De Saussure 93 





advancement of geological theory, he contributed largely 

 to the stock of ascertained fact, which was so needful as a 

 basis for theoretical speculation. The data which he 

 collected became thus of the utmost service to those who 

 had to work out the principles of geology. To Hutton, 

 for example, they supplied many admirable illustrations 

 of the geological processes on which he based his Theory 

 of the Earth. It was under the guidance of the great 

 Swiss observer that the Scottish philospher stood in 

 imagination on the summit of the Alps, and watched from 

 that high tower of observation the ceaseless decay of the 

 mountains, the never-ending erosion of the valleys, and 

 that majestic evolution of topography which he so clearly 

 portrayed. Among the illustrious men who contributed 

 to plant the foundations of geology, an honoured place 

 must always be assigned to De Saussure. 



