16 SEASIDE DIVINITY. 



to the water's edge, and may enjoy the charms of 

 the seaside \ 



" in summer eve, 



When the broad shore retiring waters leave, 

 And all is calm at sea and still on land." 



On the other, all access to the water is imprac- 

 ticable, for it is often of profound depth, and it 

 never leaves the base of the cliffs. But ample 

 amends are made in the sublimity of the scenery, 

 and the extent of the view which from such 

 situations can be obtained. 



The variety of features thus presented to us in 

 the scenery of our sea-shores may be traced in a 

 great measure to peculiarities in their geological 

 structure. But there are other respects besides 

 form and outline in which the geology of our 

 shores modify their aspect. The vegetation, both 

 in its amount and its character, depends in a very 

 considerable degree on the nature and properties 

 of the soil ; and the soil in its turn is dependent 

 for its quality on the rocks and strata on which it 

 rests ; and hence the geology of any particular 

 district is concerned in modifying the character of 

 the vegetation. Thus the tameness or the sub- 

 limity of the scenery, and the scantiness or the luxu- 

 riance of the terrestrial plants by which the scenery 

 is adorned, may originate in the same cause; 



These remarks may to some extent be illustrated 

 even by a very general view of the geology of 

 Britain. The Tertiary formations are for the most 

 part spread along the eastern and south-eastern 

 maritime districts ; the formations of the Plutonic 

 rocks and the strata of greatest antiquity occur 



