iv Huttoris Friends in Edinburgh 183 



the system of created things. In whatever manner, there- 

 fore, we are to employ the great agents, fire and water, for 

 producing those things which appear, it ought to be in 

 such a way as is consistent with the propagation of plants 

 and the life of animals upon the surface of the earth. 

 Chaos and confusion are not to be introduced into the 

 order of nature, because certain things appear to our 

 practical views as being in some disorder. Nor are we 

 to proceed in feigning causes when those seem insufficient 

 which occur* in our experience." l 



No geologist ever lived among a more congenial and 

 helpful group of friends than Hutton. While they had a 

 profound respect for his genius, they were drawn towards 

 him by his winning personality, and he became the centre 

 of all that was bright, vivacious and cheerful in that 

 remarkable circle of eminent men. If he wanted advice 

 and assistance in chemical questions, there was his bosom- 

 friend Joseph Black, ever ready to pour out his ample 

 stores of knowledge, and to test every proposition by the 

 light of his wide experience and his sober judgment. If 

 he needed companionship and assistance in his field 

 journeys, there was the sagacious Clerk of Eldin, willing 

 to join him, to examine his evidence with judicial 

 impartiality, and to sketch for him with an artistic 

 pencil the geological sections on which he laid most 

 stress. If he felt himself in need of the counsel of a clear 

 logical intellect, accustomed to consider physical prob- 

 lems with the precision of a mathematician, there was 

 the kindly sympathetic Playfair, ever prompt and pleased 

 to do him a service. With such companions he discussed 



1 Theory of the Earth, vol. ii. p. 547. 



