60 Analysis of the ProiogcEci of Leibnitz. 



5. h.n enumeration of certain mountain ranges, which he supposes 

 to be part of the original skeleton of the globe. He does not deny 

 that smaller conflagrations, earthquakes, and- deluges of less extent, 

 have changed the aspect of particular countries. Mankind will de- 

 cide these things more correctly, when they shall have more accu- 

 rately examined the surface and strata of the earth. 



6. The Deluge. It is proved by the occurrence of marine or- 

 ganic remains upon the mountains. A number of different theories 

 of the modus operandi, by which the highest mountains were cover- 

 ed with water, are stated. He prefers the opinion, that the contents 

 of vast caverns in the interior of the earth, were forced out by the 

 falling in of the earth and rocks above, and that these superfluous 

 waters afterwards found their way into other caverns, that had before 

 been empty, and so disappeared. 



7. The Brocken, inaccessible during the greater part of the year, 

 and infamous in the surrounding country from concerts of owls, is 

 described. The rivers rising near its summit, are no valid objec- 

 tion to the theory that ascribes them to rain and snow descending 

 from the clouds. 



8. The metals are much more abundant in the surrounding moun- 

 tains of less elevation, than in the Brocken itself. Metallic veins are 

 well defined, as leaves or strata running far into the earth, of mode- 

 rate thickness and different- composition from the rocks in which 

 they lie. They are divided into pendentes and cadentes, or beds and 

 proper veins ; the former of limited extent, the latter descending in- 

 definitely. The effects of their concourse, divarication, etc., are ac- 

 curately stated. They are ascribed partly to deposits in horizontal 

 beds, which were afterwards shifted info an inchned position, and 

 partly to rifts in the crust of the earth, filled with matter rendered 

 liquid by heat or. a solvent. By dihgent observation, rules, much 

 superior to those now in use, may be found out for conjecturing the 

 substances lying hid in the bowels of the earth. Vallies have every 



aliis imponerentur facies teneri adhuc orbis saepius novata est. Donee quiescenti- 

 bus causis atqiie Bequiiibratis consistentior eroergeret status rei-um. Unde jam du- 

 plex origo intellegitur firmorum corporum; una cum ab ignis fu.^ione refrigesceret, 

 altera cum reconcresceret ex solutione aquarum. Neque igitur putandum est iapi- 

 des ex sola esse fusione. Id enim potissinium de prima tantum massa ac ten-se basi 

 accipio. Nee dubito, postea materiam liquidam in superiicie telluris procurrentem 

 quiete mox reddita ex rameatis subactis ingentem materia; vim deposuisse quorum 

 .alia varias terrce species ibrmarunt, alia in saxa induruere, e quibus strata diversa 

 sibi suporimposita diversas prscipifatior.um vices afque intervalla testantur." 



