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(a) First, then, there are ample proofs in West Cumberland of 

 successive elevations and depressions, more or less extensive, since the 

 time of the coal formation; Tlie Lower New Red, the Magnesian Lime- 

 stone, and the New Red Sandstone, are all known to be marine form- 

 ations ; and since the time of the formation of these strata, the whole 

 district has been faulted to an extraordinary extent by forces which must 

 have produced large upheavals and depressions. 



(b) A brief examination of the faults of West Cumberland will 

 bring out some curious results. The whole district is faulted to an extent 

 which is certainly without a parallel in coal-fields with which the writer 

 is familiar. The faults also appear to arrange themselves in two distinct 

 parallel systems — the one running about N.W. and S.E., the other about 

 W.S.W. and E.N.E. This will be seen distinctly upon the map, where 

 the two systems of faults as found in the coal-workings are shown in red. 

 These faults are also remarkable for their sudden changes, not in 

 magnetic direction, but in the amount of throw. 



(c) The following questions will at once suggest themselves : — 



1. Can any law or periodicity be made out from the directions and 



magnitude of these faults % 



2. Has the direction of these faults anything to do with either the lines 



of level in the coal or the direction of the grain or cleat of the 

 coal? 



3. Can the main lines of fault be traced out upon the surface, by such 



natural features as the hills and valleys, the course of rivers, &c. 



4. Has the direction or position of the lake hills anything to do with 



these systems of faults ? Do they either converge to the hills, or 

 swerve round as they get north or south of them ? Do their 

 directions correspond with lines of faulting in the hills, amidst 

 the older lodes'? 



5. Is it possible by examining the intersections of the two systems, to 



infer which is the older of the two ? 

 Now, without pretending to give any reply to these questions, the 

 writer would wish to point out a few matters which seem to him material 

 to forming an opinion upon them : — 



