024 Correspondence, 



We do not know for certain that any stream lias run through the 

 valley. 



Therefore it is less incredible to assume that the sea cut out the 

 valley than that it was made by a stream. In a like strain, a stranger, 

 unacquainted with the antiquity of the valley, might urge. 



We know that Mr. Hull, heavily shod and armed with a ponderous 

 hammer, after the manner of field-geologists, has been often seen in 

 the neighbourhood of what is now the A^ale of Todmorden. 



We do not know for certain that any stream has run through the 

 valley. 



It is, therefore, less incredible that the valley should have been 

 excavated by Mr. Hull than that it should have been hollowed out by 

 a stream. 



I do not say that Mr. Hull's argument is as absurd as this ; but 

 both break clown for the same reason, because both involve a 

 tacit assumption — the one, that the sea, and the other, that my. 

 worthy colleague, is capable of performing the task assigned to him. 



Indeed, it seems quite to have escaped Mr. Hull that before the 

 claims of sea against river can be entertained at all, we must show 

 that sea and river can both cut out valleys like those described ; we 

 must be able to point to valleys excavated by the sea alone, as well 

 as to valleys hollowed out by rivers ; and, having thus shown that a 

 ^priori, it is an open question whether the sea or a river has been the 

 cause of any given valley, other considerations, like those brought 

 forward by Mr. Hull, come in to decide which of the two has the 

 better claim. 



In short, the first clause of the argument wants to rmi thus : 



We know that the sea has been over the ground now occupied by 

 the vale of Todmorden, and tve can also point to cases of lihe valleys 

 which have undoubtedly been hollowed out by the sea. 



Mr. Hull has tacitly assumed the important part in italics ; and, 

 if he were justified in doing so, his conclusions would legitimately 

 follow : but I utterly deny that the above would be a true statement 

 of the case in the present state of our knowledge ; we are told, on 

 good authority, of valleys which can be due only to stream-action — 

 witness those of Auvergue ; but where shall we find a long, narrow, 

 winding inlet which has been undoubtedly cut out by the sea alone ? 



The ungrounded assumption, which I have noticed, is so constantly 

 made, that I have thought it worth while to dwell on the subject at 

 length, and have left no room for the more agreeable task of confirm- 

 ing, from other sources, the accuracy of Mr. Hull's facts, and en- 

 deavouring to give some explanation of the difficulties they offer : 

 but this I hope to attempt before long. 



I am, Sir, yours obediently, 



A. H. Gkeen. 



116, DoDwoETH Road, Baunsley, 

 October lOth, 1866. 



