304 Mr. R. C. Taylor on the Embankments of the German Ocean. 



ence, and candid inquiry, will notunfrequently tend, and con- 

 sequently how essential to geological speculations is the pre- 

 vious collection and strict examination of facts. 



It will be remembered that the subject of debate was, not 

 so much the level of the ocean, as the validity of the proofs 

 contained within, and adduced from, the district under con- 

 sideration, and an examination of those data which were urged 

 as strong indications of the gradual depression of the waters. 

 Possessing much local acquaintance with the field of inquiry, 

 I entered into the discussion with some confidence ; and the 

 evidence being unsupported by facts drawn from a wider 

 range of observation, the investigation appeared, as indeed it 

 professed, restricted to this district peculiarly. 



When in pursuance of the plan sketched by Mr. Robberds, 

 the proofs selected from other shores and from more distant 

 regions are arranged, we shall possess better and more abun- 

 dant criteria by which to form our judgement : a more extended 

 and interesting field will be opened to our contemplation, and 

 the opinions of the author will be more satisfactorily developed. 



I shall not weaken the interest which a consideration of the 

 prominent features of this discussion has created, by combating 

 minor points of difference ; being unwilling to appear too te- 

 nacious in subordinate details. I am well content to leave it 

 to the decision of those, whose judgement in matters of science 

 we are accustomed to respect. Whatever that decision may 

 be, we shall have had the mutual satisfaction of contributing, 

 through the medium of an amicable controversy, and apart 

 from its speculative poi-tions, to a more accurate knowledge of 

 the physical circumstances of this district. 



[It is interesting to trace the origin of certain local terms, and to ob- 

 serve their connection with the Northern maritime nations. Thus the 

 Meals or sand ridges on the north coast of Norfolk evidently have their name 

 from the same source with the Teutonic and Islandic mal, Swedish vuilja, 

 Dutch moeilje, a pier or mole-head, Ang.-Sax. mccl. Germ, mahl, a boundary. 



The etymology of Man-am has been mentioned in a previous note. 



The Rands or Ronds, described at p. 352, vol. i. as being the spaces be- 

 tween the rivers and their embankments in these valleys, derive their name 

 from the Teutonic Rand, an edge, brink, or margin. Bishop Wilkins says 

 that rand means flank, in which sense it is applied to a part of beef and to 

 the welt of a shoe. 



The appellation Denes for the sandy alluvial tracts next the sea on the 

 Norfolk coast, corresponds with Dunes, Diiipien, used by the French and 

 Flemish for those on the opposite coast. Thus Duynkerke (Dunkirk) de- 

 rives its name from the church originally founded on the Denes on the 

 first establishment of that town. 



The etymology of Breydon is more doubtful ; perhaps from its contiguity 

 to the Denes, like the Flemish Bredene near Ostend : or from the Saxon 

 Bradan or BrcEdene, broad.] 



Note. — The Maps in the Plate arc on the following scales : Fig. 1 . at 1 mile 

 to an inch ; fig. 2 & .3. J mile to an inch ; fig. 4. 2 miles to an inch. 



LI. Pro- 



