33 ON THE GENERAL DISPOSITION OF THE 



Mexico ; since the elevated summits form its crest, 

 and it is intersected by deep transverse vallies. The 

 Norwegian mountains, in the same manner, have a 

 northerly direction. Thus there are exceptions suf- 

 ficent to prove that the extension of mountain chains 

 from N. E. to S. W. is imaginary. But to examine 

 the real directions of all the ridges and elevations of 

 the globe, is the business of physical geography. 

 It is sufficient for the present purpose to state the ex- 

 ceptions, that no fallacious geological conclusions may 

 be drawn from an ideal and universal direction. And 

 when it is stated that, in the Pyrenees, the direction 

 of the strata is E. S. E., in Sweden and Finland S. 

 and S. S. W., in Scotland S. W. and S. S. W., in 

 Mexico S. E., and in the Allegany S. W., it will not 

 be necessary to produce a greater approximation of 

 examples. 



With respect to the particular distribution of the 

 subordinate parts of any group of mountains, whether 

 extended or otherwise, it is subject to irregularities 

 that admit of no rule ; though it has been the source 

 of much trifling discussion and of many frivolous 

 distinctions. If mountains had been formed and dis- 

 posed every where by some invariable law, and again 

 acted on and demolished by other invariable laws, 

 such enquiries might claim the merit attached to the 

 investigation of truth, and lead to eventual utility. 

 It is almost superfluous to say that neither of these 

 is the fact. They consist of various rocks, of unequal 

 qualities, unequal forms, and unequal distribution ; 

 and they have been acted on so as to have lost their 

 original forms, by causes which, in the ordinary ac- 

 ceptation of the term, have been regulated by chance. 

 That an irregular conoidal mountain rising from a 

 plain, should possess a summit higher than all the 



