HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [133 



called primitive, that is, anterior to all other formation or change 

 on the earth's surface, this pretension will be defeated by the con- 

 sideration that coal lies under them ; and, consequently, that their 

 formation is posterior to that of coal. Under all circumstances, 

 (says Mr. Keir,) " I do not know any other mode of formation 

 that can be supported by analogy, excepting that by means of 

 matter ejected in a fluid state from the bowels of the earth, through 

 a chasm in its surface, whether that fluidity was the consequence 

 of fusion by fire, or of water mixed with the smaller particles 

 of earth ; after which ejection, the fluid matter may have been 

 consolidated, either by cooling, or by gradual evaporation and 

 drying." 



The formation of basaltic rocks has lately been a subject of con- 

 troversy with mineralogists, some of whom consider them as a lava 

 thrown out of volcanoes, and others as the produce of a watery de- 

 position ; and the advocates for these two opinions have been 

 called Vulcanists and Neptunists. Bergman ascribes the basaltic 

 matter to ejection from volcanoes, but not always as a lava melted 

 by fire, but a mass of earthy particles softened and diluted with 

 water, which afterwards has become dry and consolidated. 



The Rowley-stone is in large masses in the mountains, of a qua- 

 drilateral form, with perpendicular and horizontal joints or cracks, 

 standing on their edges ; but on the surface, and declivities, it is 

 confused in all directions. It has been accurately analysed by 

 Dr. Withering, who found that 1000 parts of it contained 475 parts 

 of siliceous earth, 325 argillaceous earth, and 200 calx of iron ; 

 but this iron seems to be in a very small degree of calcination from 

 the dark-blue colour of the stone, and from the rusty colour it 

 assumes on being exposed to air and water. 



The range of lime-stone hills extends from Dudley in the direc- 

 tion nearly of N.N.w. It consists of oblong hills of which the 

 west sides are the steepest : the most conspicuous are Dudley 

 Castle hill, Wrens-nest hill, and Sedgeley hill. The construction 

 of the two former is, that of several large beds of lime-stone stand- 

 ing at a very steep inclination, corresponding with the surface in 

 opposite directions, till they meet and rest against each other 

 along the summit or ridge of the hills : the elevation of these lime- 

 stone-hills is less than that of the hills of Rowley. The Birming- 

 ham canal summit, Wyrley and Essington canal, and Dudley 

 tunnel, form a level (varying only a few inches) of more than 40 

 miles in length ; this level is 500 feet perpendicular above the 



