of Northumberland ana Durham, 95 



but a transient or occasional visit will not suffice. A long resi- 

 dence in the district, and the free communication of numerous 

 intelligent observers, are necessary to a complete investigation; 

 on which account, the establishment of a Geological Society in 

 that part of England would be particularly desirable. It is to be 

 regretted that many gentlemen fully competent to observe, and 

 to describe their observations, have been deterred from doing it 

 by the appearance of the Wcrnerian Geognosy. The introduction 

 of a new language, and of unfounded or undiscoverable distinc- , 

 tive characters, together with the loftiness of tone and manner in 

 which these novelties were ushered to the world, terrified men of 

 plain understandings from continuing or from publishing their 

 own observations. Endeavouring, but in vain, to find in nature 

 that regular conformity to the system of Werner, or, to use the 

 words of an acute geologist*, distressing themselves " because they 

 could not see what was invisible," they abandoned their labours 

 in despair. 



It remains to describe more fully the sketch, fig. 1, which I 

 have drawn partly to explain the manner in which Mr. Forster's 

 section was taken, by measuring the sinkings in different mines ; 

 juid also to show the general arrangement of the rocks and strata 

 beyond Mr. Forster's section. In a sketch of this kind extend- 

 ing more than one hundred miles, it was necessary to give the 

 elevation of the mountains on an enlarged scale. Had the same 

 horizontal and perpendicular proportions been retained, the 

 highest point could not be more than the 1 -20th of an inch 

 above the line LL, supposed to represent the level of the s«a. 

 Notwithstanding the disparity on the scales of proportion, I trust 

 the present sketch will convey a tolerably correct idea of the 

 physical stmcture of this part of England, which is all I propase. 

 I may be allowed to add, that I hope it will be received with 

 some indulgence, being the first attempt that I am acquainted 

 with to give a geological sketch of the succession of rocks across 

 the island from the Irish channel to the German ocean. 



The magnesian limestone A, which covers the east side of Dur- 

 ham, docs not extend far into Northumberland, but can be traced 

 in different situations along the coast; it has probably been 

 washed away, as there are existing records of the great encroach- 

 ments of the sea. By proceeding from B westward, the different 

 strata rise to the surface till we come to the limestone district 

 CC. The strata still continue to rise in the same direction, but 

 are occasionally broken by dykes, one of which (the Burtreeford 

 dyke X) has thrown down the strata on the west 160 yards. 

 The red sandstone D makes its appearance on descending the 



• Dr. MiicCullotl.. 



deep 



