t 187 3 
XIV. A Letter on the Alterations that have taken place in the 
Structure of Rocks, on the Surface of the basaltic Country in the 
Counties of Derry and Antrim. Addressed to Humphry 
Davy, Esq. Sec. R. S. By William Richardson, D, D . 
Read March 17, 1808. 
Sir, 
I request you will be so good as to lay before the Royal 
Society, the following Observations on the Natural History of 
that part of Antrim, (contiguous to the Giant’s Causeway,) 
which you and I examined so carefully together. I know 
not any country that deserves so well to have its facts faith- 
fully recorded ; from the important conclusions to which they 
lead. 
The basaltic area ( taken in its whole extent ) comprehends 
the greater part of Antrim, and the east side of Derry to a 
considerable depth. 
In a geological point of view, nature * has been very kind 
to this district, for not content with assembling together in a 
small space so many of her curious productions, and arranging 
them with more regularity and steadiness than in any other 
country described, she has condescended occasionally to with- 
draw the veil, and lay herself open to view, often exhibiting 
* By the word nature, which frequently occurs in the course of this Memoir, I 
always mean, according to Ray’s definition, the wisdom of God in the creation of 
the world. 
B b 2 
