118 Mr. P. I. Martin's Observations on the Anticlinal Line,4'C. 



Here is an operation which, singly considered, bespeaks a 

 uniform and simultaneous action along a line of country of 

 200 miles extent, with a totality so complete, and a harmony 

 of parts so consistent, as to amount to direct proof of unity of 

 cause. But these appearances not only harmonize with each 

 other, and with operations which may be pi-oved to be con- 

 temporaneous ; they agree also with the universal phasnomena 

 of structural derangement. Everywhere we observe protru- 

 sion and subsidence, denudation and erosion, going hand in 

 hand. In all parts of the globe we find longitudinal valleys 

 surmounted by scarped extremities, or basset-edges of broken 

 strata; river-courses taking the lines of the original rents of 

 rocks, and intersecting their mountain ranges by transverse 

 valleys to which these fissures have given origin. Does one 

 portion of these broken masses protrude through others, — if 

 it be rocky and indurated, and resist the action of denudation, 

 we see a range of hills, or an " outlier-by-protrusion," — if it 

 be soft and destructible, we have a " valley of elevation." 

 The loftiest peaks are but the denuded or protruded extremi- 

 ties of fissured masses*, and whole continents only the shat- 

 tered tops of ridges whose bases are hid beneath the waves. 



It is difficult to quit this subject without reverting to the 

 probable, naj', indubitable connection of convulsion with di- 

 luvian action. Dislocations as great, as widely extended, 

 and of the same character as these which we contemplate, are 

 everywhere to be met with ; and their contemporiety is al- 

 most established by their community of character. They can 

 scarcely be regarded in the light with which we are accus- 

 tomed to view the operations of even volcanic forces, in times 



main uncombined in anything like anintelligible and systematic form. The 

 modern sons of the Difidalus of Geology are in little danger of singeing their 

 wings. The exceptions to the general timidity are few, but they encou- 

 rage a hope that we are not 



" Dooni'd to dwell in specialities for ever,-" 

 and that the work of generalization will not be left, most unpatriotically, 

 to the livelier perceptions of our neighbours, to be caught up and hap- 

 pily codified for general use, and appropriated by any other name than 

 English. 



This is not spoken invidiously : the gre.at attainments and greater in- 

 dustry of the French naturalists are beyond all praise. But the spirit of 

 distrust hovers over the councils of English geology. Curiosity is re- 

 pressed till a violent and injurious reaction is threatened ; and for want 

 of better lights, men begin to indulge in speculations as wild as the fancies 

 of Whiston or the conceits of Butfon ; or, what is almost as bad, stop 

 short at the last " Theory of the Earth," and believe that to be con- 

 clusive. 



* Putting out of question here those matters which can be proved to 

 have possessed fluidity at the time of emission. 



of 



