( 1032 ) 
vers" Ojfier Jljells ( Petrified, or partly fo, ) mwch Larger 
and Thicker, than the ordinary Proportion of Oifters in 
thofe Parts, and very Weighty, which Oifter-fliells might 
have been purpofely thrown there long before, as being 
reputed a good Manure for Land 5 and might have been 
there Impregnated with like Hdim, Effluvia, as are the 
Numerous Stones on thofe Lands. 
I have known the Inhabitants, heretofore; have uC^d 
to caufe the Stoneg, in thofe Lands (becaufe they aire veiy 
numerous) to be gathered up, and carried off the Lands, 
by Cart-loads, to make more room for the drafs to 
grow. But, of later years, they forbear ( I have been 
told) fo to do, as thinking the Warmth for lomewhat 
equivalent^ of thofe Stones, is rather an Help than 
Hinderance, of the Earths Fertility. Of which, I (hall 
not adventure to deliver an Opinion ^ but refer it to 
further confideration. 
But (to return to what I was fpeakingofj I fee not why 
we may not think, thQ Stom in Ejfexy and the in 
Ke^t^ to have been ( both of them ) Mftuaries of the 
Northern Tjde 5 before the Rupture of that Ifihmus be- 
tween Dover and Calais : f And the like of the River near 
Maiden^ and other fmall Creeks on the Coaft.J Though 
not fo Great as thok oi Humkr and tliQ Thames : f which 
were then Mftuaries of the fame Sea : Jas are many others 
on the Coaft of Scotland. 
I fay, Before that Rupture. For, fince that Rupture, the 
cafe fas to the Thames') is fomewhat altered. For the 
Weftera Tyde (between Us and France) which was then 
flopped at this ljlhmm\ doth now flow-on (through 
that Fretum) beyond the Mouth of the Thames^ (as high 
as the Dogger-fands ) which doth therefore fupply the 
iEftuarie of the Thames, which was formerly furnifhed 
from the Northern Sea. 
And,thefe fmaller ^^Iftuaries might foonerbe fwarved- 
up ( by what every Tyde led geth there, ) while, thofe 
Greater 
