140 ON AFFINITY AND ANALOGY. 



the whole gradually sinks as it runs westward ; and when it 

 reaches the western extremity of the subsidence, it is scarcely 

 distinguishable at high water : it is said that previously to 

 24th December last, vessels sailed over the whole of this 

 ground. 



I would gladly enter into the subject of the probable cau- 

 ses which have been instrumental in producing the changes 

 I have described, but as my acquaintance with the Geology 

 of the neighbourhood is very limited, I must not venture 

 upon any thing further than the above hasty sketch of this 

 interesting spot : I must not, however, omit to refer to the 

 fact, that the chalky limestone, which, I believe, forms the 

 upper stratum of the rock of this part of the county, over- 

 lies a bed of loose sand, the action upon which, of the su- 

 perabundant rains of 1839, added to the same agency carried 

 on through past centuries, conspired in producing the phe- 

 nomena I have been endeavouring to describe. If the an- 

 serine tribe had the power of speech, they could give valuable 

 evidence, as it is said, that some of that family made a sub- 

 terranean voyage from a neighbouring farm into the sea. — 

 I must, en passant, tell you of another report ; it is said, that 

 a few years back, some persons in digging a well, at or near 

 Axminster, about 5 or 6 miles to the northward of the sea- 

 coast, came to a bed of sand through which a rapidly flowing 

 stream was passing towards the ocean, and that they had the 

 curiosity to throw into it a few bushels of charcoal, which 

 made its appearance in the sea, about three miles eastward 

 of the mouth of the Axe. 



I hope Professor Buckland, ( w^ho, I understand has visited 

 the spot), or some other eminent Geologist, will give us his 

 opinion on the causes which have led to these phenomena ; 

 and which, it appears to me, will tend to throw much light 

 on the formation of many narrow and deep valleys, in cer- 

 tain districts of this country. 



Elm Cottage, Taunton, 

 Feb. 2lst. 1840. 



