The environs of Petersburg offer, at first sight, but few inducements to geological or mineralogical research; a great extent of flat country, apparently covered every where by alluvial formations, and boulders of the primitive rocks, is all that strikes the eye of the traveller, who is seldom tempted to explore the wildernesses that yet surround this capital, from their want of any thing that may be called picturesque beauty. There are, indeed, some few spots which may be quoted as exceptions; but they are mostly at some distance from the town, and are but little known even to the natives: and as the nature of the country gives no room to suspect their existence, it is not wonderful that they remain unvisited by strangers. From this cause, perhaps, it arises, that there has hitherto prevailed an equal ignorance of the geology of the district to which the following observations relate. I have been told by some, that the whole country eastward from Narva consisted of a series of primitive rocks, which were said to shew themselves in the falls of the Narova above that town. Others have told me, that it was what is called a basin of the formations above the chalk; a question, which, until chalk has been proved to exist somewhat nearer to Petersburg, than Podolia or Scania, it might be premature to decide. Others, again, believe it to be a country of coal measures, and are perhaps the most sincere in their opinions, having voluntarily put