XXVIII. On the very correct Notions concerning the Structure 
of the Earth, entertained by the Rev. Joun MICHELL, as 
early as the Year 1769; and the great Neglect which his 
Publication of the same has received from later Writers on 
Geology ; and regarding the Treatment of Mr. Smiva, by 
certain Persons. By Mr. Joun Farry Sen., Mineral Sur- 
veyor. . 
To Mr. Tilloch. 
Sir, — Tx No. LVIII. of the “ Edinburgh Review,” published 
in February last, the Mineralogical Map and other Works of our 
deserving countryman William Smath, which are enumerated in 
p. 180 of your last volume, are reviewed, and in the historical 
sketch introductory to this Critique, the Writer has done an im- 
portant service to the cause of literary justice and to science (for 
which I beg to tender him my thanks) in pointing the attention 
of Geologists, to a paper in the Philosophical Transactions for 
the year 1760, of which the Reviewer thus speaks (in p. 316): 
<< But the most important observations, we think beyond com- 
parison, that have ever yet* appeared on the subject of stratifi- 
cation, are those of the Rev. John Michell, in a paper ‘‘ on the 
Cause and Phenomena of Earthquakes.” 
I take shame to myself, that it was not until very lately, in 
consequence of the above paragraph, and the extracts from Mr. 
Michell’s paper, which follow in the Review, that I procured 
the volume of Philosophical Transactions referred to, and read 
the paper, here so justly characterized ; especially as Mr. Bake- 
well, in the preface to his ‘ Introduction to Geology” published 
in 1813, had said, ‘* Mr. Michell was the first person who appears 
to have had any clear views respecting the structure of the ex- 
ternal parts of the earth.” My long neglect of this paper has 
altogether arisen, from the observations regarding Earthquakes, 
in all the accounts which I remember to have read on that sub- 
ject, being too much involved with the terrific and the marvellous, 
to appear to furnish sufficient facts, for any one to reason safely 
upon, as to their cause: and not from any wish to undervalue, 
much less to conceal what Mr. Michell had done, in what I have 
occasionally written regarding the progress and authors of Geo- 
logical discoveries: as will, I think, be conceded to me, by all 
impartial persons, who will turn to the three places in your work 
(viz. vol. xxxvi. p. 102; vol. xxxvii. p. 175 Note; and vol, XXXIX, 
p. 94 Note), wherein I have mentioned my endeavours, to bring 
to light, and publish and explain, any papers on Geological sub- 
* This historical remark is introduced, between the account of what 
Leiunan published in 1756, and /Vhitchurst in 1778. 
jects, 
