280 Mr. Robberds on the former Level of the German Oceaji, 



ing these circumstances, the only point which is left unsettled 

 by the former, is decided by the latter, and the whole scheme 

 becomes clear and uniform ; but by pei'sisting in keeping them 

 separate, we are bewildered in a maze of inexplicable mysti- 

 cism, and embarrassed amidst a chaos of imaginary strata and 

 supposititious diluvian remains. So also by pursuing these 

 principles, the subsequent conversion of this aestuary into a 

 range of solid and productive land, exhibits the continued ad- 

 vance of the same operation ; its progress displays the result 

 of the same immutable laws ; it marks another stage in the 

 same consistent and uninterrupted process ; it connects the 

 changes of all past times with the recent creations of the 

 present day. 



It is then very evident that during this revolution, the re- 

 treating waters must for a season have been confined within 

 the circuit of the valleys ; and whatever deposits were formed 

 at that time, cannot of course extend beyond the same space. 

 Hence, if we find deposits that are actually restricted within 

 those limits, the legitimate inference is, that they belong to 

 that period and were collected under the circumstances just 

 described. I have already shown the total want of the neces- 

 sary proofs, to identify or connect the shelly beds of the Nor- 

 folk valleys with any others on higher grounds, or in posi- 

 tions that indicate an earlier origin ; it now therefore only re- 

 mains for me to make it appear manifest, that they do termi- 

 nate on the sides of the hills which skirt the valleys. This 

 point is in fact substantially admitted by Mr. Taylor ; for he 

 allows that "the chalk rises above the level of the highest crag 

 deposits;" that these deposits " rarely rise to 80 feet above 

 the present level of the sea, and in general not viore than half 

 that elevation f and that after tracing them in the valley of 

 the Yare, " it is chiefly on desceiiding again into the other val- 

 leys of this district, that fresh proofs present themselves" In con- 

 sidering these statements we must remember, that Mr. Taylor 

 universally refers to the Crag stratum of other writers every 

 layer of shells that comes under his own observation. If then 

 we divest his accounts of the erroneous colouring given to 

 them by this misconception, what tei'ms can describe more 

 explicitly the very facts to which I have appealed ? They ac- 

 knowledge that these beds of shells do not extend over the 

 high grounds — that their general elevation is 40 feet above the 

 level of the sea — and that they are confined to those valleys 

 over which the ancient aestuary flowed. In more than one in- 

 stance I have also ascertained the positive fact, that the upper 

 stratum of these shells is nothing more than a narrow belt, 



superficially 



