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IV 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



new form, and fome additions may have 

 been made to a fyftem naturally rich in the 

 nunaber and variety of its illuftrations. 



Of the qualifications v^hich this underta- 

 king requires, there is one that I may fafely 

 fuppofe myfelf to polTefs, Having been in- 

 ftrudled by Dr Hutton himfelf in his theory 

 of the earth; having hved in intimate friend- 

 Ihip w^ith that excellent man for feveral 

 years, and almoft in the daily habit of dif- 

 cufling the queflions here treated of ; I have 

 had the beft opportunity of under (landing 

 his views, and becoming acquainted with 

 his peculiarities, whether of expreflion or of 

 thought. In the other qualifications necef- 

 fary for the illuftration of a fyftem fo ex- 



five and various, I 



abundantly fen 



fible of my deficiency, and fhall therefor 

 with great deference, and confiderable ai 



L 



xiety, wait that decifion from which there 

 no appeal. 



Edinburgh College 



ill March 1803. 



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