474 



" contorfion in thofe bodies, and every degree of departure from a ho- 

 " rizontal towards a vertical poCtion." 



" The flrata of the globe are aflually found in every poffible pofiti- 

 *' on ; for, from horizontal, they are frequendy found vertical ; from 

 " continuous, they are broken and feparated in every poffible direction, 

 *' and from a plane they are bent and doubled." 



Here again we are at iflue, and agreed in our appeal to the fame au. 

 thority, the book of nature. Doctor Hutton tells us how, (according 

 to his theory) the ftrata of the world ought to be found ; and dien, 

 nightly varying his exprefHon, afferts that fuch are the politions ip 

 \vhich they are actually found. 



To every particle of this ftatemcnt, the face of nature in my country 

 gives the moft direct and pofitive contradiction. I refer to the account 

 I have already given of the arrangement of our flrata, in an extent of 

 thirty miles, from Murlogb to MagilUgan Rock, to which I will now 

 add the ifland of Rathlin, the fteadinefs of whofe horizontal ftrata, is 

 vifible, even from the main : they are alfo better difplayeti on its nor- 

 thern face, than any where I have mentioned, the precipice being un- 

 interrupted for three miles and an half, generally much above 400 

 feet high, with the peculiar advantage of being perpendicular quite 



to the water, which is moftly of great depth.* 



I need 



* The contraft between the (leady parallcHfm of cur ftrata, and the inequalities of our 

 Surface, perpetually, and almoft capricioufly varying, affords a fubjeft of curious fpeculation. 

 That thefe fuperficial inequalities do not in the flighteil degree arife from caufes afling frona 

 beneath, is obvious to infpedion ; nor am I acquainted with any natural power? that could 

 even aflift in performing the operations that have been executed upon our furface ; abrupt- 

 ing precipices, and carrying off materials to an inconceivable amount, without in the leaft 

 difturbing what was left behind. 



If my time would allow, I could ftate a number of moft curiou5/a5/ on this fubjeft. Vaft 

 Atlantic torrents fweeping our earth with irrefiftible rapidity, have been invented for the 

 purpofe of accounting for the very irregular appearance our furface exhibits ; but it would 

 be eafy to (hew from the/aSj, that thofe were not the agents employed ; oar rivers 1 hare 

 already proved to be utterly inadequate to produce the effefl. 



