LIFE of Dr HUTTON. 53 



ted, which at the furface are eafily feparated, might occafion the 

 fufion of fome bodies which in our fires are only calcined. 

 Hence the objedlions that are fo ftrong and unanfwerable, when 

 oppofed to the theory of volcanic fire, as ufually laid down, have 

 no force at all againfl Dr Hutton's theory ; and hence we ar£ 

 to confider this theory as hardly lefs diflinguifhed from the hy- 

 pothefis of the Vulcanifts, in the ufual fenfe of that appellation, 

 than it is from that of the Neptunifts, or the difciples of Wer- 

 ner. 



111. The third general facfl on which this theory is founded, 

 is, that the ftralified rocks, inftead of being either horizontal, or 

 nearly fo, as they no doubt were originally, are now found pof- 

 feffing all degrees of elevation, and fome of them even perpen- 

 dicular to the horizon ; to which we muft add, that thofe ftrata 

 which were once at the bottom of the fea are now raifed up, 

 many of them, feveral thoufand feet above its furface. From 

 this, as well as from the inflexions, the breaking and feparation 

 of the ftrata, it is inferred, that they have been raifed up by the 

 adtion of fome expanfive force placed under them. This force, 

 which has burft in pieces the folid pavement on which the 

 ocean refts, and has raifed up rocks from the bottom of the fea,. 

 into mountains 15,000 feet above its furface, exceeds any which 

 we fee adlually exerted, but feems to come nearer to the caufe 

 of the volcano or the earthquake than to any other, of which the 

 effe(5ls are dire<flly obferved. The immenfe difturbance, there- 

 fore, of the ftrata, is in this theory afcribed to heat adling with 

 an expanfive power, and elevating thofe rocks which it had be- 

 fore confolidated. 



IV. Among the marks of difturbance in which the mineral 

 kingdom abounds, thofe great breaches among rocks, which are 

 filled with materials different from the rock on either fide, are 

 among the moft confpicuous. Thefe are the veins, and com- 

 prehend, not only the metallic veins, ■ but alfo thofe of whin- 



ftoxie, , 



