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as the roots in the lowest part of the soil, even eight or more 

 feet below the surface, are in their natural position, showing no 

 distortion, we must conclude that their situs was above the high 

 water line, and that the subsidence has been so gradual that the 

 growth of the plants has never been interrupted. 



Roots and stumps of trees, often three feet in diameter, are 

 found in the marsh soil, but always at the bottom, with wide 

 spread horizontal ramifications, indicating a growth on the spot 

 on a thin soil then covering the strata of sand. These are 

 almost always in the natural position of growth. This indi- 

 cates that the soil was then above high water mark. They are 

 mostly of a variety of white cedar. 



In further proof of its subsidence, we find the salt marsh at 

 low water mark, on the outer side of Long Beach, which con- 

 nects, for a mile and a half, Lynn with Nahant, and in this soil 

 we still find stumps of trees' in their natural position. The 

 marsh here is ten feet below the level at vfhich the grasses 

 which bind it together, and form its principal element, could 

 have lived. Undoubtedly the marsh formation underlies the 

 whole of this beach. That it also, at one time covered most o^ 

 the area of Lynn harbor, is probable from the fact that stumps 

 apparently in their natural position are still found in many 

 places. 



That the sea has encroached on this marsh, washing off large 

 patches, is still within the memory and observation of many of 

 our old inhabitants. The Nahant and Chelsea beaches have 

 both moved landward. The progress of the latter is clearly 

 seen, by a line of posts now appearing below the ridge of the 

 beach, which was set for a fence, within its borders on the marsh. 



The Saugus River flows through this marsh, for about a 

 mile and a half, and in most of the course has a' deep channel, 

 deeper than the present amount of water would appear to 

 require. Was not this channel formed when the land was at a 

 higher level ? The current of the river would keep it open 

 after being once formed. 



The clay bed, before mentioned, also extends under the 

 diluvian of the level portion of the town to the foot of the hills, 

 more than a mile from the sea. Near the hills it is above high 

 water level, and from thence has a slight dip towards the sea, 

 which brings its out-crop at the beach and in the harbor, from 

 five to fifteen feet lower. Below this clay bed, whicji is on an 

 averaige about six feet in thickness, the diluvium is filled with a 

 current of clear water, which shows itself in numerous springs 

 below the tide line. This water can be obtained at any point by 

 boring through the clay, and in the lower parts of the city flows 



