DESCRIPTION OF TINTO. lB6 



of the observer, or exercise the philosopher's ta- 

 lent of explanation. But he who exhibits a faith* 

 ful picture of what he sees in nature undescribed 

 before, contributes something to the progress of 

 knowledge ; and, without pretending to assert, that 

 the mineralogists of the German school have 

 yet possessed themselves of all the domains to 

 which they lay claim in the mineral kingdom, we 

 may safely presume, that, at least, they are fairly 

 on the way to accomplish at length a complete 

 system of accurate description, without which, it 

 is vain to expect, that geology will ever ascend 

 beyond the rank of ingenious theory, or become a 

 science. 



I have only to add, that if this mountain shall 

 again be surveyed mineralogically, the observer 

 need hardly promise himself, that the geognostic 

 result of his examination of the ground over which 

 he passes, will prove entirely to his satisfaction. 

 At the same time, if he is fortunate in weather, 

 and has a relish for the beauties of nature, he will 

 be gratified in another way, by attending to the 

 prospect seen from Tinto, which spreads before 

 the eye of taste, an uncommon variety of agree- 

 able objects, and a great extent of interesting 

 scenery. 



The expanse of country which it embraces, ap- 

 pears unbounded on the west side ; but towards 

 the north, it is terminated by the majestic Ben- 

 Lomond, and the lofty ranges of the Highlands, 



14 



