443 



further support of these views, they state that the raised beach of 

 Barnstaple Bay, forms only one of a connected series of phenomena, 

 all tending to demonstrate the same conclusion, viz. the occasional 

 changes of high-water level, both in the way of elevation and depres- 

 sion, within a comparatively recent period. They point out the 

 conditions under which raised beaches (admitting their hypothesis) 

 may or may not be expected ; and they affirm that there is a con- 

 nected series of phenomena both on the north and south coasts of 

 Devonshire and Cornwall, in perfect accordance with what they have 

 described. The raised beach of Hope's Nose is the most striking in- 

 stance in South Devon ; and they bear witness to the correctness of 

 Mr. Austen's description of it, and to the justice of hisconclusions. On 

 the coasts of Cornwall phenomena of like kind are very numerous. 

 Not only is there incontrovertible proof of raised beaches at various 

 levels, but in some places long smooth waterworn surfaces, exactly 

 like those formed by the existing breakers of a rocky shore, may 

 be traced midway in the clifiF, at an elevation quite out of the reach 

 of t)ie cause which formed them. 



Lastly, the authors enter on some details as to the quantity of ele- 

 vation, proved by the phenomena of recent marine deposits in differ- 

 ent parts of England. They state that the raised beaches of South 

 Devon and Cornwall indicate various changes of level, from ten to 

 forty feet, the phenomena of depression, of which there are examples, 

 not being considered. That the greatest elevation in North Devon 

 seems to have been about 70 feet, while in Lancashire, Cheshire, and 

 Shropshire, thereare marine deposits, containing also shells of existing 

 species, at various elevations of from 300 to 500 feet. The intensity 

 of elevatory force seems therefore to have increased towards the north, 

 and perhaps reached its maximum among the Cumbrian raountainsj 

 from which enormous masses of materials have drifted in various well- 

 known directions. 



The country of Siluria and South Wales, the detritus of which was 

 described by Mr. Murchison on a former occasion, is of course spe- 

 cially exempted from the application of this inference j since that re- 

 gion has been shown to have been elevated at an antecedent period*. 



On the same evening, after the ordinary business of the Society 

 had terminated, a Special General Meeting was held for the purpose of 

 electing two Secretaries in the place of William John Hamilton, Esq., 

 and Woodbine Parish, jun. Esq., who had retired from the office ; the 

 former in consequence of his continued absence from England, and 

 the latter from being unable to attend the meetings of the Society. 



The President having read the By-Law (Sec. XL art. 5.) respect- 

 ing the resignation of any officer during the interval between two suc- 

 cessive Annual General Meetings, and the election of another to sup- 



* Geol. Proceedings, Vol. IL p. 77. 



