64 DRT. J) TRE ON 
the time of Shakespeare. In an article on Sir Roperick Murcuison’s Silurian System 
in the Edinburgh Review, 1841 (vol. lxxiii. p. 8), it is stated that “ one of the oldest 
inquirers connected with the geology of this ancient region is GzorGE OWEN of Henllys, 
in Pembrokeshire, who has been called the patriarch of English geologists.” This 
worthy Welshman left behind him a manuscript work on the topography of his native 
country—a book of great value and interest. It was published in the Cambrian 
Register, 1798, and has recently been reproduced, under the editorship of Mr HEnry 
OwEN, in the Cymmrodorion Record Series. The book has been already referred to, and 
is entitled The Description of Pembrokeshire. 
His observations on the boulder-clay are so good that they are well worth quoting. 
Writing of “the naturall helpe and amendementes the soil it selfe yealdeth, for 
betteringe and mendinge the lande,” he refers to what he calls ‘‘ Claye Marle.” ‘ This 
kind of Marle is digged out of the EHarthe, where it is found in great quantitie, and 
thought to be in rounde great heapes and lompes of Erthe as bigg as round hills, and is 
of nature fatt, toughe, and Clamye. . . . The opinion of the Countrie people where this 
Marle is founde is that it is the fattness of the Harthe gathered at /Voes flood, when the 
Erthe was Covered withe the said flood a whole yeare, and the surginge and tossinge of 
the said flood, the fattness of the Earth being clamye and slymie of nature did gather 
together, and by rowlinge vpon the Karthe became round in forme, and when the flood 
departed from the face of the earthe, the same was left drie in sondrie partes, which is 
nowe this Marle that is found, and how the Common people Cam to this opinion I 
knowe not, but it is verye like to be true, for wheresoever the same is founde, it is 
loppie (loose) and covered with sande, gravell, and round peblestones, such as you shall 
finde at the sea side verie plaine, appearing that the stones hath ben worne by the sea 
or some swift river.” 
‘‘ Also in the harte of the Marle is founde diverse sortes of shells, of fishe, as Cogle 
shells, Muskell shells, and such like, some altogether rotten & some yet unrotted, as 
also you shall therein finde peaces of tymber that ben hewen with edge tools & fire 
brandes, the one ende burned and diverse other thinges which hath ben before tyme 
vsed, & this XX*° foote and more deepe in the Earth in places that never haue been 
digged before, and over the which great oakes are now growinge; and this seaven or 
eight myles from the sea, so that it is verie probable that the same came into these 
places at the tyme of the great and generall flood... . . 
‘This marle is of couler with vs most commonlie blwe and in some place redd.” 
“It is verie hard to digg by reason of the toughness, much like to waxe: and the 
pickax or mattock beinge stroken into it, is hardlie drawne out againe, so fast is it 
holden : it is alsoe verie heavie as ledd.” ‘‘ This Marle is founde in Kemes and both 
Emlyns from Dynas vpp to Penboyr in Carmerthen sheere, beinge about twentie myles 
in lengthe and about fowre myles in bredeth in most places to the sea syde, and out of 
this compasse I cannot heare that the same ys founde: I thinke more for want of 
Industrie than otherwise” (pp. 71, 73). He ends up his remarks on the Clay Marle 
