360 Account of the JVhyvn Dykes in the 



the dyke and contiguous matter, whatever it be, arc solidlv 

 united together, forming but one mass. 



These whynn dykes suggest other curious questions: 

 Were they formed at the same tinie \vith the contiguous 

 materials ? 



Were they posterior to them, as Dr. Hamilton and Dr. 

 Hutton suppose? 



Or, were they antecedent to the stratified masses, that 

 every where come in contact with tijem ? 



The inutility of such speculations deters me from enter- 

 ing into them. I must however confess, that the facts 

 seem to give stronger negatives to the two first questions, 

 than to the last. But who would hazard so bold an opinion, 

 as that these mighty walls were the first part of our world 

 that was formed. What an idea must it convey to us of 

 lh\?> frame- ti'ork or sktleton of our globe ! 



A new theory I conceive more likely to be a nuisance 

 than an acquisition to natural history ; and that tlie road 

 to the advancement of the science would be better laid open 

 by destroying some of those we have already. 



Should therefore your lordship ihiiik that the arguments 

 I have adduced against the igneous origin of our whynn 

 dykes are of any weight, I will probably make further in- 

 roads into the territories o{' Fulcajii and question the ig- 

 neous origin of basalt in general. 



To this y^Hir lordship will very likely reply, that the topic 

 is w'orn threadbare ; that most modern writers, without 

 entering into the question, pronounce it to be already de» 

 cided in the affimative ; and that I shall never obtain atten- 

 tion to so stale a subject. 



My opportunities, however, to procure information upon 

 it have been superior to those of any other person ; I have 

 lived very many summers in the most important basaltic 

 country in the world, and mv fondness for the sea, and 

 possession of boats, have enabled me repeatedly to explore 

 our coast, which 1 know that no other naturalist ever did. 

 It is to this coast and country that the advocates for parti- 

 cular opinions come to look for arguments to support the 

 theories they patronize; it is painful to follow such gentle- 

 men, correcting their statements, and contradicting their 

 assertions; nor are they cursory travellers alone who mis- 

 represent our facts; it will appear that men of science and 

 ability are equally disposed t«) support their opinions at any 

 expense; — a favourite theory is an adopted child, that must 

 be maintained. 



But 



