niable confirmation of his theory, he was so delighted that he could not restrain the expression of his joy and exultation; and his guides, who probably had no conception that any thing relating to the formation of a rock could excite such emotions, were led into a strange mistake: they made sure that the gentleman they were attending had discovered a vein of silver or gold." '

While Mrs. Beaufoy was speaking, Harry's lively imagination presented the scene she described. The wild solitudes of the Grampians, the transports of Dr. Hutton, and the gaping wonderment of his guides, all seemed portrayed before him; and while his thoughts were thus occupied, he lost the point of the anecdote she related. When she ceased to speak, he said; “I am afraid I do not clearly understand why Dr. Hutton was so exceedingly delighted."

"I think you are not often so dull of comprehension, my dear Harry. Do you not perceive that the discovery Hutton made in Glen Tilt confirmed, in several particulars, the truth of his theory? Is it not plain that the stratified limestone and other rocks must have been deposited before the granite veins could be injected among them?

1 Lyell, p. 62.

DR. HUTTON'S DISCOVERY.

73 and also that the granite must have been in a fluid state when it was forced in thin streams between the strata of other rocks? Nor was this all: Hutton had maintained that granite is not stratified; but this might be disputed by persons who happened to find long thin veins of that rock in situations where they would have very much the appearance of strata: now, the object of Hutton's journey to the Grampians was to settle this point; and when he beheld the veins of granite actually springing out of the great mass of rock, like the branches from the trunk of a tree, he saw that the truth of his theory was decidedly established."

"And so it was!" exclaimed Harry: "Nothing could be clearer-it was a plain fact which nobody could deny; and I was very stupid not to see it at first."

“I am glad you see it now, Harry. I should have been disappointed if these facts respecting granite could not have been made intelligible to you; but I think it would not be useful or interesting to attempt any general explanation of the structure and position of rocks at present. From your specimens of granite and sand-stone you have obtained a clear idea of the grand distinction between stratified and unstratified rocks; and when

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other examples come in our way, we will endeavour to make use of them. But we must not take leave of rocks, without my telling you one other fact respecting granite, or what I have been saying may lead you into error. I mentioned this rock as occupying the loftiest place in our mountains: but in this particular there seems to be a striking difference in the structure of the mountains of America, and those of the Eastern Hemisphere. It is equally true, both in the old and in the new continents, that granite occupies the lowest place, forming the basis on which other rocks are supported; but while Humbolt was exploring the Andes, he found the granite so covered over and buried under other rocks, that he thought a person might travel for years through the mountain districts of Peru, without even suspecting that it could be found there. Chimborazo and Antisana are crowned by vast walls of an unstratified rock called porphyry, rising to the height of six or seven thousand feet. On the summit of Pichincha, (a mountain which must be familiar to your recollection as the scene of Don Ulloa's adventures,') a rock called basalt, of very curious formation, resembling rows of pillars, is seen rearing its castled steeps like towers amidst the

1 Winter Evenings, p. 182.

SUSPENSION OF JUDGMENT DESIRABLE. 75

sky. In the Western Hemisphere basaltic rocks have never been observed at a greater height than four thousand feet. I mention these circumstances, my dear Harry, in order to show the caution required in drawing general conclusions from particular facts. You will observe, that notwithstanding the uniformly elevated position of granite in our continent, this does not correspond with its situation in America."

"There is one difference between you and me, mamma, which I do not understand. You never seem vexed at finding out those provoking differences which prevent one from drawing satisfactory conclusions, and I like to have things settled."

"I am aware of that," replied Mrs. Beaufoy, smiling; "but as your knowledge increases, this feeling will be moderated, because you will perceive how much more there is to be learned on every subject, than appears to be the case when we begin to examine it. I hope that our conversations on the structure of the Earth will be useful to you, by correcting that hastiness in decision to which young people are naturally inclined. You must perceive that as the subject is at present so imperfectly understood, even by the persons best ac

1 Edin. Gaz. vol. i. lxxi.

quainted with it, that they are frequently obliged to suspend their judgment, it would be absurd indeed for you or me to fancy we were competent to decide any doubtful point. We may nevertheless derive a great deal of pleasure from the knowledge of facts in themselves very curious and entertaining; and this will prepare us for understanding and judging respecting conclusions by and by, when a greater body of evidence shall be collected, or some grand principle discovered which may explain the present difficulties."

"I wish that time was come!" exclaimed Harry. "However, it is one comfort that the granite-rocks are always undermost; and I hope nothing will be found out to disturb The Pillars of the Globe.""

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