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Hundreds of instances leading to a like conclusion (on a less 

 scale indeed, and therefore perhaps the less impressive,) may be 

 found among the phenomena of our island*. 



If indeed we were to admit a period of intense volcanic violence, 

 and a sudden elevation of the Scandinavian chain, we might then 

 have a cause commensurate to the effects observed, and in the rush 

 of the retiring waters we might explain the transport of those great 

 boulders which lie scattered over the northern plains of Europe. 

 But in the speculations I am combating, all great epochs of eleva- 

 tion are systematically, and I think unfortunately, excluded. Vol- 

 canic action is essentially paroxysmal ; yet Mr. Lyell will admit no 

 greater paroxysms than we ourselves have witnessed — no periods of 

 feverish spasmodic energy, during which the very framework of 

 nature has been convulsed and torn asunder. The utmost move- 

 ments that he allows are a slight quivering of her muscular integu- 

 ments. 



But if we have proofs of the violation of continuity among our 

 most recent deposits, still more impressive are the proofs as we 

 descend in the geological series. Every observer is aware that we 

 often pass, without any intermediate gradations, from systems of 

 strata which are horizontal, to other systems which are highly in- 

 clined. This is a fact independent of hypothesis ; but it is now 

 almost universally admitted, that the highly inclined strata have 

 undergone a movement of elevation. Using then the language 

 of this hypothesis (to say the least of it a convenient mode of de- 

 scribing the phenomena) — we affirm that the inclined strata have 

 been elevated at a time anterior to the existence of the horizontal 

 strata which abut against them, or rest upon their edges. And if 

 the ages of the inclined and horizontal strata be defined, we also 

 necessarily define the period of the elevation. 



This kind of reasoning has for some years been familiar to the 

 geologists of Europe. Mr. Webster endeavoured to prove that the 

 Isle of Wight had been upset after the period of the London clay, 

 and before that of the lacustrine rock marl. Every one now admits, 

 (and indeed it is made the foundation of one of the classifications 

 of Mr. Conybeare,) that our carboniferous chains were elevated 

 before the period of the new red sandstone. 



But the researches of M. Elie de Beaumont, to which I now wish 

 to direct your attention, have given a vast extension to the obser- 

 vations of all those who had gone before him. And before I pro- 

 ceed I cannot but lament that persons, who have not perhaps com- 

 prehended the meaning of this admirable observer, should have 

 nibbled at the originality of his discoveries ; as if the very essence 

 of philosophical discovery did not often consist in bringing to a 

 point all the scattered lights of former observations, and giving 

 generalization to insulated phenomena. 



* The diluvial phenomena of this country are so well known, that it is 

 perhaps unnecessary to appeal to them : but I wish to refer the reader to the 

 papers of Sir James Hall (published in the Edinburgh Transactions), for some 

 very remarkable proofs of the action of diluvial currents in the neighbour 

 hood of Edinburgh. 



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