OF THE LEVEL OF THE SEA. 63 



Similar phenomena have been observed in Jura, Mull, 

 and Isla, at elevated levels, as well as at that of our present 

 seas, and they furnish, as Mr M'Culloch observes, " the 

 most perfect record which geology affords of the wasting- 

 action of the sea upon the land.'"* After remarking that 

 the destroying causes of such as are found on our present 

 shores are so obvious that it would be superfluous to point 

 them out, he offers the following speculations on the origin 

 of those in question. " The other case, that of outstand- 

 ing inland dykes, such as those of Cumbray, and the more 

 conspicuous examples in Isla and Mull, is more difficult of 

 explanation ; it is equally evident, however, even in these 

 two instances, that the surrounding strata must once have 

 existed at least at the same level as the summits of the pre- 

 sent dykes. Nor can any obvious causes now be traced by 

 the operation of which so great a removal of land has been 



poses. That interpretation, which admits, to the fullest extent, the 

 remoteness of the " beginning," was not invented to meet a geological 

 difficulty, but has been held by learned and pious men of all ages. To 

 those who, unacquainted with the science, think the conclusions drawn 

 from its investigation too uncertain, and too contrary to each other, to 

 be worth attending to, I would say, that such discrepancies of opinion 

 are every day disappearing as the science advances ; and on the point 

 in question, there is no controversy which deserves the name. There 

 is, indeed, no rule without exception. At the meeting of the British 

 Association held last year at Liverpool, I remember an elaborate paper 

 was published to prove that the theory of gravitation was contrary to 

 Scripture : it, of course, called forth no remark. At Newcastle, a gen- 

 tleman, well entitled from his labours in one department of the science, 

 to be listened to with respect, more especially as he did not impugn 

 opinions differing from his own, took what I must call the sceptical side 

 of this enquiry, by endeavouring to prove the uncertainty of geological 

 evidence. The paper was honoured by a reply from Professor Sedg- 

 wick, whose reasonings were responded to by an audience containing a 

 greater amount of high geological authority, than perhaps was ever be- 

 fore congregated under one roof, in a manner which proved that on 

 this point at least there was no dispute. 



* M'Culloch' s Western Islands, vol. ii. p. 480. 



