254 *'R MILNE ON THE MID-LOTHIAN AND EAST-LOTHIAN COAL-FIELDS. 



less remarkable on account of its stratified rocks — the prodigious extent of coun- 

 try over which they individually spread, and the extraordinary changes they have 

 undergone since their original deposition. 



Considering, then, the interest and importance of the subject, I cannot but 

 regret it should have fallen to be handled by me. Though Dr Hibbert is not 

 now amongst us, there remain many other members, whose professional pursuits, 

 aided by scientific attainments, admirably fit them for investigating and explain- 

 ing this extensive subject. I allude not merely to the geologists of the Society, 

 but to those gentlemen who devote themselves to the business of mineral sur- 

 veyors and mining engineers, and who possess opportunities of acquiring infor- 

 mation which no other persons can reach. 



I shall be extremelj' happy if the memoir I am now to read, should have 

 the effect of inducing any of these gentlemen to lay before the Society, in a pro- 

 per shape, the valuable materials which must have accumulated in their hands. 

 Although the Society should derive no other benefit from it, than that of iirging 

 some of its more efficient members to this undertaking, I would venture to hope, 

 that I had contributed in no small degree to promote the cause of geology. 



I shall divide what I have to say, under two heads ; the first containing an 

 account of the Rocks of the district, stratified and unstratified, — the second con- 

 taining an account of the Suj^erjfcial DejMsits which cover these rocks. These 

 heads I shall subdivide into two parts ; confining the first to a mere relation of 

 facts, and attempting in the second to explain or account for these facts. I 

 need hardly observe, with regard to both branches, and indeed the whole sub- 

 ject, that the memoir I have drawn up, so far from exhausting the field of in- 

 quiry, gives only an otitline of some of its more important featm-es ; so that it yet 

 contains enough, to excite and gratify the ambition for discovery of the keenest 

 geologist. 



The district which I propose to describe, is from fifteen to seventeen miles 

 square, extending from the Garleton HiUs to Arthur's Seat in an east and west 

 direction, and from the Frith of Forth to the Lammermuir HLUs in a north and 

 south direction. The extent and boundaries of this district \nll best be under- 

 stood by a reference to the accompanjing Map, Plate XV. Through this district, 

 there runs in a nearly north-east and south-west direction a ridge of high ground, 

 which divides the district into two parts. The ridge I allude to, commences at 

 Tranent (where it rises from the sea), and stretches towards the south-west by 

 Elphinstone, Carbcrry, and the Roman Camp, as fai- as Amiston. This ridge, in 

 respect of elevation above the sea, varies from 850 to 1000 feet. On the north- 

 west side of this ridge, lies Avhat has been called the valley of the Esks. It is a 

 valley of about six or seven miles in Avidth, the trough or lowest part of which 

 no where rises above the sea to a greater height than 150 feet. On the other 

 side of the ridge, the district (it can hardly be called a valley) is much flatter. Its 



