Ill 



The writer then drew attention to the position occupied by 

 the alluvial and diluvial deposits, and the phenomena usually 

 presented by them. 



A rapid survey was taken of the appearances exhibited on 

 the west coast, commencing with the south bank of the estuary 

 of the Kibble. The stratum of peat cropping out on the surface, 

 and gradually dipping under the sea was noticed. The former 

 existence of wooded valleys where now a flat sandy surface 

 exists, was alluded to. The ancient grave-yard at Formby, on 

 the edge of the water, the peculiar phenomena of the river 

 Alt, the submarine forests at Crosby and Liverpool, the dis- 

 coveries made during the excavations in the bed of the ancient 

 Pool, were noticed. Wallasey Pool, the river Birkett and the 

 Cheshire shore next came under review ; the writer giving it 

 as his opinion, that if excavations were made in the bed of 

 Wallasey Pool, discoveries would be made of a character similar 

 to those in the pool of Liverpool. Wallasey, Leasowe, the 

 submarine forest of Cheshire, the actual and traditionary evi- 

 dences of dry land existing on the site of Burbo and Hoyle 

 Banks were examined, and the researches of Messrs. Nimmo, 

 Stevenson and others were noticed. 



A cursory survey of the Welsh Coast was then made, and 

 historical evidence given of great changes in the form of the 

 coast line and in the depth of the Menai Strait. 



The causes of these changes were then alluded to. The 

 abrading influence of the sea, the probabilities of sudden con- 

 vulsions of nature, the general rise of level of the ocean, were 

 examined and rejected as inadequate to account for the pheno- 

 mena under examination. The hypothesis which seemed to 

 the writer the only satisfactory one was, that the land along 

 the coast line has been for a long period in course of a gradual 

 and slow depression in its level. Instances were produced 

 both of elevations and depressions which had occurred in 

 other countries within the historical period. 



The further enquiry presented itself: has this subsidence 



