^44 September 1749. 



one cannot perceive that it Is a flate, itg 

 particles being imperceptible. It lies in 

 ilrata, which vary from three or four 

 inches, to twenty thick, and upwards. In 

 the mountains on which ^ebec is built, 

 the flrata do not ly horizontal, but dipping, 

 fo as to be nearly perpendicular j the upper 

 ends pointing north-weft, and the lower 

 ones ibuth-eaft. From hence it is, that 

 the corners of thefe ftrata always ftrikeout 

 at the furface into the ftreets, and cut 

 the {hoes in pieces. I have likewife feen 

 fome ftrata, inclining to the northward, 

 but nearly perpendicular as the former. 

 Horizontal ftrata, or nearly fuch, have oc- 

 curred to me too. The flrata are divided 

 by narrow cracks, which are commonly 

 filled with fibrous whire gypfum, which 

 can fometimes be got loofe with a knife, if 

 the layer or ftratum of flate above it is 

 broken in pieces; and in that cafe it has 

 the appearance of a thin white leaf The 

 larger cracks are almoft filled up with tranf- 

 parent quartz cryflals, of different fizes. 

 One part of the mountain contains vafc 

 quantities of thefe cryfi.ds, fsom which the 

 corner of the mountain vv'hich lies to the 

 S. S. E. of the palace, has got the name 

 of Tointe de T>iamante^ or Diamond Point. 

 The fmall cracks which divide the Hone, 



go 



