"
"Je n'ose, cependant, decider pas meme hypothetiquement, sur cette
matiere, pour n'avoir pu observer la nature dans ses ateliers, et parce
que je ne possede que des pieces, qui detachees de leur lieu natal,
depuis un tres long-tems, furent exposees aux intemperies des saisons,
ou elles peuvent avoir souffert bien de changemens."
There cannot be a more fair exposition of facts; and it is only our
author's opinion of this mineral transmutation that I would controvert.
I do not pretend to understand the manner of operating that our author
here supposes nature to take. I only maintain, that here, as every where
in general, the loose and incoherent strata of the globe have been
petrified, that is, consolidated, by means of the fusion of their
substances; and this I think is confirmed from the accurate description
here given of the flintification of sand-stone. Here is described very
distinctly an appearance which is very common or general on those
occasions; this is the parts or particles of stone floating in the fluid
siliceous substance, and there dissolving more or less.
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