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extent, sometimes on several thousand square 

 leagues, we observe that the direction, and still 

 more rarely the inclination, has been determined 

 by a system of particular forces. We discover 

 at great distances, a parallelism (loxodromism), 

 a direction, of which the type is manifest amidst 

 partial perturbations, and which often remains 

 the same in primitive and transition soils. The 

 direction of the strata pretty generally, and this 

 fact must have struck Palasson and Saussure, 

 even that of the waters which are far distant 

 from the principal ridges, is identic with the 

 direction of the chains of mountains, that is 

 with their longitudinal axis. 



In studying in a given system of rocks the 

 relations which the direction of the strata pre- 

 sent, either with the meridians or the horizon 

 of the spot, I proposed to myself for every coun- 

 try, the following quetions : Can we recognize 

 a conformity of direction, a loxodromism of the 

 strata, comprehended in a great extent, where 

 are the perturbations so frequent that no law 

 manifests itself? Is there a simultaneous con- 

 stancy in the direction and the inclination, or 

 are the strata running N. E. — S. W. sometimes 

 inclined to the N. W., sometimes to the S. E. B 

 Do the laws comprehend the formations of dif- 

 ferent ages, or may other relations of direction 

 and inclination be observed in the primitive 

 and secondary rocks ? Are not the disturbances 



