CHARACTER OF HUTTON 163 



orderly design in the operations of nature, decay and 

 renovation being so nicely balanced as to maintain the 

 habitable condition of the planet. But as he refused 

 to admit the predominance of violent action in terres- 

 trial changes, and on the contrary contended for the 

 efficacy of the quiet, continuous processes which we 

 can even now see at work around us, he was con- 

 strained to require an unlimited duration of past time 

 for the production of those revolutions of which he 

 perceived such clear and abundant proofs in the crust 

 of the earth. The general public, however, failed to 

 comprehend that the doctrine of the high antiquity 

 of the globe was not inconsistent with the compara- 

 tively recent appearance of man — a distinction which 

 seems so obvious now. 



Hutton died in 1797, beloved and regretted by 

 the circle of friends who had learnt to appreciate his 

 estimable character and to admire his genius, but with 

 little recognition from the world at large. Men knew 

 not then that a great master had passed away from 

 their midst, who had laid broad and deep the founda- 

 tions of a new science ; that his name would become 

 a household word in after generations, and that pilgrims 

 would come from distant lands to visit the scenes from 

 which he drew his inspiration. 



Many years might have elapsed before Hutton's 

 teaching met with wide acceptance, had its recognition 

 depended solely on the writings of the philosopher him- 

 self. For, despite his firm grasp of general principles 

 and his mastery of the minutest details, he had acquired 

 a literary style which, it must be admitted, was singu- 

 larly unattractive. Fortunately for his fame, as well 



