( m ) 



Ly repairing to the places where it was 

 found, and attentively examining the coun- 

 try to difcover whether it bears the cha-* 

 radteriftics of volcanization. This labour^ 

 however, has not, to my knowledge, been 

 hitherto undertaken by any one ; but 

 M. Dolomieu, to whom Lithology and the 

 Hiftory of Voleanos are fo much indebted, 

 has difcovered, during his ftay at Rome^ 

 ail equivalent, in fome meafure, vvith re- 

 fpedl to the folution of this queftion. 

 Among the many noble monuments in that 

 fuperb capital which are inftru£tive not on- 

 ly to the admirers of the arts, but to the 

 contemplators of nature, are a great number 

 of ftatues, farcophagi, and mortars brought 

 from Egypt, v/hich have all the charaders 

 attributed to bafaltes, and llkewife preferve 

 the name. Thefe he has ftudied with the 

 greateft attention, and declares that the 

 llone of which they are formed manifefts 

 no fign of the adion of fire. Among 

 other Egyptian monuments, he obferved 

 fome of a green bafaltes, which change co- 

 lour, and aifume a brown tinge, fimilar to 

 VOL. III. O that 



