72 IIISrORr of the SOCIETT. 



ing from S. E. to N. W. The furface of this rock runs with a 

 moderate afcent from the level of low-water, at which we land- 

 ed, nearly to that of high-water, where the fchiflus has a thin 

 covering of red horizontal fandftone laid over it ; and this fand- 

 ftone, at the diftance of a few yards farther back, rifes into a 

 very high perpendicular cliff. Here, therefore, the immediate 

 contact of the two rocks is not only vifible, but is curioufly dif- 

 fered and laid open by the action of the waves. The rugged 

 tops of the fchiflus are feen penetrating into the horizontal beds 

 of fandftone, and the lowefl of thefe laft form a breccia contain- 

 ing fragments of fchiflus, fome round and others angular, uni- 

 ted by an arenaceous cement. 



Dr Hutton was highly pleafed with appearances that fet in 

 fo clear a light the different formations of the parts which com- 

 pofe the exterior cruft of the earth, and where all the circum- 

 flances were combined that could render the obfervation fatis- 

 factory and precife. On us who faw thefe phenomena, for the 

 firft time, the impreffion made will not eafily be forgotten. The 

 palpable evidence prefented to us, of one of the mofl extraordi- 

 nary and important facts in the natural hiftory of the earthy 

 gave a reality and fubflance to thofe theoretical fpeculations, 

 which, however probable, had never till now been directly au- 

 thenticated by the teftimony of the fenfes. We often faid to 

 ourfelves, What clearer evidence could w r e have had of the dif- 

 ferent formation of thefe rocks, and of the long interval which 

 feparated their formation, ha4 we actually feen them emer- 

 ging from the bofom of the deep ? We felt ourfelves necef- 

 farily carried back to the time when the fchiflus on which we 

 flood was yet at the bottom of the fea, and when the fandflona 

 before us was only beginning to be depofited, in the fhape of 

 fand or mud, from the waters of a fuperincumbent ocean. An 

 epocha ftill more remote prefented itfelf, when even the mofl 

 ancient of thefe rocks, inflead of Handing upright in vertical 



beds, 



