﻿R. A. C. Godivln-Aaden — The Baring at Messrs. Meuxs. 475 



narrow band of coal-growth surface was, that it had resulted from a 

 contraction of the earth's crust in a south to north direction at some 

 time subsequent to the completion of the Palaeozoic series (Coal- 

 measures included), whereby along the line a series of east and west 

 undulations were produced, in the deepest or most considerable of 

 which, portions of the coal-growth surfaces became included, so as 

 to be preserved during the subsequent periods of denudation of the 

 surface. Prom the consideration of the physical features of a line of 

 country of elevation, and disturbance, which crossed the European 

 Continental area for 300 leagues, he had inferred that like results 

 were due to like causes here. The line of the Palaeozoic strata having 

 been conjecturally canied along close b}'' where it has just been 

 met with ; so it might reasonably be supposed that certain other 

 phenomena, which, in like manner, had resulted from the same 

 disturbances, should also correspond and serve for guidance. For 

 the present it had not been ascertained in what direction the highly 

 inclined Devonian strata at Tottenham Court Road were dipping 

 — a most important point in the considerations involved. 



It might safely be supposed that, from position, any Palgeozoic 

 rocks at such place must be trending east and west, and the oc- 

 currence might seem to be an isolated fact, but for other inferences 

 which tended to give it importance. The 653 feet of Chalk strata 

 were horizontal, or with only a very slight north dip. The 

 Devonian strata gone through dipped uniformly at about an angle of 

 30 degrees. The section, therefore, corresponded exactly with those 

 of the North of France. In Belgium and the North of France it was 

 on the south side of the Palneozoic trough that the high inclines 

 occurred, as it happened along the whole line from Liege to Toulon. 

 On the north the beds were flatter, and spread out wider. From 

 this it might be supposed that it was the north side of the trough 

 which was hit upon by Messrs. Meux ; and that it was a trough at 

 this place followed necessarily from the circumstance that the 

 beds so highly inclined were as low as the Devonian. Bearing 

 in mind that the whole of this part of Europe they were now 

 considering formed part of the area over which the Devonian or 

 Lower Carboniferous series preceded, or was overlaid by the Upper 

 or true Carboniferous formations, and that when they occurred the 

 other followed everywhere, the fact of the inclination of the beds at 

 Tottenham Court Road involved this — that the higher formations 

 must soon follow the Mountain Limestone on the Devonian, and the 

 Coal-measures on the Mountain Limestone. This reasoning applied 

 equally, whether the Devonian strata at Tottenham Court Road might 

 be dipping north or south : but thus much had been ascertained, that 

 London just overlies the edge of a great Coal-field, and the prob- 

 ability was that the Coal-field was to the north. What seemed to 

 suggest tl^at the Coal in this direction might have considerable ex- 

 tension was derived partly from a study of the geological features 

 of their own island, and partly from what was the case in Belgium. 

 It was dependent on what was the original form and extent of the 

 coal-growth surface, and in the places at which the greatest amounts 

 of contraction and subsequent denudation of the surface took place. 



