He, of course, merely recorded this in his own journal and did not publish the idea. It was eventually realized that not all sedimentary rock originate as marine sediments, but some are deposited in streams and lakes or by glaciers or winds. The name was applied before it was understood that all sediment did not necessary move through the fluids water and air. Also sediment can be moved by a stream without ever being actually suspended in the water. It consists of more or less rounded particles that have usually experienced some chemical change since they were dislodged from their original rock.
Today let's look at the first two steps.
Weathering is the alteration of rock materials during exposure to air, moisture and organic matter. Variations in temperature and moisture are the primary elements of weather and weathering because they enhance chemical action. Granite is a familiar igneous rock and one source of sediment. The carbon dioxide is derived from the air and from decaying plants as the rain water percolates through the regolith. Kaolinite is a common constituent of clay, which is a large component of the regolith.