262 Observations on Dr. Richardsnji*s Paper respecting 



miles distance from any other gravel, are perhaps among its 

 most curious phenomena : — these I have observed at 

 Thorney Ley, W. of Chapel le Frith, 

 E, of Kilburn, near Horsley, 

 S. of Strelly, Notts, 



On Sheepston Hill, W» of Anncsley, Notts. 

 After revolving the circumstances of excavated valleys m 

 my mind, as I have travelled in these pursuits, for weeks 

 and months together, and observed these valleys wonder- 

 fully distributed over the whole surface of large districts, 

 effecting a descending outlet or drainage to every part there- 

 of, as perfectly, though with none of the constant regula- 

 rity, in which the veins are distributed over an animal, for 

 returning its blood from every part to the heart : I have been 

 lost in conjecturing any application of mechanical or 

 known principles, that could have directed the almost irre- 

 sistible forces which effected tins important, and as it were, 

 finishing operation upon the matters of our globe, but must 

 refer the same to Omnipotent Power itself, acting perhaps in 

 this instance, without the intervention of the agents, whose 

 operations in nature the light of science enables us in so 

 many instances to trace. 



Dr. Richardson's expressions in his 3d fact, (p. 112) and 

 mine above, might perhaps be construed as asserting, that 

 the form of the surface of a denudated tract or excavated 

 valley, is uninfluenced by the arrangement or alternations 

 of its strata: such, however, is seldom strictly the case; for 

 though to a cursory or inexperienced observer, the contour 

 of most valleys and hills seems regular, except where there 

 are facades or cliffs, yet a more attentive examination of the 

 outline of such denudated or abraded surfaces, will dis- 

 cover the edge or top of every stratum which is materially 

 harder than that above it, as grit- stone under clay, &c, by 

 means of a slight protuberance, or tablet as some have called 

 it, visibly projecting the surface, but so slightly as in most 

 instances to have escaped the notice 1 of persons on the spot, 

 and yet I have scarcely ever failed of late, in being able to 

 discover the position of the strata in a denudated tract, com- 

 posed of several strata, by this means alone, and frequently 



at 



