found in the Sandstone of Ker ridge. 139 



cinity, from partaking of the dislocation, are said to have de- 

 fied the operations of the miner. In fact, there are no rocks 

 of this kind which I have examined, where the Huttonian 

 could discover more presumptive proof in favour of that theo- 

 ry, which attributes the elevation and dislocation of strata to 

 an expansive power acting from beneath ; and this view would 

 find additional support in the very remarkable induration 

 which prevails through all the strata of Kerridge, — a circum- 

 stance which the same theorist would refer to the intense 

 influence of subterranean heat, which operated on these se- 

 condary strata at the period of their consolidation. This un- 

 common induration has long rendered the sandstone of Ker- 

 ridge one of the most valuable quarries of Cheshire, for, being 

 very fissile, it readily splits into laminag of various degrees of 

 thickness, yet so very firm in its consistence, as to render it m 

 great demand for the purpose of roofing slate. But hard as 

 is the general structure of this sandstone, it is not unusual for 

 the workmen, while quarrying it, to meet with considerable 

 patches of the rock, the dimensions of which are often seve- 

 ral yards, acquiring an almost superlative degree of indura- 

 tion. In this state it is converted to the purposes to which 

 trap-rocks of unquestionable igneous origin are applied, being 

 used for paving and repairing the roads of the country. 

 When a patch of this unyielding rock occurs, it is very signi- 

 ficantly named by the labourers burnt stone. This mode of 

 accounting for the phenomenon, induces us to suspect, that 

 some Huttonian had given to the rock so Plutonic a name, 

 otherwise the originality of the theory taught by the illustri- 

 ous founder of this school becomes questionable, having been 

 anticipated by the popular view of the same kind entertained 

 by the illiterate quarry-men of Kerridge. But who, in this 

 age of theorizing, can boast a system that will long remain 

 unchallenged ? The peasants of Cheshire have, from time im- 

 memorial, speculated upon the highly inclined strata of Al- 

 derly Edge, almost in the same manner as Hutton himself 

 would do were the same phenomena to present themselves to 

 his notice. They have elevated these rocks by an expansive 

 force, alleging that an immense vacant space exists beneath 

 them, which they say may be distinctly recognized by the 



