214 The Founders of Geology LECT. 



At last the results of these investigations were embodied 

 in a joint memoir by Cuvier and Brongniart, which first 

 appeared in the year 1808. 1 



They seem to have continued their researches with 

 great industry during the following years. An account of 

 these additional observations was read by them before the 

 Institute in April 1810, and was published as a separate 

 work with a map, sections, and plate of fossils in 181 1. 2 

 Kef erring afterwards to this conjoint essay and its subse- 

 quent enlargement, Cuvier generously wrote that though 

 it bore his name, it had become almost entirely the pro- 

 duction of his friend, from the infinite pains which, ever 

 since the first conception of their plan, and during their 

 various excursions, he had bestowed upon the thorough 

 investigation of all the objects of the inquiry, and in the 

 preparation of the essay itself. 3 Brongniart's experience 

 as a mining engineer would naturally make him fitter than 

 Cuvier for the requirements of stratigraphical research. 



It is not necessary for our present purpose to trace the 

 development of view of these observers during the three 

 years that elapsed between the appearance of their first 

 sketch and that of their illustrated quarto memoir. It 

 will be enough to note the general characters of their first 

 essay, and to see how far in advance it was of anything 

 that had preceded it. 



After briefly describing the limits and general features 

 of the Seine basin, the authors proceed to show that the 



1 Journal des Mines, tome xxiii. (1808), p. 421. 



2 Essai sur la GeograpJiie Mineralogique des Environs de Paris avec 

 une Carte geognostique et des Coupes de terrain, 4to, 1811. An enlarged 

 edition of this separate work appeared in 1822. 



3 Discours sur les Revolutions de la Surface du Globe, 6th edit. p. 294. 



