les eaux jusqu’a la hauteur ou sont encore actuellement les mamelons; que de nouvelles inondations ont ensuite creuse et entraine ce qui manque de terrain a ces mamelons; que c’est en circulant autour de ces mamelons que les eaux leur ont donne la forme ronde; et surtout allongee dans le sens du vallon, et que c’est par le moyen de ces memes eaux que le fond actuel de cette plaine a pris ce niveau et cette pente insensible vers un pays plus ouvert qui est au-dela.  On a deja fait mention de pareils mamelons qui se trouvent dans le vallon du Vallais parcouru par le Rhone.”

These examples may also be supported by what this author observes in another place[25].

[Footnote 25:  Discours, etc. page 201.]

“Le vallon ou est situe Meiringen, est visiblement forme par le depot des eaux, il est de niveau, et s’etend trois lieues en longueur jusqu’au lac de Brientz, a la suite duquel est le meme terrain nivele, qui va jusqu’au lac de Thun, dont on a parle.  Une autre observation qui concourt a favoriser ce sentiment, c’est que toutes les roches calcaires, qui entourent le vallon, sont a pic, qu’on y remarque des cavites circulaires et des enfoncemens a meme hauteur et a differents points, qui constatent la fouille et le mouvement des eaux contre ces parois.”

Thus we have seen the operation of the atmospheric elements degrading mountains, and hollowing out the valleys of this earth.

The land which comes from the mineral region in a consolidated state, in order to endure the injuries of those atmospheric elements, must be resolved in time for the purposes of fertilising the surface of this earth.  In no station whatever is it to be exempted from the wasting operations, which are equally necessary, in the system of this world, as were those by which it had been produced.  But with what wisdom is that destroying power disposed!  The summit of the mountain is degraded, and the materials of this part, which in a manner has become useless from its excessive height, are employed in order to extend the limits of the shore, and thus increase the useful basis of our dwellings.  It is our business to trace this operation through all the intermediate steps of that progress, and thus to understand what we see upon the surface of this earth, by knowing the principles upon which the system of this world proceeds.

CHAP.  XI.

Facts and Opinions concerning the Natural Construction of Mountains and Valleys.

The valley of the Rhone is continued up to the mountain of St. Gothard, which may be considered as the centre of the Continent, since, from the different sides of this mountain, the water runs in all directions.  To the German Sea it runs by the Rhine, to the Mediterranean by the Rhone, and to the Adriatic by the Po.  Here it may be proper to take a general view of this mountainous country, or that great mass of rock or solid strata which has been either formed originally in its present shape, or has been excavated by the constant operation of water running from the summit in all the different directions.