292 ON THE FREESTONE QUARRIES OF 



the ocean by storms, as clay and mud, mixed with sea watei 

 when a tremendous and muddy surf is blown ashore througl. 

 the air by violent winds. If we now suppose, that by any 

 operation of nature whatever, these sand hills from a loose 

 state were to become concrete, the rock thus formed, could 

 not in any of its characters differ from that which now forms 

 the freestone quarries of which I am speaking. 



These considerations therefore irresistibly impress the belief 

 that both masses are of the same origin. — The dwrupture of 

 the ancient hills, is not difficult to account for, if we suppose 

 the ocean to have retired so much below its ancient level, as 

 appearances seem to prove, the sand hills would be undermined 

 by the water from below them, seeking the lower level of the 

 sea, and washed to pieces by the torrents from above. Thus 

 masses of stone, undermined and broken, would fall into the 

 bottoms of the new vallics, and appear on the levels of the 

 present rivers, while others would retain their original situation 

 high above the new level of the sea. — Thus far, rational con- 

 jecture will lead us, but further we cannot venture. — Who can 

 answer the questions that then present themselves? If these 

 concreted sand hills were once the ancient shore, rising above 

 the level of the ancient ocean, at what aera was the gravel 

 beach created at their summits? or the marine exuviae depo- 

 sited far below their base, as well as upon the mountains rising 

 thousands of feet above their tops? It is fortunate that the so- 

 lution of these aenigmas of nature are of no consequence what- 

 ever to our happiness, or of use to our enjoyments. — But the 

 pleasures of investigation, and of wonder, the offspring of ig- 

 norance, are not without a charm, which often entices the 

 mere speculative philosopher into researches that produce results 

 beneficial to mankind. 



I will here close my description of these sand rocks, and 

 endeavour to find an early opportunity of transmitting to the 

 Society some further remarks upon those of James's river in 

 particular, connected with that most singular and unaccountable 

 region, — the coal region, of which I will only at present hint, 



