810 GEOLOGICAL REFORM X 



tions eventually reduced themselves to oscilla- 

 tions on each side of a mean position, and the 

 stability of the solar system was secured, had 

 evidently taken strong hold of Hutton's mind. 



In those oddly constructed periods which seem 

 to have prejudiced many persons against reading 

 his works, but which are full of that peculiar, if 

 unattractive, eloquence which flows from mastery 

 of the subject, Hutton says : — 



" We have now got to the end of our reasoning ; 

 we have no data further to conclude immediately 

 from that which actually is. But we have got 

 enough; we have the satisfaction to find, that 

 in Nature there is wisdom, system, and consist- 

 ency. For having, in the natural history of this 

 earth, seen a succession of worlds, we may from 

 this conclude that there is a system in Nature ; 

 in like manner as, from seeing revolutions of the 

 planets, it is concluded, that there is a system by 

 which they are intended to continue those revolu- 

 tions. But if the succession of worlds is estab- 

 lished in the system of nature, it is in vain to 

 look for anything higher in the origin of the 

 earth. The result, therefore, of this physical 

 inquiry is, that we find no vestige of a beginning, 

 — no prospect of an end." ^ 



Yet another influence worked strongly upon 

 Hutton. Like most philosophers of his age, he 

 coquetted with those final causes which have 

 » The Theory of the Earth, vol. i. p. 200. 



