4:66 ON THE BED OF THE GERMAN OCEAN 



much higher level than it now does. As already 

 said, I am only at present to trace the encroach- 

 ing or wasting effects of the sea upon the land. 

 In doing this, I shall begin with the shores of the 

 Frith of Forth, and then proceed northward along 

 the eastern coast to the Moray Frith, Caithness, 

 and the Orkney and Shetland Islands ; next slight- 

 ly notice the Lewis, and the western parts of Scot- 

 land ; and then turn my attention to the eastern 

 shores of England, and to the British and St 

 George's Channels. From the extent of coast 

 just alluded to, it will be obvious, that I can take 

 but a very slight and partial view of the effects 

 of the sea upon the shores at particular bays and 

 creeks, which might deserve further iilustra- 

 tion. 



Frith of The wasting; operations of the sea are not con- 

 nned to the more exposed parts oi the coast, but 

 are observable in our most sheltered seas, up- 

 on both sides of the Frith of Forth westward, 

 or above Queensferry, where the shores are de- 

 fended on all sides from the violent attacks of the 

 sea in stormy weather : Even in this narrow part 

 of the Frith, we find that the land is gradually 

 washed away by the tides, as, for example, at 

 Stiriingand Lord Dundas's estate at Grangemouth, and all 

 ?nanan', tli^ southcm shore by the estate of Kinniel and 

 the Earl of Hopetoun's lands, to Queensferry^ 

 at whichf place the track of the public road is now 

 literally within sea-mark, although at no great 



