and Volcanic Substances, 2.09 
’ whole of them, such an earthy, aspect; such a fragmentous 
and pasty texture—and: so many marks of the bottom of the 
ocean having been violently torn up, from the frequent mix- 
ture of oceanic remains in these strata, that there can be no 
reasonable cause of doubt, as to. the mode in which they 
have been formed. 
» The torrents and: inundations-that have thus mingled the 
seit and the water, are: fairly aseribable to convulsions in 
the strata that support the ocean ; the effect of subterranean 
fires beneath ;: because such convulsions. have. been. re- 
peatedly observed as the consequence of earthquakes and 
volcanoes.on the coasts and in the islands of the Mediterra- 
nean, and elsewhere... 
Butyall depositions of substances suspended i in. water, being 
in-a soft state with respect to their mass, in falling down, as- 
sume an’ horizontal deposition—a deposition conformable to 
the strata on: which the soft mass is thus gradually deposit- 
ed.\\ We see) this, in the stratified rocks of the. globe; and 
this isa known-law of the deposition of dust and fragments 
from aqueous suspension. ‘The direction of these. deposi- 
tions, will be regulated; by the force and direction of the in- 
undation, which will also modify the effect of the specific 
gravity of the ‘substances thus hurried on. ..A mixture.of 
sand) and» pebbles with water, in’ an inclined trough, will 
casetineeged illustrate the form,and ‘character of such “depos. 
its. 
3dly. Basibepnts eachies away the adiace ns of oda ice- 
floods enveloping large masses, will nearly account for, the 
boulder stones, and other. masses out of place that. are so 
frequently found : suchas. the boulder stones onthe Rhone 
Kidd’s Geol. Essay,;.170—the boulders, of, Limestone ,at 
Keningre:in Ireland, and of granite, in the Ohio: the mas- 
ses out of place observed by De Luc and-others in the Alps 
and on Luray; probably, arise from. these causes. ‘That we 
must recur to: them. to account for the rock masses on the 
main land:of Scotland, similar to those found on the islands 
in the immediate vicinity, appears from, Dr. M’Culloch’s 
statements. But we must \wait: for more light ere. .we! ob- 
tain a satisfactory explanation,,- |. Ties 
Torrents such as these, will account re the Jape anette nar- 
tow deposits of surface blocks,of Basalt; and. other, trap 
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