before the Green-sand or Chalk was formed, the delta of 

 some large river had left its deposits in the area of the Weald. * 

 Even the area of this vast deposit does not exceed in magni- 

 tude that of many modern rivers. (Thus the delta of the Niger, 

 in Africa, stretches into the interior 170 miles, and occupies, 

 it is supposed, a space of more than 300 miles along the coast, 

 this forming a surface equal to about one-half of England.) 

 If asked where the continent was placed, from the ruins of 

 which the Wealden strata were derived, we are tempted to 

 speculate on the existence of the Atlastis of Plato. The story 

 of the submergence of an ancient continent, however fabulous 

 in history, must have been true again and again as a geologi- 

 cal event. This Wealden deposit gradually subsided beneath 

 the Ocean, and upon it were deposited the Green-sand and the 

 Chalk ; these, from an upheaving force towards the centre of 

 the Wealden, were elevated, and the action of the Ocean denu- 

 ded first the Chalk, then the Gault, and then the Green-sand. 

 In the centre of the Diagram is seen the Hastiog's sand, 

 forming an anticlinal axis, on each side of which the other 

 formations are arranged with an opposite Cliff. Stretching 

 from Folkestone towards Wye the Chalk is seen forming part 

 of the North Downs. These hills are bounded by a valley, 

 where the Gault and upper Green-sand, from their yielding 

 nature, were more easily denuded. Again we have another 

 range of Hills formed of the lower Green-sand, which resisted 

 the action of the denuding force more ; and next we have the 

 Valley of the Weald represented by Romney Marsh Vale. Mr. 

 Mackeson next drew the attention of the visitors to the action 

 of the Ocean at the present time, which was receding and 

 throwing up banks of shingle ; and he pointed out the sand 

 which had drifted over to the Hills beyond. 



The party, after examining the Stone Quay, adjourned to 

 the Town, where a substantial Cold Collation was provided, 

 and met at the Town Hall, where an interesting Collection of 

 Fossils and Entomological Specimens was exhibited. 



