Miscellanies. 359 



ments have been common in all ages, and that there Is an incessant 

 onward march in physical operations, which permits not the earth 

 to rest for one moment, without changes, the accumulation of which 

 is constantly preparing the way for results which become great in the 

 progress of time. As, however, there was a time when the world 

 began to be, and its elements w^ere called into existence, either In 

 • freedom or in combination, we do not perceive that we are prohibited 

 from indulging in any speculations, regarding the nature or energy of 

 early chemical and mechanical operations, which the known consti- 

 tution and laws of matter may sustain by adequate evidence or high 

 probability. Any degree of intenseness of energy in primary move- 

 ments, may thus far, be admitted as a supposition, for the sake of 



argument. 



M 



must be studied by every person who would be acquainted with the 

 present improved state of the science, and happily the study will 

 prove no task ; for the lucid and beautiful style of the author^ em- 

 bellished by occasional classical flowers, gives this work almost as 

 peculiar a character as its novel philosophy. As a mere book of 

 elements, by which to learn geology, it cannot supersede other val- 

 uable works that have preceded it, but while the author, with so 

 much active industry, continues to travel, observe, correspond and 

 read ; his new editions will be sure to maintain their ground. 



The present edition is greatly improved by additions, corrections 

 and embellishments, and we should be happy to see it republished 

 ill this country, in a style worthy of its great merits. 



Hodce of a new mode of 

 'ated at the Editor^ s reoues 



Com- 

 The fol- 



lowing account of an interesting discovery, recently made in Italy, is 

 taken from a pamphlet published in Florence, during the last summer. 

 The author of the discovery, Sig. Girolamo Segato, Is already fa- 

 vorably known to the scientific world, as the author and engraver of 

 improved maps of Africa and Morocco. Ardent In the pursuit of 

 science, he traversed the deserts of Northern Africa, and by his re- 

 searches, corrected and considerably advanced the knowledge of 

 those regions. It was while travelling in these parts, that he re- 

 ceived the first hint of this great discovery. In the path of one of 

 those interesting phenomena cf the African deserts— a vortex of 

 sand— which his curiosity pompted him to trace, lie, one day, dis- 



