\ 



/ 



2(p2 ON THE HIGHLANDS. 



like the veins, of cotemporaneous formation with 

 the rock itself. 



III. Ben-Ledi, it appears, is not a mountain;, 

 which exhibits on geognostic principles, the 

 whole of the primitive formations in the order of 

 succession. But it suggests the general infe- 

 rence which is founded on a view of the High- 

 lands, from the heights of Braemar on the north- 

 east to the mountains of Dunbartonshire on the 

 south-west. The whole range of alpine country, 

 now mentioned, is composed, as frequently no- 

 ticed, of parallel strata, running uniformly in that 

 direction ; and these strata broken down, and 

 hollowed out in various ways, form the elevations 

 and acclivities of the particular mountains. 



Now this fact, which will be further illustra- 

 ted in future communications, which I shall have 

 the honour of submitting to the Society, seems 

 decisive against the theory of such elevations be- 

 ing produced by a violent power acting from be- 

 low ; as the regular bearings of the strata are in- 

 compatible with the supposition of their actual 

 position having been determined by the opera- 

 tion of any irregular or explosive agent. The 

 truth is, that the fact we are considering, is only 

 another and striking instance in addition to those 

 which have been observed by Humboldt, Von 

 Buch, and others, in confirmation of the doctrine 

 respecting the general bearings of the primitive 

 strata, in the crust of the earth. 



