Ch. XXIV.] OF MOUNTAIN-CHAINS. 347 



recurrence of the same, or nearly the same, directions of 

 elevation V 



Here then we have three systems of mountains, A, B, C, 

 which were formed at successive epochs, and have each a dif- 

 ferent direction ; and we have three other systems, D, E, F, 

 which, although they are assumed to have the same strike, as the 

 series first mentioned (D corresponding with A, E with B, and 

 F with C), are nevertheless declared to have been formed at 

 different periods. On what principle, then, is the age of an 

 Indian or transatlantic chain referred to one of these European 

 lines rather than another? why is the age of the Alleghanies, or 

 the ghauts of Malabar, determined by their parallelism to B 

 rather than to E, to the Pyrenees rather than to the Ballons of 

 the Vosges? ' 



The substance of the last objection has been anticipated 

 by M. Bouef, who, at the same time, disputes the accuracy of 

 many of the facts appealed to by M. de Beaumont. Other 

 errors in fact have also been pointed out by MM. Keferstein, 

 Von Dechen, and De la Beche J. But the incorrectness of some 

 of these data might not have affected the validity of the gene- 

 ral theory if it had been founded on a solid basis. In regard 

 to the Alps, MM. Necker and Studer have informed me, that 

 on re-examining that chain since de Beaumont's memoirs were 

 published, they have been unable to reconcile the phenomena 

 there exhibited with his views relating to the strike and dip of 

 that great chain. 



Professor Sedgwick has declared his adhesion to the opinions 

 of de Beaumont ; but we are not aware that he had maturely 

 considered them in all their bearings ; and he has stated some 

 important objections to the doctrine of ' parallelism .' Among 

 others, he has remarked, that in consequence of the spheroidal 

 figure of the earth, different mountain-chains, running north and 



* Phil. Mag. and Annals, No. 58, new series, pp. 255, 256. 



f Journ. de Geologic, tome iii. p. 338. 



J Geol. Manual, p. 501, and Second Edition, p. 519. 



Anniv, Address to the Geol. Soc., Feb., 1831. 



