The centenary of Hugh Miller's birth was celebrated on Friday
week at Cromarty. Sir Archibald Geikie, who delivered an admirable oration on Miller's life and work, laid special stress on his wonderful natural insight, his infections enthusiasm, and the charm of his style. With him, as Huxley declared, ;ntuition seemed to supply the place of special anatomical knowledge, while by his ardour and eloquence be set in motion a wave of popular appreciation of geology which had never since ceased to pulsate throughout the English-speaking world. Speaking for himself, Sir Archibald Geikie gladly admitted that Miller's " Old Red Sandstone " first revealed to him the ancient history that might be concealed in the hills around him, and the meanings that might be hidden in the commonest stones beneath his feet. The charm of Miller's style, again, a trait unfortunately too rare in scientific writers, and based in his case on early and faithful study of the best eighteenth-century models, lent his work one of its claims to perpetual recognition. Sir Archibald also dwelt on the influ- ence of Hugh Miller's character,—his piety, pure-mindedness, sympathy, and manly independence. The presence of dis- tinguished men of science from America, Canada, England, Ireland. and Italy lent an international character to a celebra- tion which certainly cannot be regarded as coming under Lord Bowen's witty condemnation of uncritical and un- necessary centenaries.
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