VICINITY of EDINBURGH. 407 



It is generally admitted, that no city in Europe is more favour- 

 ably fituated than the metropolis of Scotland, for the ftudy and 

 purfuit of geology : even the ground which it occupies, when 

 laid open for the erection of buildings, has occafionally prefented 

 fbme very interesting phenomena. The hills in the immediate 

 neighbourhood, always at command, afford a never-failing 

 fource of refearch ; and in the furrounding country, a greater 

 variety of foilils is to be met with, than almoft in any fpace 

 of the fame extent. 



The importance of a complete acquaintance with the pheno- 

 mena which furround this city, cannot therefore, I think, be 

 confidered of a trivial nature. Indeed, by the number of in- 

 genious works already before the public, it may be thought 

 that the fubjeel is exhaufted. But this is an error I am very 

 defirous to combat, not only becaufe in my own experience I 

 have found it to be one, but becaufe, as fcience advances, our ha- 

 bits of inveftigation improve, phenomena become more fami- 

 liar, we learn to trace and to feize not only the objects we are in 

 purfuit of, but alfo to detect others, which our lefs practifed 

 eye had originally palTed over unnoticed. 



We all think ourfelves perfectly acquainted with the rock, on 

 which our Caftle ftands. But I fufpect there are many mem- 

 bers of this Society, who will be furprifed to learn, that fand- 

 Jtone occurs near its fummit, and alfo at its bafe. Sa- 

 lisbury 



