DOMAIN xi. DECOMPOSED; 



nature, forms some of the boldest summits 

 and promontories. It was perhaps this 

 consideration which induced the preference 

 of ollite, or potstone, in the construction 

 3f the Duke of Argyle's noble mansion at 

 Inverary. 



These observations can scarcely demand 

 excuse, as being digressive, for the utility 

 of any subject is its most laudable quality : 

 nisi utile est quod f admits, stulta est gloria* 

 But to return to considerations more imme- 

 diately connected with the nature of this 

 work, it must not be forgotten that the 

 able illustrator of the Huttonian theory, 

 has treated the subject of decomposed 

 rocks, which may be said indeed to form 

 the very foundation of that system, with 

 his usual talents ; but not with that long 

 and laborious discussion which was to have 

 been expected on a topic so important to 

 lis purpose. After describing the-plain of 

 3rau, at the mouth of the Rhone, a space 

 )f about 20 square leagues covered with 

 ^uartzose pebbles, and which Saussure ob- 

 served to proceed from the decomposition 



