68 The late Hush Miller. 



a' 



cliarmed even ordinary readers by the fascination of its style. In- 

 1849 lie published " Footprints of the Creator, or the Asterolepis of 

 Stromness," one object of which was to expose the flimsy sophistry, 

 — and what he deemed the atheistical tendency — of the " Vestiges 

 of the Natural History of Creation." It is ably reasoned, and — like 

 his other works — beautifully written. Besides these, (and passing, 

 over his articles in the Witness^ he published a small volume — 

 "First Impressions of England" — we think about eight or nine years 

 ago. Many of his geological papers, scattered through the columns 

 of the Witness, and no doubt others still existing in manuscript 

 he intended to publish in a more accessible form; and deep will be 

 the disappointment caused by his death among the wide circle of 

 Tiis admirers, who yet expected many works, to instruct and delight,, 

 from his pen. His wonderful command of the English language, 

 and the charms of his style, drew a glowing tribute to his eloquence 

 from Dr. Buckland (himself a first-rate writer), which has often 

 been quoted, ' I would give my left hand to possess such powers' 

 of description as this man ; and if it please Providence to spare his 

 useful life, he, if any one, will certainly render the science attrac- 

 tive and popular, and do equal service to Theology and Geology.* 

 "Bred a mason, with only common education, he raised himself 

 by his native talent, from a humble rank of life to a distinguished 

 place among the best writers and most scientific thinkers of the age^ 

 His country will long honour him as a noble example of a self- 

 educated Scotsman." 



From the Edinburgh News, 



* * * * " His published works contain but a fraction of 

 the labours of his. lifetime. For many years past he has been one 

 of the most energetic members of the Royal Physical Society,, at 

 whose meetings he from time to time made known the progress 

 of his researches. "Were these papers collected,, they would form 

 several goodly volumes. But their author studiously refrained 

 from publishing them, save occasionally in the columns of the 

 Witness newspaper. It was his intention that they should each 

 form a part of the great work of his life, to which for many years his 

 leisure moments had been devoted. His design was to combine the 

 results of all his labours among the different rock formations of Scot- 

 land into one grand picture of the geological history of our coun- 

 try. For this end he had explored a large part of the Scottish 



