Ghap.. II. ^theory os the Earth 6^

from it by descending in the opposite directlion.

The view which our author has now givenUs from this mountain is a most interestingobject, and it is a beautiful illustration of thistheory ; for, the breaking of the tops of moun-tains, composed of erected strata, must be onthat side to which their strata rise; and this.rupture being here towards the central, lineef greatest elevation, the ridges must in theirbreaking generally respect the central ridge.But this is the very view which our inlighte-ned observator has taken of the subject ; andit is confirmed in still extending our observa-tions westward through the kingdom ofFrance, where we find the ridges of the Jura,and then those of Burgundy gradually dimi-nishing in their height as they recede from.the centre of elevation, but still preserving acertain degree of regular-ty in the course of,their direction.

But our author has still farther observedthat this is a general rule with regard to moun-tains. I will give it in his own words,Torn. 2. (p. 338,)