LIFE of Dr HUITON. 85 



obfcu'iity wliich may juftly be objedleJ to many parts of it, have 

 probably prevented it from being received as it deferves. even 

 among thofe who are converfant with abftradl fpeculation. 

 An abridgment of it, judicioufly executed, fo as to ftate the 

 argument in a manner both perfpicuous and concife, would, I 

 am perfuaded, make a valuable addition to metaphyiical fci- 

 ence. 



The publication of this work was Dr Hutton's occupation 

 on his recovery from a fevere illnefs, with which he was feized in 

 fummer 1793. Before this time he had enjoyed a long conti- 

 nuance of good health, and great adivity both of body and mind. 

 The diforder that now attacked him, (a retention of urine),was one 

 of thofe that mod immediately threaten life, and he was preferved 

 only by fubmitting to a dangerous, and painful operation. He was 

 thus reduced to a ftate of great weaknefs, and was confined to 

 his room for many months. By degrees, however, the goodnefs 

 of his conftitution, aided, no doubt, by the vigour and elafticity 

 of his mind, reftored him to a confiderable meafure of health, 

 and rendered his recovery much more complete than could have 

 been expedled. One of his amufements, when he had regained 

 fome tolerable degree of ftrength, was in fuperintending the pu- 

 blication, and correding the proof-flieets of the work juft men- 

 tioned. 



During his convalefcence, his a(flivity was farther called into 

 exertion, by an attack on his Theory of the Earth, made by Mr Kir- 

 wan, in the Memoirs of the Irip Academy *, and rendered formi- 

 dable, 



• This was not the firft attack which had been made on his theory, for M. De 

 Luc, in a feries of letters, inferted in the Monthly Review for 1790 and 1791, 

 had combated feveral of the leading opinions contained in it. To thefe Dr 

 HuTTON made no other reply, than is to be met with occaiionally in the enlarged 

 edition of his 'theory, publiihed four years afterwards. If 1 do not miftake, how- 

 ever, he intended a more particular anfwer, and aftually fent one to the editors 



of 



