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In the Alps, Appennines, and Pyreneans, no (hells 
nor marine bodies of any kind are to be found : in 
the Ochels, a branch of the large Grampian Moun- 
tains in Scotland, which I have had occafion dili- 
gently to examine, I could difcover no marine bodies. 
The fame is obferved of all the large mountains of 
Africa, and of Afia ; and in the huge chain of Cordil- 
leres in Perou Monf. de la Condamine fearched in 
vain for fuch bodies. This kind of mountains, (which 
indeed alone deferve that name) are chiefly com- 
pofed of vitrifiable matter ; and if they are fome- 
times found to contain fea-fhells, it is never to great 
depths, nor in their original metallic or ftony ftrata y 
though fuch bodies are found in great abundance at 
the foot of mountains, and in the adjacent valleys, 
in which there are many eminences in fome parts 
continued in fmall chains, though but of fmall ex- 
tent, which contain marble, fea-fhells, chalk, and 
other calculable matter, but never any veins of metal, 
though we frequently find in them pyrites, ocre, vi- 
triols, and other minerals, which have been wafhed- 
down from veins of iron and other metals, with 
which the higher mountains abound, and have af- 
terwards been depolited in the calcareous ffxata of the 
valleys. 
III. Monf. de Buffon pretends, that all mountains 
have been formed by fea- currents ; and a little after- 
wards tells us, that all fea-currents are occafioned by 
fea-mountains. Is it not natural here to afk, Which 
of thefe two caufes pre-exihed ? Can fuch reafoning 
as this, a circulus viciofus of the groffeft kind, ever 
tend to improve our knowledge, or give us jufl vietvs- 
of the works of the great Creator ? 
