n for concluding it to be erroneous; on the
contrary, it is rather a presumption that I may have corrected the error
of mineralogists who have gone before me, in like manner as it is most
reasonable to presume that our author may have corrected mine. Let us
then proceed to examine how far this shall appear to be the case.

Our author has stated very fairly from the Theory, viz. _That all the
strata of the earth, not only those consisting of calcareous masses, but
others superincumbent on these, have had their origin at the bottom
of the sea, by the collection of sand, gravel, shells, coralline, and
crustaceous bodies, and of earths and clays variously mixed, separated,
and accumulated._ He then adds, "Various geological observations
contradict this conclusion. There are many stratified mountains of
argillaceous slate, gneiss, serpentine, jasper, and even marble, in
which either sand, gravel, shells, coralline, or crustaceous bodies are
never, or scarce ever found."

Here our author seems to have deceived himself, by taking a very partial
view of things which should be fully examined, and well understood,
before general conclusions are to be drawn from those appearances; for,
although those particular objects may not be visible in the strata which
he has enumerated, or many others, they are found in those strata which
are either immediately connected and alternated with them, or with
similar strata; something to that purpose I think I have said; and, if
I had not, it certainly requires no deep penetration to have seen this
clear solution of that appearance of those objects not being found in
every particular stratum. He says that those marks of known materials
are never or scarce ever found;--by _scarce ever_ he surely means that
they are sometimes found; but if they shall only _once_ be found, his
argument is lost. I have not drawn my geological conclusion from every
particle in strata being distinguishable, but from there being certain
distinguishable particles in strata, and from our knowing what had been
the former state and circumstances of those distinguished parts.

If every stone or part of a stratum, in which those known objects are
not immediately visible, must be considered as so _many geological
observations that contradict my theory_, (of strata being formed from
the materials of a former earth), then, surely every stone and every
stratum which visibly contains any of those materials, must prove my
theory.