462 



has been partly recorded in your Transactions by Professor Sedg- 

 wick and myself. In the central and southern division of Scotland, 

 however, and in the coal-fields particularly, we yet require many de- 

 scriptions of large tracts, and some general work, which, embracing 

 all the country between the borders of England and the rise of the 

 Grampian chain, shall inform us whether the regular coal-measures 

 are based upon mountain limestone, or descend, as it is stated they 

 do, in northern Northumberland and in Berwickshire, into the old red 

 sandstone. 



The Reverend Dr. Fleming has, I learn, obtained a clear knowledge 

 of the complicated and disturbed coal-field of Fifeshire, and has ex- 

 tended his researches to the south-eastern flanks of the Grampians: 

 we may, therefore, look with confidence to the result of his observa- 

 tions, while we express our wishes that this able naturalist may further 

 have it in his power to describe the relations of the great trappaean 

 range of the Ochills. 



If, however, we are led to anticipate some correct views of the 

 northern edges of this great vale, we shall still be strikingly deficient 

 in data concerning its southern division. Although Nithsdale has 

 been described by Mr. Monteith,the older chain of the Lead Hills, and 

 all the surrounding groups of the transition series, still require much 

 detailed examination. Let us, therefore, hope that Profes or Jameson, 

 who has laboured to such good effect in the department of the un- 

 stratified and trappaean rocks, may, by his own efforts, and those of his 

 pupils, fill up these blanks in the secondary geology of his native 

 country. 



It is not, however, on the north side of the Tweed alone that defi- 

 ciencies exist. The English side of the Scottish border calls equally 

 for exploration; since we are still without any good account of the 

 porphyritic ridges of the Cheviots, although we may, I believe, expect 

 one from the pen of Mr. Culley. 



In England and Wales the difficulties attending the development 

 of the oldest sedimentary formations are, as you have seen, fast va- 

 nishing ; thanks to Professor Sedgwick, who, having fairly grappled 

 with this obscure yet indispensable branch of our subject, will shortly 

 lay before you the final results of many years of anxious labour. I have 

 endeavoured to extend, in the ascending order, these labours of my 

 friend, into the younger and morefossiliferous tracts upon the borders 

 of Wales, — to point out the formations into which they are divided, — 

 and to connect these with the old red sandstone and overlying depo- 

 sits. To the termination of this work I look with pleasure in the en- 

 suing summer. 



If we turn from these hitherto neglected western regions and 

 transport ourselves to the eastern shores, who does not perceive that 

 we are there without any complete history of the crag and younger 

 deposits ? The works of Mr. R. C.Taylor and others, though excellent 

 in their respective districts, are not of general application ; and inge- 

 nious as are the views of Professor Lyell, they are only drawn from 

 those parts of the coast which have fallen under his own observation. 

 Let me, therefore, entreat you to wipe away this imperfection from 



