VJll 



PREFACE. 



We examined together the Habichwald neas 

 Caflel ; and as, till, that moment, he had 

 feen no volcanic mountain, reputed to be 

 fuch, he was not altogether fatisfied with 

 my Syflem of the Earth, which in 1 763 

 had been publifhed at Amfterdam. I was. led 

 to fufpecl:, what farther obfervations have 

 convinced me of, that this huge and uncouth 

 heap of mountains is a monument of an* 

 cient volcanic eruptions. He has certainly 

 in thefe Letters on Italy made me large 

 and liberal amends, fince he has confirmee) 

 me in my own ideas. 



He was taken great notice of in England 

 by Dr. Franklin ; and every where elie, by 

 men of liberal minds, who confider not 

 fcience as a job, nor the active friends of 

 knowledge as encroaching intruders upon 

 their literary reputation. Mr. Whitehurfl 

 at Derby, with hofpitable politenefs and an 

 extenfive folid knowledge of his country s 

 enabled him to examine the mountains and 

 mines of that county, and to draw up a 

 memoir for the prefs, which hitherto has 

 jipt appeared, 



to 



