72 DESCRIPTION OF THE COAST. 



reader will find no great reason to doubt that Dr. Buckland's opin- 

 ions on the diluvian date of rallies cut through stratified rocks, are 

 generally correct. 



Beyond the Danish dike, the cliff top continues at the same height 

 to a little gully which descends from the village of Flamborough, but 

 further on it rises greatly to the beacon, which is above one hundred 

 and ninety feet from high water. This great augmentation of height 

 is not owing to any sudden change of dip in the chalk, but to an un- 

 common abundance of the diluvial matter which covers it. Around the 

 beacon are several large boulders of granite, greenstone, fine-grained 

 sandstone, &c. not less than three quarters of a ton in weight. Much 

 chalk rubble is mixed with the diluvium of these cliffs. Descending by 

 a rapid slope to the south landing-place of the Flamborough fishing- 

 boats, we observe here, as at Danes' dike, the chalk strata deeply 

 excavated beneath a thick cover of chalk rubble and diluvial clay.* 

 The chalk rubble and other gravel here, is often agglutinated into solid 

 blocks. Beyond the south landing-place, the cliff, gradually bending 

 round to the west, attains in one place the height of one hundred and 

 thirty-six feet, and is mostly composed of solid chalk. Further on, 

 where the chalk is depressed, and the diluvial clay thickened upon it. 

 the cliffs are wasted by the sea, in a very remarkable manner : broad 

 and lofty arches appear in the projecting masses, caves are formed, which 

 open upwards to the day, and romantic islets of chalk are surrounded by 

 the full swell of the waves. These appearances continue from the first 

 pillar, called the Matron, to Selwicks bay, beneath the light-house ; and 

 the cliffs are decidedly most broken where the chalk is least elevated. 

 The light-house appears to stand one hundred and sixty feet above the 



* Is it not probable, that such a valley was excavated by the retiring diluvial waters, (per descen- 

 sum,) and that, as the force diminished, accumulations of clay and pebbles took place, and raised 

 incessantly the bed of the current, till, all the accumulations having ceased, the stream which con- 

 tinued to flow reversed the operation, and cut its narrow passage deeper ? This only requires an 

 admission that the diluvial currents were of long continuance in the same directions. 



