Rev. J. Clifton Ward — Geology of the Lake District. 115 



chipped surface. One of the latter kind was found near the so- 

 called Druid's Circle, Keswick, and another by the side of Loughrigg 

 Tarn. The latter is 11 ins. long, 3J ins. broad, and 2 ins. deep; two 

 beautiful photographs, giving a front and side view of this splendid 

 specimen, have been presented to the Keswick Museum by Wheatley 

 Balme, Esq. ; the side view at once indicates the end used as a 

 handle, the presence of which would seem to show that this was 

 not merely an unfinished implement of the polished class, but was 

 used in its present chipped form ; and, indeed, the general shape of 

 the two kinds is tolerably distinct. Several of these old stone 

 implements of the district, and others of bronze, may be seen in the 

 Keswick Museum. 1 



"These celts are mostly formed of the highly altered, felstone-like 

 or flinty ash, which occurs so plentifully about Scafell. Eude stone 

 circles, and many remains of what appear to be stone pit-dwellings 

 occur (?). 2 The lakes, although examined in some cases at a very low 

 state of the water, have not yet yielded any relics of ancient pile- 

 dwellings. In later times the Roman occupation left its traces in 

 roads over lofty mountains, and scattered camps and settlements." 3 



Part II. — Chronology of the Lake District. 



I wish now to make an experiment, namely, to try whether, by 

 using the most reliable estimates yet made, (1) upon the rate of 

 deposition, (2) upon the rate of denudation, it be possible to draw up 

 a Chronology of the Lake District to place beside the ascertained 

 facts of History. I am sensible how uncertain are many of the 

 data, yet it is well for the geologist occasionally to take stock of 

 time, so far as he is able — that element in which he deals oftentimes 

 so freely, and at times even recklessly. 



For my purpose I shall avail myself of my friend Mr. Lloyd 

 Morgan's article upon " Geological Time " (Geological Magazine, 

 1878, p. 199), in which he has conveniently brought together 

 the estimates of various eminent geologists as to rates of deposition 

 and denudation. 



STciddaw Slate Period. — The deposits of this period, if not alto- 

 gether deltaic, are not far removed in character from such. We 

 have seen how large a proportion of them must have been laid down 

 in shallow water. If then we take iV of an inch per annum as the 

 average rate of deposition for deltaic sediments, and allow that 



1 I may here mention that this museum has been started with the hope of illus- 

 trating, as completely as possible, the Natural History of the district. Any belp 

 from naturalists visiting the country would be most gladly received, as the working 

 resources are somewhat limited. 



3 I have placed in the Keswick Museum of Local Natural History a map of the 

 District on the 1-inch scale, upon which are marked in different colours and patterns 

 (1) all pre-historic remains, (2) Eoman remains, (3) camps, etc., of uncertain age ; 

 and a detailed account of these will be found in a paper entitled " Notes on 

 Archaeological Eemains in the Lake District," published in the Transactions of 

 the Cumberland and "Westmoreland Antiquai-ian and Archaeological Societv, 

 1878, p. 241. 



3 Geology of the Northern Parts of the English Lake District, by the Author. 



