498 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS 



isting on the north-east of Baronald House, and 

 presumed to have been the commencement of the 

 original course, had been forced to work its pas- 

 sage through the present channel, which the dis- 

 placement of the strata had opened to it, and 

 which it has no doubt worn and deepened. 



Such are the reasons which induce me to adopt 

 the explanation of this appearance, suggested by 

 the principle of the aqueous theory. It may al- 

 so be thought, that the effect of earthquake might 

 be taken into account, as assisting the failure of 

 support on the lower side. But without insisting 

 further on such topics, I leave the solution now 

 proposed, to the decision of future observers, 

 whom curiosity may afterwards lead to visit a 

 scene so remarkably striking and attractive to the 

 eye of taste as well as of science. Points, in fact, 

 of this nature, will not be decided satisfactorily, 

 without the most accurate observation and ex- 

 perienced judgment, in the progress of geological 

 knowledge. 



I have only to add, that the Cartlane sandstone 

 may be described as belonging to the class of rocks 

 immediately subsequent to grey-wacke, in the 

 order of succession. It has in general, all the 

 characters of old red sandstone, approaching to 

 grey-wacke ; and it occurs alternating with that 

 substance, among the undermost strata of the for- 

 mation, as may be seen in the lower country along 



