Observations on a sketch of a Geological Map 

 of France, the Pays-Bas, and neighbouring 

 countries; by J. J. d'Om alius d'H^zLOY.* 



(Annales des Mines, 1822.) 



When Baron Coquebert de Montbret was charged with 

 the direction of the Statistics of France, he conceived the 

 project of a general description of this vast state, which 

 should be established on less variable bases than political 

 and administrative divisions, and which should avoid the 

 repetitions which the particular description of each of these 

 artificial divisions requires; he, in consequence, was desirous 

 of forming divisions into physical regions ; but he felt that 

 hydrographical basins, though invariable, were not more pro- 

 ductive of general results than political divisions; he on the 

 contrary considered that the only divisions fit to attain the 

 proposed end, were those derived from the nature of the 

 ground. The productions of a country in fact depend on 

 this circumstance, and notwithstanding the modifications that 

 may arise from manners, governments, and other causes, the 

 inhabitants are generally in constant dependance on the pro- 

 ductions of their soil. 



* This memoir was composed at the end of 1813; but the author, 

 called for some time to duties which did not permit him to occupy him- 

 self with natural sciences, has been obliged to delay its publication until 

 the present time; but he hopes that this circumstance will plead his 

 excuse for not placing his work on a level with the progress that geology 

 has made within the last ten years. 



