300 Mr. R. C. Taylor on the Natural Embankments formed 



the greater portion of the basin which these waters once ex- 

 clusively occupied. In this view, the assistance which the pro- 

 cess received from the alluvium of the adjacent high grounds, 

 the deposits by land-floods, and the final covering of peat, was 

 estimated to the utmost probable extent of those contributing 

 causes. It is agreed that a solid substance has been substi- 

 tuted ibr a fluid; the surface of which solid substance, in- 

 cluding these accretions, is ascertained to be below the level 

 both of the adjacent rivers and of the ocean. Those ancient 

 receptacles, formerly filled with water, are now occupied, to 

 the depth of from 10 to 20 feet, with that description of de- 

 posit common to all rivers which pass through a diluvial 

 country, and which open upon a coast whose soft and move- 

 able base is continually affected by the waves. The original 

 arms of the sea are now contracted into streams, which re- 

 ceiving but little accession from the tides, are well adapted for 

 conveying the upland waters, and for the passage of a valuable 

 internal trade. Some of the small lakes have been drained^ 

 and partially converted to pasturage in our own days: the 

 margins of the Broads are gradually contracting ; even Oulton 

 Broad, which has been thought an exception, is unquestionably 

 diminishing through the foi'mation of peat, which stretches by 

 slov.' but perceptible degrees over its retired recesses. That 

 Lake Lothing and other similarly circumstanced lakes are 

 the last to silt up, is mainly attributable to their having now 

 no currents loaded with muddy particles passing through them: 

 they have thus been preserved from one of the most active 

 agents in filling such reservoirs. From the earliest period 

 there evidently existed a tendency to deposit oozy matter in 

 the valleys, which tendency was materially increased, when, by 

 the subsequent operations of natui'e, the outlets against the 

 sea were narrowed. Notwithstanding the calculations on the 

 relative specific gravities of earth and water, which, without a 

 due consideration of all the circumstances, have been set in 

 array against this hypothesis, I am satisfied that the bottoms 

 of the valleys have been raised through such an agency. 

 Against all the arguments which ingenuity can devise to the 

 contrary, must be set the simple truth, that the process has 

 gone on, to a considerable degree, from time immemorial, 

 on various parts of this and other shores ; and that it is still 

 going on, and may be daily witnessed, to the fullest extent 

 that my suggested system demands. This tendency of turbid 

 waters, when in a state of comparative quiescence, to deposit 

 the substances they hold suspended, is converted to the bene- 

 fit of the land-owner in abundance of instances ; some of them 

 even on the coast of Norfolk ; and, in the words of one of the 

 parties, has proved a mine of wealth to those who have availed 



themselves 



