318 Mr G. A. Rowell on the 



eastern parts of America, from the 40th to the 65th degree 

 of latitude, is caused by the vast quantities of ice blocked up 

 in Hudson's Bay, as it is a large sea open to receive the 

 icebergs from more northern regions, and cut off from com- 

 munication with the warmer waters of the Atlantic Ocean, 

 the only opening into it being Hudson's Strait, from whence 

 the current sets into the Atlantic. 



I will endeavour to shew that there are fair grounds for 

 assuming, that very similar circumstances prevailed in Europe 

 in recent geological times, and consequently it had a like 

 depressed temperature. I believe it is now considered 

 proved, that since the creation of races of animals at present 

 existing, England and the Continent were connected by dry 

 land. If, then, we consider the British Channel to have no 

 existence, the German Ocean would form a sea similar in 

 latitude to Hudson's Bay. We have farther the facts given 

 by Sir R. Murchison, in his paper " On the Superficial De- 

 tritus of Sweden," which shew, that since the southern part 

 of Sweden was inhabited by man, the more northern parts 

 and neighbouring districts were covered by water : that pre- 

 vious to the elevation of this land, the last geological change 

 was the distribution, by means of icebergs, of innumerable 

 distinct angular blocks of stone over these districts. That 

 these icebergs must have been immense is shewn by the size 

 of some of the stones which have been so distributed, one 

 measured by Sir E. Murchison was 40 feet long, 23 feet 

 wide, and 25 feet high, and another was still larger. 



From the nature of these stones, it is evident that they 

 have all been carried from north to south, shewing that the 

 current was in that direction ; proving also that these regions 

 were then open to the Frigid Ocean ; and as this current 

 was from north to south, it is fair to assume that it found its 

 way into the German Ocean, and thence into the Atlantic. 



If I have taken a fair view of these subjects, the condition 

 of North- Western Europe at that time was very similar to 

 that which now prevails in the north-eastern parts of Ame- 

 rica, Great Britain representing Labrador, Norway standing 

 for Cumberland Island, the German Ocean, with its connec- 

 tion with the Baltic and Frigid Seas, forming another Hud- 



