the rivers of Sicily to have shaped the mountains and the valleys; it is in removing the masses of solid rock, which covered the whole surface of this land in successive strata, that any doubt could occur in ascribing the actual appearances of things to the natural operations of the earth; but it is here particularly that the retreat of the sea, in whatever manner supposed to be done, is altogether incompetent for the purpose which is now considered.  I flatter myself, that when the Chevalier de Dolomieu, who has employed his uncommon talents in examining and elucidating the effects of fire in the bowels of those burning mountains, shall consider and examine the effects of time upon the surface of the earth, he will be ready to adopt my opinion, that there is no occasion to have recourse to any unknown cause, in explaining appearances which are every where to be found, although not always attended with such remarkable circumstances as those with which his labours have enriched natural history.

It may be proper to give a view of the operations of nature upon the Apennines.  It is from an account of a journey into the province of Abruzzo, by Sir William Hamilton.  Phil.  Trans. 1786.

The road follows the windings of the Garigliano, which is here a beautiful clear trout stream, with a great variety of cascades and water-falls, particularly a double one at Isola, near which place CICERO had a villa; and there are still some remains of it, though converted into a chapel.  The valley is extensive, and rich with fruit trees, corn, vines, and olives.  Large tracts of land are here and there covered with woods of oak and chestnut, all timber trees of the largest size.  The mountains nearest the valley rise gently, and are adorned with either modern castles towns, and villages, or the ruins of ancient ones.  The next range of mountains, rising behind these, are covered with pines, larches, and such trees and shrubs as usually abound in a like situation; and above them a third range of mountains and rocks, being the most elevated part of the Apennine, rise much higher, and, being covered with eternal snow, make a beautiful contrast with the rich valley above mentioned; and the snow is at so great a distance as not to give that uncomfortable chill to the air which I have always found in the narrow valleys of the Alps and the Tyrol.

Having thus examined the alpine countries both of the Old World and the New, it remains to observe some river in a more low or level country emptying itself into a sea that does not communicate with the ocean.  The Wolga will now serve for this purpose; and we shall take our facts from the observations of those men of science who were employed by their enlightened Sovereign to give the natural as well as the economical history of her dominions.

Russia may be considered as a square plain, containing about 40 degrees of longitude, and 20 of latitude, that is, between the 47 deg. and 67 deg. degrees.  The east side is bounded by the Oural mountains, running in a straight line from north to south.  The west is bounded by Poland.  The south reaches to the Caspian and Black Seas, as does the north to the Polar Ocean.