473 



I mud now proceed with more ferioufnefs to (late the argument by whicU 

 Dr. Hii'ton conceives he has proved that the ftrata of the world were 

 elevated, from the bottom of the fea to the higheft part of our land, by the 

 force of fubterraneous heat. 



He fays, (page 262) " There is nothing fo proper for the erection of land 

 " above the level of the ocean, as an expanfive power of fufEcient force ap- 

 " plied under the materials at the bottom of the fea." — Admitted. 



Again, (page 263) " The power of heat for the expanfion of bodies is, 

 " fo far as we know, unlimited ; but, by the expanfion of bodies placed 

 ". under the ftrata of the bottom of the fea, the elevation of thefe ftrata 

 *' may be effected." 



"Dv. Hicttoniz.YS, " The prefent queftion is, if this power of heat, which 

 " has certainly been exerted at the bottom of the fea for confolidating 

 " the ftrata, had been employed alfo for raifing thefe ftrata." 



Dr. Hutton, taking for granted that his preceding propofition is fully 

 proved, and confidering himfelf as having found a proper power in the pro- 

 per place, proceeds: " Therefore, if there is no other way in which we may 



" conceive this event to have been brought about we fliall have a right 



" to conclude, that the ftrata had been elevated, as well as confolidated, 

 " by means of fubterraneous heat." 



The reader muft decide upon the cogency of this argument, which 

 I have epitomized as fairly as I could. 



Doclor HuUon admits a great defect in the proof of this part of 

 his theory. He fays, (page iStj) " But how^ that land is prefer ved in 

 " its elevated fituation, is a fubjed on which we have not even the 

 " means to form a conjecture." 



I Ihall now proceed, in the Dodor's own words, (page 265) "To 

 " confider how far the propofition, that ftrata were elevated by the 

 " power of heat above the level of the fea, may be confirmed from 

 " the examination of natural appearances." 



" If," fays he, " flrata are erected with an expanfive power actio 

 " below, we may expect to find every fpecies of fracture, diflocation, and 



Vol, IX. (30) " contorfion 



