48 ON CHANGES IN THE DISPOSITION 



line is now higher here than it was once; and similar 

 alterations have been ascertained on other parts of the 

 eastern coast, proving, that within a time which can- 

 not however he fixed, the general level of the German 

 ocean has been raised on our shores, and probably 

 therefore on the opposite ones : though, as the land 

 itself varies in height, this does not necessarily follow. 

 But as I shall soon show that this very sea line was 

 formerly higher, there must have been a succession of 

 changes in it, in opposite directions ; the first, of 

 which we have any evidence, consisting in an apparent 

 depression, and the last in an elevation of the 

 sea. Thus are illustrated the similar changes said 

 to have occurred on the coast of Holland and on 

 that of Lincolnshire; where the facts prove that the 

 sea formerly reached far inland, while it afterwards re- 

 tired, to rise again. And this last change, consisting 

 in the elevation of the sea line, is not limited to our 

 eastern coast; if we may trust to similar evidence on 

 the western, furnished by the submerged forests of 

 Mann and Somersetshire. 



It is certainly possible that this apparent elevation 

 of the sea may arise from the depression of the land, 

 as appears to be the case in the Mediterranean; but 

 Mr. Playfair, who has principally defended this view, 

 seems strangely to have excluded that cause with 

 which, as a mathematician, he must have been fami- 

 liar, while otherwise consistent with his views respect- 

 ing submarine deposits. He very properly remarks, 

 that in an ocean at rest, the sea must find a common 

 level, and no such partial elevation could be sensible; 

 but when he overlooks the obvious hydrostatical con- 

 sequences resulting from the propulsion of the tide 

 streams through diminishing channels, we can only 

 explain the oversight by an anxiety respecting a fa- 



