SURFACE OF THE GLOBE. 35 



results that have always heen produced by unideal 

 phraseology. 



The elevations of mountains present the first 

 palpable object of curiosity, and one which has 

 assuredly met the full consideration which it deserves, 

 excepting as it may be esteemed a mere fact. This is, 

 however, a natural consequence of the awe produced 

 by the bulks and forms of these, by the desolation and 

 nakedness in which nature is here displayed, and by the 

 picturesque effects or the terror consequent on the at- 

 mospheric phenomena in which they abound. It is 

 here that man can best compare himself with the 

 objects around ; where he becomes most conscious of 

 the insignificant spot which he* occupies on the earth. 



The highest elevation of the globe is that of the 

 Himalya mountains, which form the sources of the 

 principal rivers of India. I will not here do more 

 than allude to certain similar elevations lately asserted 

 to exist in Peru, as they have not been verified. The 

 altitude of the Himalya appears to have been at length 

 satisfactorily determined, attaining to 25,749 feet. 

 But as this is a subject of a numerical nature^ it is 

 best to select, from the tables often published, a few 

 of the most conspicuous elevations throughout the 

 world. They whose curiosity on this subject extends 

 further, may refer to records that are in the hands of 

 every one. 



PHET. 



Snowdon, the highest of England - 3,568 



Scotland. Ben Lawers, Ben Nevis, and Ben 



Mhuc Dhubh, above - 4,000 



Macgillicuddy's Reeks. Ireland - 3,404 



Iceland. Snaefell - 0,860 



Norway. Swickee - - 6,658 



D 2 



