292 ^ETAT. 29. [183.8-. 



received (and I believe the very first copy distributed) together 

 with your note. I have read it through every word, and am 

 full of admiration of it, and, as I now see no geologist, I must 

 talk to you about it. There is no pleasure in reading a book 

 if one cannot have a good talk over it ; I repeat, I am full of 

 admiration of it, it is as clear as daylight, in fact I felt in 

 many parts some mortification at thinking how geologists 

 have laboured and struggled at proving what seems, as you 

 have put it, so evidently probable. I read with much interest 

 your sketch of the secondary deposits ; you have contrived to> 

 make it quite "juicy," as we used to say as children of a good 

 story. There was also much new to me, and I have to copy 

 out some fifty notes and references. It must do good, the 

 heretics against common sense must yield. . . . By the way, 

 do you recollect my telling you how much I disliked the 



manner referred to his other works, as much as to say,, 



" You must, ought, and shall buy everything I have written." 

 To my mind, you have somehow quite avoided this ; your 

 references only seem to say, " I can't tell you all in this work,. 

 else I would, so you must go to the ' Principles ' ; and many a. 

 one, I trust, you will send there, and make them, like me,, 

 adorers of the good science of rock-breaking. You will see II 

 am in a fit of enthusiasm, and good cause I have to be, whea 

 I find you have made such infinitely more use of my Journal, 

 than I could have anticipated. I will say no more about the: 

 book, for it is all praise. I must, however, admire the elabo- 

 rate honesty with which you quote the words of all living am 

 dead geologists. 



My Scotch expedition answered brilliantly ; my trip in th< 

 steam-packet was absolutely pleasant, and I enjoyed the spe< 

 tacle, wretch that I am, of two ladies, and some small childrei 

 quite sea-sick, I being well. Moreover, on my return froi 

 Glasgow to Liverpool, I triumphed in a similar manner ovei 

 some full-grown men. I stayed one whole day in Edinburgh, 

 or more truly on Salisbury Craigs ; I want to hear some day 



