1825.] Mr. Webster s Rept^ to Dr. Fitton. 33 



Article VIII. 



Reply to Dr. Fittoii's Paper in the " Annals of Fhilosop/if for 

 November, entitled " Inrjuiries respecting the Geological Rela- 

 tions of the Beds between the Chalk and the Pnrbeck Limestone in 

 the South-east of England" By T. Webster, Esq. Sec. G. S. 

 (^Vilh a Plate.) 



(To the Editors of the Annals of Philosophy.) 



GEXTLE3IEN, Novemler 4, 1824. 



It Avas with some surprise that I read a paper by Dr. Fitton 

 in the Annals for November, since it appears to point out as tlie 

 present state of my knowledge some letters written by me 

 13 years ago on the subject of geology. Although my profes- 

 sional avocations ill admit of the sacrifice of time, yet I cannot, 

 ill justice to myself, pass by entirely unnoticed some observa- 

 tions in that paper ; and should i appear tedious in my reply, I 

 must crave the indulgence of your readers, since it is obvious, 

 that a few words may depreciate, but that to remove the im- 

 pression thus produced, many are often required. 



Dr. Fitton observes, that the " geological relations of the beds 

 of sand and clay, which are interposed between the chalk and 

 ihe Purbeck limestone, have been of la.te the subject of consi- 

 derable discussion :" but as he does not state what was the par- 

 ticular matter in dispute, and since the general reasoning in his 

 paper rests upon his assuming that as decided which was the 

 very thing discussed though not delennined, it is not astonishing- 

 that he should have arrived at the conclusion, that the ar- 

 rangement and names which I have adopted for the beds in 

 ihe Isle of Wight are erroneous. 



Perhaps this discussion should have been confined where it 

 originated, among a few members of the Geological Society, 

 until, by a more correct examination, than has been hitherto 

 made, ot the whole of this part of the series of English strata, 

 the question should have been determined ; yet (anxious only 

 for the truth), I can have no objection to the tribunal before 

 which it has been brought, well knowing it to be alwatjs just, 

 when the fads are laid before it. Had I been previously 

 acquainted with Dr. Fitton's intention of publishing on this sub- 

 ject, 1 might have been spared the duty of pointing out some 

 misstatements respecting myself, which could have originated 

 only in the haste vviiich he appears to have been in. 



As some apology, however, fur thus occupying the public 

 attention, 1 think it probable that this will ultimately prove use- 

 ful to the cause of geology, by illustrating some points extremely 

 important but hitherto obscure, and attended to by a few persons 

 only. 



New S el-it's, vol,. i\. It 



