250 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



remains in others, and his speculations assumed 

 the curious phase of the sentences just noticed. 

 But he soon became aware that accident had much 

 to do with the presence of certain organic remains 

 in strata, and that, whilst some fossils, like corals, 

 once lived where they are now preserved in strata, 

 others were carried there as the deposit collected. 



A manuscript, dated December 2, 1796, Dunker- 

 ton. Swan Inn, headed "Strata in general, and 

 their position," and evidently intended for publica- 

 tion, commences thus : — 



" The strata being found as regular on one side 

 of a rivulet, river, deep valley or channel as on the 

 other, over an extent of many miles, when proper 

 allowance is made for the inclination, and for the 

 variation of the surface, is it not reasonable to 

 suppose that the same strata may be found as 

 regular on one side of the sea or ocean as on 

 opposite sides of a deep valley upon land, and if 

 so, and the continuation of the strata is general, 

 what is their general direction or drift ? Is it in 

 straight lines from pole to pole, or in curved lines 

 surrounding the globe regularly inclined to the 

 east > " 



After hinting at a general cause for such an 

 assumed regularity, he adds, " But all theories are 

 best built on practical rules, which will enable any 

 one to make such observations for himself as must 

 carry conviction along with them ; for a work so 

 novel as this must expect to find some who will 

 hardly believe what is plain to be seen ; for all 



