30 



the same materials through the pores of calcareous 

 earths and stones; as we see calcareous drop stones 

 generating every day by the percolation of water 

 through lime stone, and a new marble forming in the 

 quarries from which the old has been taken out ; and it 

 might be asked, whether it is more difficult for nature 

 to shoot the calcareous juice into the form of a shell, 

 than other juices into the form of chrystals, plants, ani- 

 mals, according to the construction of the vessels 

 through which they pass ? There is a wonder some- 

 where. Is it greatest on this branch of the dilemma ; 

 on that which supposes the existence of a power, of 

 which we have no evidence in any other case ; or oa 

 the first, which requires us to believe the creation of a 

 body of water and its subsequent annihilation ? The 

 establishment of the instance, cited by M. de Voltaire, 

 of the growth of shells unattached to anitnal bodies, 

 would have been that of his theory. But he has not 

 establisiied it. He has not even left it on ground so re- 

 spectable as to have rendered it an object of enquiry to 

 the literati of his own country. Abandoning this fact, 

 therefore, the three hypotheses are equally unsatisftic- 

 tory ; and we must be contented to acknowledge, that 

 this great phenomenon is as yet unsolved. Ignorance 

 is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the 

 truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what 

 is wrong. 



There is great abundance (more especially when you 

 approach the mountains) of stone, white, blue, brown, 

 &c, fit for the chisel, good mill stone, such also as 

 stands the fire, and slate stone. We are told of flint, 

 fit for gun flints, on the Meherrin in Brunswick, on llie 

 Mississippi between the mouth of the Oiiio and Kas- 

 kaskia, and on others of the western waters. Isinglass 

 or mica is in several places ; loadstone also ; and an as- 

 bestos of a ligneous texture, is sometimes to be met 

 with. 



Marie abounds generally. A clay, of which, like 

 the Sturbridge in England, bricks are made, which 

 H'ill resist long the violent action of fire, has been 



