THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. xi

granite kind: on the furface of which is depofited the cal-careous matter ufually found in mountains.—From a laudablezeal of exploring mineralogical obje£ts, the noble Count has,in the preceding year (1800), at his own expence undertakena journey into the lofty regions of Caucafus; and we mayjuftly expeft many important elucidations of this remarkablechain of mountains. He is, indeed, one of thofe few perfonsof rank, who devote their talents and fortune to the advance-ment of fcience.

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