218 Dr Daubeny on ike Diluvial Tfieori/, 



Auvergne, which evidently preceded the formation of the val- 

 leys, ante-diluvial, and those which succeeded them post-diluvial. 



I am indeed fully aware, that some geologists, who admit that 

 valleys in other countries have been produced by a deluge, re- 

 gard those in Auvergne as the effect of the present rivers ; but 

 I am persuaded that no such line of separation, as is here at- 

 tempted to be set up, will be found tenable, and that the dilu- 

 vial theory, if received at all, must be extended to the valleys of 

 Auvergne, as well as to the rest. 



In vain would we contend, that the absence of any pebbles 

 derived from tocks not met with in the neighbourhood, esta- 

 blishes a distinction between the two cases ; for the same remark 

 may be extended to a considerable proportion probably of those 

 throughout France, as it is found to hold good with regard to 

 many in other countries, where more attention has been directed 

 to this inquiry. 



Thus, whether we examine the valleys which occur in the 

 neighbourhood of Auvergne, or extend our observation to those 

 at a distance, as, for instance, in the Pyrenees, I imagine it will 

 be found that the same remark, on which so much stress has 

 been laid with regard to Auvergne, is applicable to many of 

 them, namely, that the gravel is composed of pebbles derived 

 apparently from the rocks in the neighbourhood, little or not at 

 all intermixed with those from a distance. Yet, would it be 

 fair to deny the diluvial origin of the valleys in the Pyrenees, 

 s^rTT^^hilst we are led by the presence of the granite blocks met with 

 on the Jura, to allow it in the case of the Alps ? 



Or, to come nearer home, the pebbles of the LecJcie have 

 been traced along the valley of the Evenrode into that of the 

 Thames, and hence have induced many to conclude, that, in 

 this case, something more than the streams which now flow- 

 in the above situations, must at one time have been at work. 

 But if it should be found that other parallel valleys, such as 

 that of Moreton, contain none of these extraneous pebbles, 

 would it be fair to contend that the origin of these latter was 

 different? A more "correct mode of reasoning would seem to 

 be, that, supposing the fact stated to be received in general as 

 a valid argument in favour of the reality of a deluge, the origin 

 of the kttcr valley must be assumed as a sort of corollary from 



