Geological Society. 149 



adds, are wanting in those at Brill; and the lower beds at each 

 locality are stated to be nearly the same, though not agreeing pre- 

 cisely in all their details. 



A paper was next read, entitled " Observations on the Cliff at 

 Reculver in Kent," by James Mitchell, LL.D., F.G.S. 



The object of this paper is twofold: 1st, It describes the geolo- 

 gical structure of the cliff; and 2nd, It gives a chronological account 

 of the changes which have taken place on this part of the coast of 

 Kent since the period of the Roman dominion. 



The cliff, described in the memoir, is situated between Reculver 

 and Heme Bay, and is about two miles in extent. The upper part, 

 where the beds are fully displayed, consists of about 35 feet of 

 mottled, brown and red clay ; and the lower part of about 50 feet 

 of sand, containing a layer of masses of sandstone. Fossils are stated 

 to be found only in the sand, and to belong chiefly to a species of 

 Venus. Sections are given of different parts of the cliff, and it is 

 shown that the strata dip gradually towards the west, the sandy por- 

 tion of the series sinking beneath the level of the shore, and being 

 replaced entirely by the clay. 



In tracing the history of the change on the line of the coast, the 

 author first draws attention to the present hydrography of the bed of 

 the Thames, and gives his reasons for concluding that many of the sand 

 banks now dry at low water, were formerly islands; and in additional 

 support of this opinion, mentions the large island which is laid 

 down in Ptolemy's map in the position of the present Margate sands. 



The author then states that historical documents, and inscriptions 

 on altars, prove that Reculver, or Regulbium, was at the period of 

 the Roman dominion a military station and a sea-port, and that the 

 Isle of Thanet was at that aera separated from the rest of Kent by a 

 navigable channel; that at the period of the Norman Conquest the 

 district of Reculver was one of the hundreds of Kent, though it 

 now forms only an obscure portion of the hundred of Bleangate ; 

 that in the reign of Henry VII. the channel between the Isle of 

 Thanet and Reculver was so far filled up as to permit a bridge to 

 be built, — but according to Leland, in the beginning of the reign of 

 Henry VIII., Reculver was then half a mile from the sea, or, in pro- 

 portion to other distances mentioned by him, about one mile ; that 

 in the year 1780. the wall of the Roman castrum, distant 80 yards 

 from the church, had been only lately taken down ; and lastly, that 

 about the beginning of the present century, the church itself was 

 abandoned as a place of worship, and would in all probability have 

 long since disappeared, but for the precaution taken by the Trinity 

 House to defend the cliff from further destruction. 



Dec. 18. — A paper, entitled " Notes on the Geology of the Brown 

 Clee Hill in Shropshire," by Rumley Wright, Esq., employed in the 

 Ordnance Survey, was first read. 



The base of the Brown Clee Hill is stated to consist of old red 

 sandstone, and the upper part of coal measures surmounted by 

 basalt. The top stratum of the sandstone is a conglomerate, and 

 the same formation contains two beds of nodular limestone or 



