412 



ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 



than the ordinary detritus and wafting of the 



This, however, has never yet occurred • 



Jand. 



and it feems heft to wait till the phenome- 

 non is obferved, before we feek for the explana- 

 tion of it. 



367. Thefe arguments appear to me conclufive 



again ft th 



ffity of fuppofing the adion of 



fudden and irregular caufes on the furface of the 

 earth. In this, however, I am perhaps deceived : 

 neither Pallas, nor Sauftlire, nor Dolomieu, nor 

 any other author who has efpoufed the hypothefis 

 of fuch caufes, has explained his notions with any 

 precifion ; on the contrary, they have all fpoken 

 with fuch referve and myftery, as feemed to 

 betray the Weaknefs, but may have concealed 



the ftrength of their 



fe. I have therefore 



been combating an enemy, that was in fom 



fpea 



unkn 



d I may have fuppofed 



him diflodged, only becaufe I could 



his ftrong-hold 



The queft 



pene 

 how 



ever, is likely foon to aftume a more determinate 

 form. A zealous friend of Dr Mutton's theory, 

 has lately * declared his approbation of the hy- 



pothefis which has 1 

 adverfe to that theory 



been reprefented as fo 

 id, from his ability and 



gour of refearch, it is likely to receive every 



iprovement of which it is fufceptible. 



Note 



* Tranf, Royal Society Edin. V9I. v. p. 68. 



