384 Mr. Horner on the Geology of Somersetshire. 



very strongly the supposition that the forest has been submerged 

 in consequence of a partial subsidence of the land. 



I have confined myself in this paper almost entirely to a descrip- 

 tion of facts, without entering into any of the geological speculations 

 which they suggest. But as theory is the great end of all inquiries 

 of this nature, a Geological memoir may be considered incomplete 

 unless the facts are examined with the view of discovering what 

 legitimate deductions may be drawn from them. My examination 

 of this district was however so cursory as to render it impossible for 

 me to observe the facts with that patient and minute attention 

 which could alone entitle me to make any theoretical inferences 

 from them. Some of the most interesting theoretical views, the 

 recital of the facts alone will suggest to every one accustomed to 

 reason on Geological phenomena, for there are probably few places 

 where more remarkable proofs are to be found of the great distur- 

 bances which have taken place in the strata since the time of their 

 first deposition. To those geologists who may hereafter examine 

 this district, I would recommend the singular accumulations of 

 conglomerate, described § § 21. 23. 25, and particularly the detached 

 hill of Tor Weston, and those near Tarr and Vellow, whether 

 there is any evidence of some powerful cause acting on the surface, 

 having left them in their present insulated position. The apparent 

 alternation of the lyas strata with the red rock on the shore also 

 deserves an attentive examination, and there appears to me an ex- 

 cellent opportunity in this district of investigating the history of 

 that red rock about which so little is yet known, though occurring 

 to so great an extent throughout England. 



