True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-09-29
BIOGRAPHICAL,
Hugh Miller, the Geologist.

One Of the most remarkable men that
Scotland has ever produced, was Hugh
Miles, the geologIst whose sad and sin
gular death about year and half ago,
was mOurned throughout the civilized
world as a great loss to the cause of sci
ence. Mr.. Miller was a North Scotch
man, and possessed the peculiar mental
traits of that sturdy race in remarkable
degree. With a keen perception of the
beautiful in nature, and reverence for the
mysterious and supernatural, was blended
ferved poetic feeling; and for basis of
this supers'ructure, he possessed great
powers Of application, strong reasoning
faculties, and thorough independence of
thought. His success in life was due to
his natural abilities and the circumstances
by which he was surrounded, and not TO
carly education or subsequent patronage.
He was born at Cromarty, a seapor!
town on Maray Firth, in the northeast
part of Scotland, and was the son of
humble sea.faring man, who run his own
square-rigged sloop in the coasting trade.
His father was cast away and lost at sea
when Hugh was oNly FIVE years DID,
The tendency to the supernatural devel-
oped itself in the boys nature, even at
this early age; for the death of his father
was foreboded to him by the vision of a
discovered hand and arm, seen at the self.
opened door of his mothers cottage, in
the early evening twilight. On the eve
ming previous to this apparition, the fam
lily had received a letter from the father,
written just before the fatal storm, but
the vessel never returned.
The young Hugh was left to the care
of his uncle Sandy, master quarry-man,
and in his rambles with him, acquired a
strong taste for natural history. AT tho
age Of seventeen he worked in the quar-
lies Of Cromarty, and then began to dis
cover the fossil wonders of the Old Red
Sandstone, which he has since made
world'famons by his writings. Here COM
menced his practical and theoretical knowl
edge of geology-a study well calculated
by its marvellous revelations Of past ages,
and its close and exact reasoning, 10 fill
and satisfy mind constituted like his
His subsequent works upon the subject
Of geology, while they have commanded
the respect and admiration of the most
scientific minds Of Europe for their pro
found research and strength of argument
have, by the charm of their style, and
their rich blending Of poetry with philos
ophy, rendered the subject plain and deep
ly interesting to the general reader, ant
perfectly enchanting to the young, NJ
writer in the country has done so much
as Miller to popuarize the science ant
not by any shallow treatment thereof ha
this great result been accomplished bu
by giving to lis otherwise dry details al
in interest which sppeals 10 the observa
tion and reflection of every active mind
The past, the mysterious past, has charm
for all; and Hugh Miller, as though rec
ognizing the truth of Daniel Webster
brief and comprehensive definition Of III
word, geology, as "the earlhs history
written by ITSELF" has displayed page al
ter page Of that history in a manner
win the attention of all, and crafty thei
strong desire to know something of III
past Of our globe.
The principal works of Miller bearin
upon his favorile science are, "Scenes an
Legends Of the North Of Scotland.
"The Old Red Sandstone" "The Foo,
| prints of the Creator" "First Impre:
sions of England" and "The Testimon
| Of the Rocks" He had also purpose
writing more general and com mprehensi,
work to be called "The Geology
Scotland )" but the over-wrought brai
swerved from its axis of intelligence, el
this work was entered upon, and close
] his earthly life. Mr.. Miler's life ha
r the deep religious tone which distinguis
s es his counlrymen, and in early life b
t came deeply interested in thescoptrove
s sizes which have rent the church Of SEQ
!. land. Taking the independent side,
was the champion of the freedom of Il
n church and in the year 1880, in par
t phlet addressed TO Lord Brougham, up'
k the occasion Of his speech against Il
6 popular side Of the question in the appe
n before the House of Lords, he exhibit
N snch talent and power that he was
,r once called by the liberal party to ia
70 the post Of leader, and edit their new
g gan, called the "Witness." The let
is to Brougham was distinguished by
10 strength, freshness and force that co
it pare favorably with the best producIic