18 Analysis of the lately discovered 



cious blue clay, which, as it deepens, passes into a foliated 

 argillaceous marl ; ou the other a stratum of sand prevails. 



In the former the spoils of organized beings of the ocean 

 are found in great abundance, and in a high slate of preser- 

 vation. And although the remains of these animals have 

 strikingly changed their state of existence, their shape and 

 structure are so well preserved, that the species to which many 

 of them originally belonged may still be pointed out among 

 the living inhabitants of the sea; whilst others again, which 

 have long disappeared, (or are perhaps removed beyond the 

 sight of men, by inhabiting the greatest depths of the ocean,) 

 have thus their memory preserved in those archives, where 

 Nature has recorded the revolutions of our globe. Inter- 

 mingled with the wrecks of these creatures, are here and 

 there found the trunks, branches, and roots of trees, with 

 layers of reed, and timber of every kind, wholly converted 

 into clay, and easily separable from their beds. 



These awful memorials clearly announce that this spot was 

 once deeply submersed under the waters of the ocean, or 

 that it formed perhaps part of the bottom of the sea j for 

 wherever we dig into the ground, marine shells which are 

 known to belong to shores under climates extremely remote 

 from each other, are found promiscuously mingled together. 

 The mineralogical constitution of the Coteswold Hills, 

 which take their rise within half a mile from this well, and 

 which they surround like a brow, give ample proofs of this 

 su<To-cstion. The beds of these hills, which are all of secondary 

 formation, furnish abundance of lime-stone, often wholly 

 composed of gryphites, entrochites, nautilites, ostracites, be- 

 lemnites. Sec. The rest of the strata of these eminences, the 

 highest of which does not exceed 500 feet, (where the spec- 

 tator should pause lo contemplate the surrounding country,) 

 are composed of secondary lime-stone resting on red sand- 

 stone, free-stone, and grit. In the northern horn, red clay 

 slate and foliated chlorite slate abound. The speculative 

 geologist will find many of these and other indi^-iduals 

 worthy of research. 



The country around the town of Cheltenham is known 



to be uncommonly prolific in natural beauties. In the vi- 



- cinity 



