Member of the Geographical and Geological Societies of France, INTRODUCTION. THIS little Book needs no preface. It is not large or ambitious enough for that. But as it is only too plain, even to its author, that an apology is due for the grammatical errors or sins it no doubt contains, he feels it his duty to claim the indulgence, not of his friends, who forgive him such sins every day, but of any readers whom he has not the honour of knowing, and whom his imperfect English may offend. It is the lot of those who have two native tongues never to speak either, but a mixture of both. Such is the case of the author, and of many others. In the same way, even our feelings and our sympathies-social, political, or religious—our affections, weaknesses, or virtues, almost always reflect and combine those transmitted to us by our parents. Their two natures make ours: we resemble and love them both; and whenever we look at ourselves, we find their traces in mysterious union, upon our features |