1809.] 
hills, is a lime-stone quarry, which was 
opened some years ago, but discontinued, 
because the lime was not of the best 
quality ; but it was certainly lime-stone, 
and used as such, 
These facts give the strongest mdica- 
tion, that the lime-stone elevation and 
fracture. are continued under the Rowley 
hills; and that they might give an issue 
to any fluid matter that might be 
ejected. 
The formation of basaltic rocks, -has 
lately heen the subject of a c ntroversy, 
which has been agitated with great zeal 
by mineralogists ; some of whom consider 
them as lava thrown out of volcanos; 
and others, the produce of watery depo- 
sition: and the advocates for these two 
different opinions have been distin- 
guished by the name of Volcanists, and 
Neptunisis. Tie celebrated Bergman 
ascribes the basaltic matter to ejection 
from volcanos; but he does not consider 
the matter as a lava, melted by fire, but 
amass of earthy particles, softened and 
diluted with water, which afterwards has 
beconie dry and consolidated. This con- 
troversy seems to have derived additional 
importance and interest, from the stri- 
king property which this basaltic stone 
possesses, of assuming sometimes a co- 
Jumnar, and frequently also, an articulated 
form, which it exhibits to the admiration 
of mankind, in those magnificent and 
stupendous structures, the Giant’s Cause- 
way in lreland; the island Staffa; the 
extinct volcanos of Auvergne; and in 
many other parts of the earth: and which 
have been lately traced in Vesuvius, and 
Aitna. -The subject is too large, and the 
controversy too intricate, for chis place. 
I have elsewhere shown the analogy 
which subsists between the columnar 
and spherical basaltic stones, and the ar- 
tificial crystallizations which I had .ob- 
served in giass; and thence inferred the 
possibility of the formation of the form- 
er by fusion, and very gradual cooling: 
but [ now confine my attention to the 
local appearances, and to 
from them. I must not venture into the 
extensive field of comparison, and illus- 
tration, which the mineralogy of other 
countries would atlord; and which would 
show, that the same analogy and relation 
that subsist here between coal, lime-stone, 
and basaltes, extend very generally, 
though with considerable variation of cir- 
cumstances, I will only add one further 
observation on the basaltes of this coun- 
try, which is hkewise generally applica- 
ble, viz. that the spontaneous decpmpo- 
aition,-or gradual destruction, of this 
Repeal of the Act 8th Eliz. Cap. iv. 
deductions 
467 
stone, is no less wortby of attention, 
than its formation. For basaltes, lke 
lava, and other stones of a similar com- 
position, is remarkably subject to be 
decomposed by the action of water and 
air, and to fail into a powder, or coarse 
clay, called Roach, consisting, like stone 
itself, of argillaceous, siliceous, and fer- 
ruginous, parucles. These particles, by 
further exposure and decomposition, and 
by different mechanical, and chemical 
action, may have been separated and 
converted into the various clays, more or 
less pure, rocks, clunch, and iron-stone, 
with which this country abounds. When 
we see the alteration on the surface of 
this stone, which the exposure of a few 
weeks produces, we cannot doubt, that 
the continued effects of many succeeding 
ages, must have been very great; and 
that much of the circumjacent ground 
must have been derived from this source; 
while the different beds of coal seem to 
show the successive periods of vegetation, 
and alluvion. 
Such are the conclusions and Cg 
tures which have been suggested, by ob- 
serving and reflecting on the existing 
facts, and appearances, of this country. 
Ir I should have too much indulged my 
imagination, I shall only have fallen into 
the same. error -which has misled all 
others, who have before me treated on 
the theory of the earth; and which it is 
more diffcult to avoid, as the circum- 
stances of the early ages of the world, 
when the great changes happened, must 
have been very different from those now 
exhibited to our observation; which is 
therefore insufficient to enable us, with 
strictness of reasoning, to investigate Na 
ture in log primitive and grand operati- 
ons. Nevertheless, 1 may apologize for 
the attempt, in the words of the great 
Leibnitz, on a similar occasion: Magna- 
rum rerum etiam. tenuis nolitia in pretio 
ehabetur. 
aera 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
REPEAL of 6th Eviz, c. iv. by which Prie 
VATELY STEALING from the PERSON, 
was rVLoNy, without benefit of CLERGY. 
NHLE Act concerning which your cor- 
‘| respondent enquires, passed last 
year. It is so concise, that an abstract 
can but little abridge it. This is ob 
servable also of the two bankrupt acts- 
introduced by the same learned, and 
truly honourable member. 
Itis 48th G. 1il.c.129. June 30, 1808. 
An act to repeal so much of an act, 
passed in the eighth year of the reign of 
Queen Elizabeth, intituled, Au Act to 
take 
