88 HISTORY of the SOCIEtr. 



mix Jlpes, which reached him in the courfe of that winter, and 

 became the laft ftudy of one eminent geologift, as they were the 

 laft work of another. On Saturday the 26th of March he fuf- 

 fered a good deal of pain ; but, neverthelefs, employed himfelf 

 in writing, and particularly in noting down his remarks on 

 fome attempts which were then making towards a new minera- 

 logical nomenclature. In the evening he was feized with a fhi- 

 vering, and his uneafinefs continuing to increafe, he fent for his 

 friend Mr Russel, who attended him as his furgeon. Before 

 he could poflibly arrive, all medical amftance was in vain : Dr 

 Hutton had juft ftrength left to flretch out his hand to him* 

 and immediately expired. 



Dr Hutton poffefTed, in an eminent degree, the talents, the 

 acquirements, and the temper, which entitle a man to the name 

 of a philofopher. The direction of his ftudies, though in fome 

 refpects irregular and uncommon, had been highly favourable 

 to the developement of his natural powers, efpecially of that 

 quick penetration, and that originality of thought, which ftrong- 

 ]y marked his intellectual character. From his firfl: outfet in 

 fcience, he had purfued the track of experiment and obfervation, 

 and it was not till after being long exercifed in this fchool, that 

 he entered on the field of general and abftract fpeculation. He 

 combined accordingly, through his whole life, the powers of an 

 accurate obferver, and of a fagacious theorift, and was as cau- 

 tious and patient in the former character, as he was bold and 

 rapid in the latter. 



Long and continued practice had increafed his powers of 

 obfervation to a high degree of perfection ; fo that, in difcrimi- 

 nating mineral fub fiances, and in feizing the affinities or dif- 

 ferences 



