Shore Formation of Corio Bay, near Geelong. 39 



requisite in oral statements when committed to writing, but 

 every fact remaining intact, as dictated by Mr. Latrobe to 

 his daughter. 



T now propose to briefly discuss the paper, and review the 

 causes, as suggested by Mr. Latrobe, in explanation of the 

 alleged facts as narrated. 



The hypothesis of the waters of Port Phillip Bay having 

 at one time been impounded to a height of 10 or more feet 

 above their present level, is set at rest by an examina- 

 tion of the shells (see note annexed) from the elevated beach 

 line; for if the waters were ever impounded, as suggested, the 

 gulph must have been a fresh water lake, and the shells 

 would be of the usual lacustrine character, common to such 

 waters ; but as the shells prove to be marine, it is clear 

 that the impounding theory must be abandoned. 



It must also be, I think, admitted, that with such an 

 extensive area of inland waters as those of Port Phillip, 

 any intermittent theory of alternate opening and closing, 

 according as the dry or wet seasons prevail, is untenable, 

 owing to the enormous scouring power existent in such a 

 channel when once opened out. 



The second hypothesis, of recent upheaval, is countenanced 

 by various facts known to exist along our coasts ; and some 

 years back this question was discussed by the members of 

 the Royal Society, in connection with the alleged elevated 

 coast lines at Williamstown. The upheaval theory accounts 

 for some of the difficulties ; but there are yet two serious 

 ones left, namely, the time and the causes required to produce 

 the deposit of the 15 feet above the old beach line, and the 

 additional elevation of 10 feet of the old beach above the 

 present sea level, in the period within which it is possible 

 that the keys could have lain there. 



Always supposing that Mr. Latrobe's examination of the 

 superincumbent strata was sufficiently minute to preclude 

 the possibility of the accidental lodging of the keys where 

 found, and dismissing as to the last degree improbable, the 

 possibility of Mr. Latrobe having allowed himself to be 

 imposed upon, the question naturally arises as to where the 

 keys could have come from originally, or by what means 

 could they have been lodged in such a locality at so remote 

 a period, as to allow of so great an accumulation above them 

 as described, namely, 15 feet. 



The earliest known visit to Port Phillip was about 1802, 

 and the time which has elapsed since then appears very 



