1840-1881] EARTH-MOVEMENTS 139 



to broken Europe, any more than to the Malay Archipelago. Letter 491 

 Yet, had I been asked, I should have said that probably nearly 

 the whole of Europe was subjected during the Glacial period 

 to periods of elevation and of subsidence. It does not seem 

 to me so certain that the kinds of partial movement which 

 we now see going on show us the kind of movement which 

 Europe has been subjected to since the commencement of the 

 Glacial period. These notions are at least possible, and would 

 they not vitiate your argument? Do you not rest on the 

 belief that, as Scandinavia and some few other parts are 

 now rising, and a few others sinking, and the remainder at 

 rest, so it has been since the commencement of the Glacial 

 period? With my notions I should require this to be made 

 pretty probable before I could put much confidence in your 

 calculations. You have probably thought this all over, but I 

 give you the reflections which come across me, supposing for 

 the moment that you took the proportions of space at rest 

 and in movement as plainly applicable to time. I have no 

 doubt that you have sufficient evidence that, at the com- 

 mencement of the Glacial period, the land in Scotland, Wales, 

 etc., stood as high or higher than at present, but I forget the 

 proofs. 



Having burnt my own fingers so consumedly with the 

 Wealden, I am fearful for you, but I well know how infinitely 

 more cautious, prudent, and far-seeing you are than I am ; 

 but for heaven's sake take care of your fingers ; to burn them 

 severely, as I have done, is very unpleasant. 



Your 2\ feet for a century of elevation seems a very 

 handsome allowance. Can D. Forbes really show the great 

 elevation of Chili ? I am astounded at it, and I took some 

 pains on the point 



I do not pretend to say that you may not be right to 

 judge of the past movements of Europe by those now and 

 recently going on, yet it somehow grates against my judgment, 

 perhaps only against my prejudices. 



As a change from elevation to subsidence implies some 

 great subterranean or cosmical change, one may surely 

 calculate on long intervals of rest between. Though, if the 

 cause of the change be ever proved to be astronomical, even 

 this might be doubtful. 



P.S. I do not know whether I have made clear what I 



