MantelVs Fossils of the South Do'-jcns. 213 



" Hence it appears, that in the lapse of ages, the sea alter- 

 nately encroaches on, and retreats from the land, and the di- 

 stricts it formerly occupied become the habitation of terrestrial 

 animals and vegetables ; — but other revolutions succeed, the sea 

 returns to its ancient bed, and the countries from vi'hich it retires 

 are again fitted for the reception of their former inhabitants." 



IMr. Mantell has previously given an account of the present 

 effects of the ocean on the Sussex coast. On this subject, he 

 says, " The present operation of the sea seems to be wholly 

 incapable of producing the important changes that have for- 

 merly taken place, and on the Sussex coast they are restricted 

 to a gradual but constant destruction of the strata which com- 

 pose its shores. 



" The encroachments of the sea along the coast of Sussex, 

 have continued incessantly from time unmemorial ; and when 

 so considerable as to have occasioned sudden inundations, or 

 overwhelmed fertile or inhabited tracts, have been noticed in 

 our historical records. In the Taxatio Ecclesiastica Anglice 

 ct Wullice, auctoritate P. Nicholas, (A.D. 1292,) and Nonarum 

 iiiquisitiones i?i curia scaccarii, (A.D. 1340,) the following no- 

 tices occur of the losses sustained by the action of the sea 

 between the years 1260 and 1340; a period of only eighty 

 years *. 



"At Pett, marsh land overflowed by the sea; the tithes of 

 which were valued at two marks per annum. 



" Iklesham and Ryngermersh, lands of which the tithes 

 were 495. 8<^. per annum. 



*' Thornye, 20 aci"es of arable, and 20 aci"es of pasturage. 



" Selseye, much arable land. 



" Felpham, 60 acres of land. 



" Middlcton, 60 acres. 



" Brighthelmston, 40 acres. 



" Aldington, 40 acres. 



" Portsiade, 60 acres. 



" Lancing, land the tithes of which were 44s. 6r/. per ann. 



" Siddlcshaui and Wcstwytliering, nnich land. 



" Houve, 150 acres. 



" Terringe, land, the tillie valued at 65. 8^7. per aniuuu. 



" Bernham, 40 acres. 



" I leas, 400 acres. 



" Bred(!, great ))art of the marsh called Gabberglies. 



*' Saleliurst and Udiincr, land the tithes of wliich were va- 

 lued at 40.S'. per annum. 



" At Brighton, the inroads of the sea have been very exten- 



* I was favourctl witli this notice I •}■ tlic late Thomas Woollgar, Esq. of 

 Lcwcs. 



