James Hutton (1726-1797)

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                      HISTORY of the SOCIETY.

ing from S. E. to N. W. The surface of this rock runs with a
moderate ascent from the level of low-water, at which we land-
ed, nearly to that of high-water, where the schistus has a thin
covering of red horizontal sandstone laid over it; and this sand-
stone, at the distance of a few yards farther back, rises into a
very high perpendicular cliff. Here, therefore, the immediate
contact of the two rocks is not only visible, but is curiously dis-
sected and laid open by the action of the waves. The rugged
tops of the schistus are seen penetrating into the horizontal beds
of sandstone, and the lowest of these last form a breccia contain-
ing fragments of schistus, some round and others angular, uni-
ted by an arenaceous cement.

DR HUTTON was highly pleased with appearances that set in
so clear a light the different formations of the parts which com-
pose the exterior crust of the earth, and where all the circum-
stances were combined that could render the observation satis-
factory and precise. On us who saw these phenomena for the
first time, the impression made will not easily be forgotten. The
palpable evidence presented to us, of one of the most extraordi-
nary and important facts in the natural history of the earth,
gave a reality and substance to those theoretical speculations,
which, however probable, had never till now been directly au-
thenticated by the testimony of the senses. We often said to
ourselves, What clearer evidence could we have had of the dif-
ferent formation of these rocks, and of the long interval which
separated their formation, had we actually seen them emer-
ging from the bosom of the deep ? We felt ourselves neces-
sarily carried back to the time when the schistus on which we
stood was yet at the bottom of the sea, and when the sandstone
before us was only beginning to be deposited, in the shape of
sand or mud, from the waters of a superincumbent ocean. An
epocha still more remote presented itself, when even the most
ancient of these rocks, instead of standing upright in vertical
beds,