BmJcland^s Formation of the Valley of Kingsclere, 259 



Enormous displacements and flexures of the clialk formation 

 have given rise to geological speculation. In illustration we 

 might refer to the beautiful drawings of Mr. Webster, in his 

 letters to Sir Henry Englefield, on the geology of the Isle of 

 Wight. Curvatures in the chalk of the Isle of Purbeck, of ex- 

 traordinary figure, were first pointed out by the same gentleman. 

 A remarkable mass of chalk appears in the cliff at Trimingham 

 in Norfolk, and is represented in the accompanying sketch, [fig, 

 122.) It would appear that this was a portion stripped and 

 uplifted from the original horizontal mass ; and, if we can judge 

 from the flexuous arrangement of its numerous bands of flints, 

 has been folded by prodigious force into the form of a boulder, 

 on a gigantic scale ; its length being seventy, and its height 

 twenty, yards. The surf has considerably reduced its dimen- 

 sions, but it is still a conspicuous object to the mariners, its 

 white outline being relieved against the dark blue clay in 

 which it is embedded ; and, as it is somewhat more indurated 

 than the surrounding mass, it forms a small headland. 



122 



In all the cases of stratification we have endeavoured to illus- 

 trate, their derangements must have taken place subsequently 

 to their original formation. Some of these strata were appa- 

 rently disturbed while the mass retained sufficient flexibility and 

 adhesion of its parts, to assume those distorted forms without 

 fracture ; others were not disturbed until after the entire 

 consolidation of their materials, and present only angular 

 fractures and disrupted planes. It cannot be doubted that 

 the deposition of most of the ancient strata took place, while 

 the waters from whence they subsided were in a comparative 

 state of quiescence. Of this fact, the fine preservation of the 

 most delicate shells, and other organic bodies affords unequi- 

 vocal testimony. Of a different character, however, is that 

 accumulation of heterogeneous materials, which often forms a 

 thick covering over the regular strata, and has obtained the 



