1838.] GEOLOGY. 297 



but the extension of any view over such large spaces, from 

 comparatively few facts, must be received with much caution. 

 I do not myself the least doubt that within the recent (or 

 as you, much to my annoyment, would call it, "New 

 Pliocene ") period, tortuous bands not all the bands parallel 

 to each other have been elevated and corresponding ones 

 subsided, though within the same period some parts probably 

 remained for a time stationary, or even subsided. I do not 

 believe a more utterly false view could have been invented 

 than great straight lines being suddenly thrown up. 



When my book on Volcanoes and Coral Reefs will be pub- 

 lished I hardly know ; I fear it will be at least four or five 

 months ; though, mind, the greater part is written. I find so 

 much time is lost in correcting details and ascertaining their 

 accuracy. The Government Zoological work is a millstone 

 round my neck, and the Glen Roy paper has lost me six 

 weeks. I will not, however, say lost ; for, supposing I can 

 prove to others' satisfaction what I have convinced myself is 

 the case, the inference I think you will allow to be important. 

 I cannot doubt that the molten matter beneath the earth's 

 crust possesses a high degree of fluidity, almost like the sea 

 beneath the block ice. By the way, I hope you will give me 

 some Swedish case to quote, of shells being preserved on the 

 surface, but not in contemporaneous beds of gravel. . . . 



Remember what I have often heard you say : the country 

 is very bad for the intellects ; the Scotch mists will put out 

 some volcanic speculations. You see I am affecting to 

 become very Cockneyfied, and to despise the poor country- 

 folk, who breathe fresh air instead of smoke, and see the 

 goodly fields instead of the brick houses in Marlborough 

 Street, the very sight of which I confess I abhor. I am glad 

 to hear what a favourable report you give of the British 

 Association. I am the more pleased because I have been 

 fighting its battle with Basil Hall, Stokes, and several others, 

 having made up my mind, from the report in the Athenaum, 



