Detrital Theory of Geology. 317 



sole or chief ingredient of any stratum formed from granite 

 detritus cannot be attributed to the resistance which that 

 rock is capable of offering, by reason of its compactness, 

 to the solvent action of the water on the potash contained 

 in it. 



But it will be said that sea water, freshwater, land plants, 

 and all alluvial soils, especially those of India, and soils 

 not far distant from mountain ranges of granite formation, 

 have potash ; and though unaggregated into distinct strata, 

 yet, as it pervades all strata, or NEARLY so, its amount 

 must be very great, and in a measure proportional to its 

 excess over lime in granite. If such be the inference, then, 

 how does it happen that in all soils and strata where potash 

 is found, there lime is found, and almost invariably at a 

 higher rate of per-centage than potash in the same soils ? 

 In addition to which facts, lime is found aggregated into 

 distinct and special strata of its own elemental composition. 



To sum the whole matter up. Nothing but difficulties 

 arise by endeavouring to refer the quantities of the four 

 great mineral alkaloids found in the earth's successive strata 

 from the first metamorphic to the last of the tertiary and 

 post tertiary rocks, to granite as their origin, and assume that 

 mechanical disintegration, aided by organic action, has 

 been the means of supplying the different elements in their 

 relative proportions to the several strata in which they are 

 found. 



To pass from fact to simile. It is as though a salesman 

 had contracted with certain farmers for certain produce 

 say, for bacon 20 tons, butter 15 tons, lard 5 tons, and 

 cheese 3 tons ; and the whole are duly catalogued in the 

 accompanying invoice when delivered, and when the invoice 

 is examined, the order is said to be correctly executed. The 

 goods are presently unpacked and warehoused, and after 

 being carefully weighed, the following discrepancies are found 



