SUBSIDENCE OK ATLANTIC COAST OF N, S. — POOLE. 263 



ited. Its submersion is plain and distinct. The rock upon 

 which General Wolfe landed has nearly disappeared. The 

 waves break against the south wall, which they have under- 

 mined and thrown down each succeeding tide flows 



freely into the northern side of the deserted city. The lands 

 westward also bear testimony to an extensive submergence." 



A year ago, having heard that Mr. K. Mcintosh, of St. 

 George's Channel, Cape Breton, had lately made a survey, the 

 first accurate one ever made of the old town and its fortifica- 

 tions, and knowing that he was a man of exceptionally keen 

 discernment, and withal a student of science, I obtained from 

 him the statement which is here appended. 



This statement I submitted to Major O. C. Williamson, R.A., 

 who has made a critical study of fortification and the fads of 

 each school and period, and he appended a few comments which 

 accompany it. These, he would have extended, had he not 

 been suddenly called to take command of a battery in 

 India. However, coming from so good an authority, they may 

 be regarded as convincing that the French engineers purposely 

 built their foundations down to the level of low water ; and 

 therefore that the partial submergence now noticed is no evi- 

 dence of subsidence subsequent to the building of the fortress. 



There is still to be considered Dr. Gesner's paper as a whole. 

 The statements accompanying those relating to Louisbourg treat 

 of the general question regarding recent elevation and depres- 

 sion includihg the quarternary period. These remarks of his 

 should be now read in the light of modern ideas on the 

 changes that occurred during the glacial epoch, and the sharp 

 distinction that has to be drawn between the movements of 

 the land in relation to the sea as a base level, acting in a verti- 

 cal direction, and wave erosion which makes a constant and 

 destructive lateral advance on our coast. It is clear that Dr. 

 Gesner did not carefully distinguish the actions of the several 

 agents of a destructive character that have been at work on' 

 the shores and structures at Louisbourg, and it would seem he 

 has imputed to the former changes that have been brought 

 about by the denudation resulting from the latter agency alone. 



So far as Louisbourg is concerned, I submit there is there 

 no evidence of subsidence within historic times. 



