Outlines of Geology. 245 



unsatisfactory upon this point, the Wernerians are still more so ; 

 indeed, quite unintelligible. The contortion of the masses, they 

 tell us, is the result of crystallization ! 



The authors of these hypotheses to account for the bendings 

 and inflexions of strata, these contortions to which rocks are 

 liable, have too frequently bent and distorted the facts to fit them 

 to their own peculiar notions ; and they have too often, evidently, 

 attempted to explain appearances referable to several causes, by 

 the assumption of one power. 



If we consider the strata in which they occur to have been once 

 in fusion, in solution, or in diffusion, the relative times of con- 

 solidation, the warping and the shrinking of one substance, as 

 compared with others, may have had its share in producing these 

 mysterious irregularities. 



If slate be a deposit of finely-divided matter once mechanically 

 diffused througli water, its irregularities may obviously have 

 arisen from some irregular agitation of the water during its de- 

 position, like those undulations in the sand upon the sea-shore, 

 which are obviously occasioned by the waves. 



I have now, probably, said enough of the curvatures of strata, 

 to excite attention to the subject, and more than enough to shew 

 how inadequate are the theories which have been assumed to 

 account for them. If, by saying more, I could throw more light 

 upon the subject, I would proceed ; but the further we investigate 

 the facts, the more incongruous and inexplicable would they ap- 

 pear ; I am, indeed, already apprehensive, that I may sometimes 

 fatigue the attention, by asking it for opinions rather than things ; 

 but geological hypotheses are apt to run into rank luxuriance, if not 

 occasionally trimmed, and though great authority and exalted 

 talent has sanctioned much that I have presumed to doubt, and 

 attempted to disprove, it must be remembered, that many of the 

 opinions which we have been called upon to combat and to reject 

 were advanced in the feeblest infancy of the science ; and from the 

 known candour, and scientific integrity of many of those with 

 whom they originated, there cannot be a shadow of doubt, that 

 if opportunity offered, they would frequently recall, modify, or 



