68 Dr, Beddoes’s Obfervations on the 
rnerous fiifures in all directions, fometimes aflumes enough of 
this appearance to impofe on an unwary eye. 
One confequence of thefe obfervations is too important to be 
omitted. They lead us to rejedft the common divificm of 
mountains into primary and fecondary. The chains of granite, 
fchiftus, and limeftone, mu ft be all coeval ; for if the central 
chain of the Alps burft as a body expanded by heat from the 
bowels of the earth, it reared the bordering chains at the fame 
effort. But it mu ft be recolle&ed, that the mountains no 
longer wear their original form, vallies having been cut 
between and through them, and various other effefts of dila- 
pidation having taken place. It is by no means difficult to 
underftand why no exuviae of organized bodies are found in 
thefe imaginary primitive mountains. Riling from a great 
depth, they threw afide the fuperficial accumulations of the 
ancient ocean. What was deepeft is therefore now moft 
central ; and what lay on the furface now fkirts the high inte- 
rior chains. Hence the ftrata reft indifferently on granite, 
bafaltes, or lava; all which fubftances derive from their fitua- 
tion an equal claim to be regarded as primordial materials. It 
Is a little furprizing, that this inveterate error, which has 
effedtually barred the way to all great difcoveries in geology 
till of late fliould have prevailed fo long : for, i. it is well 
known, that granite is fometimes found enclofing pieces of 
fchiftus t ; nor are long ftretches of flate uncommon in moun- 
tains of granite J. Now, how can a fecondary be fo enve- 
loped in a primitive rock ? and how eafy is this to be under- 
ftood, if we fuppofe granite as a fufed mafs railing, rending, 
* Till Dr. Hutton’s Theory of the Earth, Ediab. Tranf. Vol. I. appeared. 
f Bohn’s Letters, p. 207, 208. 
$ Haidinger, /. Co p, 18, 
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and 
