The Volcanic Rocks. 149 



The two other specimens on the table (one cut, the other " in 

 the rough"), are also from Gipps Land, and certainly from 

 the district of Donnelly's Creek. There is a large piece, but 

 very foul, in Mr. M. Stephens' fine collection, found in the 

 Jim Crow Ranges. 



Art. IV. — The Volcanic Rocks of Rome and Victoria 

 compared. By Ja^ies Bonwick, Esq., F.RG.S. 



[Read 12th March, 1866.] 



Having visited above thirty volcanoes in Victoria, to the 

 westward, as well as some in South Australia, I was naturally 

 led, when at Home, to look at the volcanic districts of 

 Europe. I had the pleasure of inspecting those of Auvergne, 

 Naples, and Borne ; besides, at the suggestion of Sir Roderick 

 Murchison, having a ramble amidst the singiilar geology of 

 the German Eifel. My state of health, at the time, did not 

 permit of much walking, and so hindered my researches. 



In the present paper I would omit all reference to 

 Vesuvius, where I saw the flow of lava smdi felt a shower of 

 ash, and would confine my observations to the singular 

 parallel existing between the volcanic formations of our 

 western country in Victoria, and that of Rome and its 

 neighbourhood. 



Rome, Eternal Rome, has indeed a charm to ci\dlized man. 

 So absorbing w^as its interest to me, that I was never more in 

 Dreamland than there. I Avonder now that the geological 

 found a place in my mind. And if any weakness or error of 

 description appear in my narrative, I must make this the 

 ground of my apology to the Society. 



What a history could one atom of Roman dust unfold ! In 

 the early ages hurled out of the caverned fire, — trodden by 

 wild races without memorial or name, — entering the sturdy 

 oak or cropped in gTass by lowing oxen, — a fertilizer of the 

 glowing CampagTia, — a portion of the human frame^ — per- 

 chance of Csesar, — and then a lowly dust again ; how like 

 the tale told of Rome itself ! 



In some respects, the budding maiden of Victoria, whose 

 blushing beauties are yet unknown to Europe, presents a 

 striking likeness to the long-revered and well-beloved matron 

 of the Seven Hills. 



In comparing the Tufa, or Volcanic Ash of the two places. 



