ON THE BED OP THE GERMAN OCEAN, &C. 465 



have the effect of turning the attention of more 

 skilful observers to its further elucidation. 



I am therefore, in this introductor}^ paper, to 

 endeavour to prove, that the tidal waters of the 

 British Channel and German Ocean, are acting 

 upon the coast of this kingdom, and wasting its 

 shores, by a constant and almost invariable pro- 

 gress. This is, perhaps, more or less obvious to 

 every one ; but I shall here bring it more dis- 

 tinctly under the notice of the Society, in so far 

 as my intercourse with the different parts of the 

 coast has afforded an opportunity of observing ; 

 and shall add such collateral remarks as may oc- 

 cur in the course of this inquiry. Having in this 

 manner established the point with regard to the 

 wasting of the shores or margin of the land next 

 the sea, I shall, in a future communication, in- 

 quire into the cause of this wasting, and endea- 

 vour to account for it. Without supposing it to 

 proceed from an increase of the waters of the ocean, 

 or to depend upon any adventitious circumstances 

 connected with the natural state of the tides, I 

 propose to shew that it proceeds from a change 

 upon the level or depth of the alveus, or general 

 bed, of the German Ocean and British Chan- 

 nel. 



It would open a field of inquiry too widely ex- 

 tended, to enter upon the evidence of the water 

 of the ocean having in former ages occupied a 



