96 On the Difference of Level between the 



have been produced by any temporary storm. As to whe- 

 ther these changes have any connection with those which have 

 convulsed the neighbouring volcanic districts, I will not even 

 hazard a guess. I have not been able as yet to detect any traces 

 of marine organic remains on any part of this coast, although 1 

 looked for them in connection with the levels of the beaches, 

 nor could I find any traces of a vertical dislocation of the strata 

 in the neighbourhood. This, however, need not discourage 

 others, as my glances were very hasty. I have engaged Mr 

 Barclay, who enters zealously into the inquiry, to exaamine 

 the neighbouring rocks, with the view of detecting any ap- 

 pearances which may be interesting in connection with the 

 beaches, or may in any way tend to illustrate their history ; and 

 I shall not fail to apprize you of any thing he may pick up in 

 his frequent perambulations of the coast ; nor shall I neglect, 

 when my affairs again call me to Mull, to prosecute the sub- 

 ject as far as I can. I am, my dear Sir, very faithfully yours, 



Alan Stevenson. 

 Professor Jameson, &c. &c. &c. Edinburgh. 



On the Difference of Level between the Dead Sea and the Medi- 

 terranean. 



It is a remarkable coincidence, that, at the very time when 

 the last Russian Expedition was occupied in determining the 

 problem of the relative level of the Caspian Sea, a less exten- 

 sive, but equally interesting example of a great depression was 

 discovered in Palestine. Professor Schubert of Munich, two 

 Englishmen, Messrs Moore and Beek, and M. J. de Bertou, a 

 Frenchman, almost simultaneously, and quite independently 

 of one another, have made the discovery, that the Dead Sea, 

 and likewise the entire lower valley of the Jordan, are situated 

 considerably under the level of the Mediterranean Sea. The 

 newspapers have already made occasional mention of this dis- 

 covery, but the scientific journals have hitherto been silent on 

 the subject, owing to the absence of authentic information. 

 We are now, however, in possession of the latter, and it ap- 



