653 
for the purpose of corroborating this theory which I have 
ventured to advance, because none was observable in the 
case of the Mississippi valley and other examples, but I am 
inclined to think that a slow upward movement has begun 
to take place in large districts of Lincolnshire long ago, 
and that by means of carefully conducted scientific observa- 
tions this will be hereafter certainly proved, and accurately 
measured. The filling up of channels and estuaries of 
large size that formerly existed, and the rapid growth of 
its coasts at various points, apparently indicate this, whilst 
the known gradual but continually increasing elevation of 
the Danish Coast, and parts of Norway, greatly strengthen 
such a supposition.* Nor need such a hypothesis be con- 
sidered extravagant. There stands the fact of the existence 
of submarine forests. They must have acquired their 
present position through some convulsion of nature, that 
I believe to be subsidence, and surely the upheaval of 
lands is not more extraordinary than their depression ; at 
all events both phenomena have repeatedly occurred on a 
very large scale ; and, in conclusion, I thankfully shelter my 
opinion behind the strong shield of Sir Charles Lyell, who 
says (Principles of Geology, page 289,) " If we could 
compare with equal accuracy the ancient and actual state 
of all the islands and continents, we should probably discover 
* Professor Worsaae, in his Primaeval Antiquities of Denmark, page 9, says, — 
" Denmark seems to have been raised, by a powerful revolution of nature, from 
the bottom of the sea. By degrees its naked banks of gravel became covered 
with aspen forests. When the land rose still higher, and the dampness dimin- 
ished, the aspen disappeared after having, by numerous growths, formed a way 
for the fir, which now spread all over the country. This species of tree con- 
tinued for a very long period, but at length was compelled to give place to a very 
different and a higher class. At first the beech was unable to grow here. The 
earth was covered with oaks, of that species termed the winter oak, which differs 
from the now prevailing species, the summer oak ; these were succeeded by 
groves of alders, until all was so prepared and developed that the light and 
beautiful beech spread its crowns over the whole country. That Denmark in its 
primaeval times, before it possessed its present vegetation, had passed through 
these four periods, is clearly proved from the ancient peat bogs, in which are 
found stems of trees of each distinct period lying like beds one over the other." 
