their position is generally horizontal. Two of these formations are placed high, near the great mountains in Jemtland and in Dalecarlia the others are lower, and either surrounded with chains of hills, as in Nericia and Ostrogothia, or in the plains, as in Skaraborg on the eastern side of Schonen. The most regular in occur rence are those in Westrogothia; they are not always contiguous, but form little hills, sometimes intersected by the primitive basis, gneiss: their order on the gneiss is thus, sandstone, bituminous schist, limestone, argillaceous schist, marly schist, and above all a bed of grunstein. Isolated masses of grunstein are found in some parts of Schonen. Secondary rocks. These are only found in the plains of Schonen, in the south. Near the sea at Helsinborg are beds of sandstone mixed with those of coal and clay, reposing on the sandstone of transition, which is found even in the middle of the country, and extends to the Baltic on the east. Near Oresund, south of Malmo, are beds of chalk with black flint: these beds continue under the sea, and are met again in Zealand and in the isles of Moen and Steven, in every other respect the same, but more elevated. To the N. E. of Schonen, on a basis of gneiss, are the newest formations of secondary limestone, with shells slenderly united, and for the most part broken. Alluvion. This is composed of the debris of the above rocks in different gradation as to the size of the particles, large blocks, peb bles, gravel, common sand, and shifting sand. The direction of these from the mountains to which they belong is to the S, and S. E., following in general the course of the valleys; those fragments that are the largest in size, and most frequent in occurrence, are on the high grounds, hav ing been stopped in their progress by their weight, or by the ridges of the rocks. The rideaux of sand, found chiefly in the middle of Sweden, are generally in a direction parallel to the chief valleys, nearly from N. to S. Clay is found mostly in the valleys of the mountains, and often covered with sand in the plains resting on the primitive basis, it generally occurs in horizontal beds. When the base is lime it is mixed with other beds, as the debris of the rocks on which it lies. There occurs in Schonen a more refractory clay, that is fitted for the manufacture of pottery. The beds of testaceous animals in a state of calcination are seen chiefly in the islands on the side of the government of Bohus, and on the land near Uddevalla, lying at an elevation of near 200 feet. Their analogous productions are generally found in the adjacent sea. The same sort of shelly appearance has been observed in the clay at Akesvass, during the excavation of the Trolhætan canal, as also at Lilla Edet; they lie about 100 feet above the level of the river. Since iron is in the north so generally spread among the rocks, it is not surprising that we find its ores among the alluvial beds in grains, or more oxidated in the form of bog iron ore, or else deposed by the water in the form of ochre. The beds of saline earth are not common, nor when they occur do they appear to be powerful; on the river Umea, in the province of Ostrogothia in Sudermania, and in the government of Skaraborg, are some springs slightly saline, though too weak to admit of being made use of for the extraction of salt. 353. SECTION III. FINLAND PETERSBURG. Aland Islands-Abo-Present State of Finland -Sveaborg-Wiborg-Petersburg-Original Theatres, &c.-Government-Public Feeling with regard to present Politics-Trade-Manufactories--Employment of Foreigners-- The Mint -Paper Money-Its Depreciation-The probable Cause-Commerce-Siberia-Embassy to China-Academy of Sciences-Casan Church— Religion-Sectarists-Superstition-Religious Ceremonies on Easter Eve-News of the Capture of Paris-Te Deum, Illumination, &c.The Emperor-The fugitive Princes of Georgia-Severe Cold-Neva breaks up-Ice of the Ladoga descends-Return of warm Weather -Rapid Vegetation-Promenade-Orders of Knighthood-Imperial Palaces-Cronstadt, &c. ON setting foot in the Aland islands we passed the frontier of the Russian Empire, VOL. I. A A |