200 AxxrvEESAur addkess. 



the fact that between the Isle of AVight and the mainhiud 

 there exists a channel, the Solent Sea, which seems to be only a 

 portion of the old river that flowed by Bournemouth, widened out. 

 You can easily imagine that when once the sea had made a breach 

 in the land so as to intersect the course of that old river, it would 

 in process of time widen it out. Looking at the fact that all along 

 the shores of Southampton Water we find gravel with these imple- 

 ments, showing that a great branch river flowed southwards into 

 the Solent, and that along the northern sides of the Solent Sea we 

 have gravels capping the cliffs at Barton, also with implements, 

 and that on the opposite side of the Solent these implements have 

 likewise been found, near the Foreland in the Isle of Wight ; I 

 think there is good evidence for regarding that Solent Sea, which is 

 now a great highway for the British 2^avy, as having been only a 

 portion of a river, at a time when this part of the world was ab-eady 

 occupied by man. It is not a little remarkable that at Southampton 

 Common, where we get these gravels, they occur at 150 or 160 

 feet above high-water mark. Here is an implement said to have 

 been found at 180 feet, but certainly at above 140 feet. Its edges 

 are not sharp, but are waterworn, showing that it has been subject 

 to the abrading action of water. 



But I am afraid I have detained you full long upon this 

 interesting subject. You may ask, probably, what antiquity 

 is to be assigned to these objects, and I frankly say I cannot 

 tell you. You must imagine to yourselves the amount of time 

 required for a river having a Avatershed or basin of the same area 

 as the existing River Thames to excavate the valley in which 

 London now stands, some three miles in width and 80 feet in 

 depth, and add to the period which would be necessary for this to 

 be effected, the whole of the Stone, Bronze, and Iron I'eriods Avhich 

 are embraced in ordinary history. You must for yourselves re- 

 construct the map of England, and connect the Isle of Wight with 

 the mainland ; and picture to yourselves the amount of time 

 requisite to wash away the whole of the southern part of the valley 

 of the Iliver Solent and widen out the course of the stream where 

 is now the Solent Sea. If you are mentally able to conceive the 

 amount of time which would be necessary for producing such eflects, 

 I think that you will agree with me that the antiquity of man is 

 something which requires strong powers of the imagination to 

 realize. 



