in Cumberland and Westmoreland. 1 15 



It is important because it has been stated by Mr. Forster (in his 

 section from Newcastle to Cross Fell) that this red sandstone of the 

 plain is the lowest stratum of the above series, and because its 

 position at the base of the escarpment, both on the north of Mel- 

 merby towards Brampton, and on the south of Murton towards 

 Brough, would without careful investigation lead to such a con- 

 clusion. 



But the section that has been described from Melmerby to Dufton 

 proves that the old conglomerate is the only rock that exists there 

 between the limestone series and the slate, and our examination of 

 the base of the escarpment north of Melmerby from Croglin to Castle 

 Carrick pointed out the source of this error, which is so common 

 that we could not find an individual who did not believe in itj 

 though not one had ever seen a section that proved the fact. 



The source of this natural and almost necessary error, is the 

 low position of the red sandstone at the base of the immense 

 escarpment,* where it abuts so bluff against the abrupt and truncated 

 extremities of the lower strata of the great limestone series, is in 

 such absolute contact with them, and so accommodated to their 

 irregularities, which it fills up, and seems as it were to notch into 

 them, that it would be almost impossible to avoid the error which 

 is so popular, without looking to the general history of this stratum, 

 and to the sections which display junctions at the edges of the plain 

 of Carlisle, in which this new red sandstone forms the upper a*nd 

 most extensive deposition. 



One of these sections has been given near Melmerby: another 

 may be seen in the cliffs between Whitehaven and St. Bees Head.f 

 These are lofty, and present a distinct perpendicular section, in 

 which it is seen at the point of the junction nearly two miles south- 



* See Section, Plate 5, No. I, C. D. E. + Plate 5, No. 4. 



Pi 



