THEORY OF THE EARTH WITH PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. IN FOUR PARTS. _BY JAMES HUTTON, M.D. AND F.R.S.E._ VOL. II. 1795 CONTENTS. PART II. _Farther Induction of Facts and Observations, respecting the Geological Part of the Theory_ _INTRODUCTION_ CHAP. I. _Facts in Confirmation of the Theory of Elevating Land above the Surface of the Sea._ CHAP. II. _The same Subject continued, with Examples from different Countries._ CHAP. III. _Facts in confirmation of the Theory, respecting those Operations which re-dissolve the Surface of the Earth._ CHAP. IV. _The same Subject continued, in giving still farther Views of the Dissolution of the Earth._ CHAP. V. _Facts in confirmation of the Theory respecting the Operations of the Earth employed in forming Soil for Plants._ CHAP. VI. _A View of the Economy of Nature, and necessity of Wasting the Surface of the Earth, in serving the purposes of this World._ CHAP. VII. _The same Subject continued, in giving a View of the Operations of Air and Water upon the Surface of the Land._ CHAP. VIII. _The present Form of the Surface of the Earth explained, with a View of the Operation of Time upon our Land._ CHAP. IX. _The Theory Illustrated, with a View of the Summits of the Alps._ CHAP. X. _The Theory Illustrated, with a View of the Valleys of the Alps._ CHAP. XI. _Facts and Opinions concerning the Natural Construction of Mountains and Valleys._ CHAP. XII. _The Theory Illustrated, by adducing Examples from the different Quarters of the Globe._ CHAP. XIII. _The same Subject continued._ CHAP. XIV. _Summary of the Doctrine which has been now Illustrated._ PART II. _FARTHER INDUCTION OF FACTS_ AND _OBSERVATIONS, RESPECTING THE GEOLOGICAL PART_ OF THE _THEORY_. INTRODUCTION. By the present theory, the earth on which we dwell is represented as having been formed originally in horizontal strata at the bottom of the ocean; hence it should appear, that the land, in having been raised from the sea, and thus placed upon a higher level, had been of a different shape and condition from that in which we find it at the present time. This is a proposition now to be considered. In whatever order and disposition the hard and solid parts of the land were at the time of its emerging from the surface of the sea, no provision would have then been made for conducting the rivers of the earth; therefore, the water from the heavens, moving from the summits of the land to the shores, must have formed for themselves those beds or channels in which the rivers run at present; beds which have successively changed their places over immense extents of plains that have often been both destroyed and formed again; and beds which run between the skirts of hills that have correspondent angles, for no other reason but because the river has hollowed out its way between them.