes them to rain and snow- descending F 
from the clouds. } 
8. The metals are much more abundant in the surrounding moun- 
tains of less elevation, than in the Brocken itself. Metallic veins are 
well defined, as Jeaves or strata running far into the earth, of mode- 
rate thickness and different composition from the rocks in which 
they lie. They are divided into pendentes and cadentes, or beds and 
proper veins ; the former of limited extent, the latter descending in- 
definitely. The effects of their concourse, divarication, ete., are ac- 
curately stated. They are ascribed partly to deposits in horizontal 
beds, which were afterwards shifted into an inclined position, and 
partly to rifts in the crust of the earth, filled with matter rendered 
liquid by heat or a solvent. By diligent observation, rules, much 
superior to those now in use, may be found out for conjecturing the 
substances lying hid inthe bowels of the earth. Vallies have every 
aliis impdnerentur facies teneri adhuc orbis swpius novata est. Donec ee 
bus eausis atque xquilibratis consistentior emergeret status rerum. Unde jam du- 
plex origo intellegitur firmorum corporum; una cum ab ignis fusione BP aise 
altera eum reconcresceret ex solutione aquarum. Neque igitur putandum est lapi- 
des ex sola esse fusione. Jd enim potissimum de prima tantum massa ac terre basi 
r 
sibi superimposita diversas sisclgaatind vices atque intervalla testantur.’ 
