1823.] the principal Mountain Chains of Europe. 137 



son. and Humboldt, all concur in assigning to the great mass of 

 the rothetodie/iegencle a position above the coal measures. As 

 that assertion has been questioned, I shall shortly support it by- 

 detailed quotations in their own words ; and I have only to 

 regret a controversy which renders inevitable a method of proof 

 that must necessarily occupy so many pages usually devoted to 

 much more interesting and valuable matter. 



I have thought it necessary thus far to explain the principles 

 on which I proceed in separating the consideration of the rothe- 

 todteliegende from the description of the continental coal 

 districts. 



A rock placed exactly in the situation of the rotheliegende 

 (that is, between the coal measures and magnesian lime), 

 is specified in Smith's map of Yorkshire, under the name of the 

 Pontefract rock. He classes it with the coal measures ; but the 

 course he assigns to it is unconformable to these, and conforma- 

 ble to the superjacent magnesian limestone. This rock ought to 

 be carefully examined and described. 



It should be observed that as the rocks overlying the coal 

 measures cover them unconformably throughout England, 

 instead of succeeding in a regular and conformable series, we 

 have no evidence that the highest beds of the coal fonnation are 



~n trrnnende formationeu" as two very nearly allied formations, but nevertheless dis- 

 tinct, from each other ; and, conformably with this view, he carefully distinguishes cer- 

 tain coal seams which, according to him, actually are subordinate to the rotheliegende 

 from the true coal formation. " My observations," he states, " lead to the conclusion, 

 that a part of the beds hitherto referred to the coal formation (properly so called) might 

 to be separated from that formation, and regarded as subordinate to the rotheliegende. 

 " Ein theil dcr Usher zu den cigentlichcn Stein kohlcn gebirgen gerechnetcn Steinkohlen 

 fosse von solchen abzitsondem, and dan rotldicgendcn unterzuordncn lit." Mr. Wea- 

 ver has suffered himself to be misled by neglecting to advert to the circumstance, that 

 the passages he has quoted from Freisleben, as proving that the coal formation gene rally 

 is included in the rotheliegende, have no kind of reference to the " eigentlicheii Stein- 

 kohlengebirgen," the proper coal formation, but are confined to that part of the series 

 *hus carefully separated from it by that author on account of this very position. The 

 cause that seems to have led to this misconception is, that the two formations being con- 

 terminous, the true coal formation, and these subordinate beds, often occur nearly in the 

 same localities. A careful collation of the map accompanying Freisleben's work with 

 his text removes in the most convincing manner this source of confusion. 



The plan of Freisleben's work does not extend to the coal formation properly so called. 

 I should add that the passages above cited from Freisleben are not incidental notices ; 

 but form the express declaration of his opinion on this point deliberately pronounced in 

 the section dedicated to the consideration of the relations to which they refer. 



I refer to the account of the environs of Glatz by Von Buch for his testimony in this 

 controversy. Dr. Anderson's notes in this translation of that work will convince Mr. 

 Weaver that I am not singular (as he appears to suppose) in my interpretation of Freis- 

 leben's sentiments, but have the authority of those best versed in the geological writings 

 of Germany. 



Freisleben cites from an author (Karsten) who classes the coal and rotheliegende toge- 

 ther as subordinate members of one great sandstone formation, the following enumera- 

 tion of the several beds included by him in that formation, taken in an ascending order. 

 1. Conglomerate of ancient rocks. '2. Siliceous conglomerate. 3 to 8. Coal sandstone 

 and shale. 9. Trap rocks. 10. Clay ironstone. II. Rotheliegende. 12. WeLss- 

 liegende. Now if we look among these rocks for the representative of our own old 

 red sandstone, it must be sought in Numbers 1 and 2, not in Number 1 1. 



