LAMPLUGH : GLACIAL SECTIONS. 
385 
the chief interest of a coast-section lies between the tide-marks. 
The engineer, like the sea, often compensates for the loss 
of one section by the gift of another, in the many works he under- 
takes ; and his gifts like the others are generally soon withdrawn 
Now, though in many cases these occasional sections may 
appear to us of no great value, it seems to me that we should 
always take advantage of the opportunity ; for we cannot foretell 
their future importance, nor foresee how great may one day be the 
need of them, the mere fact that a section does contain nothing 
of importance may at sometime be of the greatest service. 
Under these considerations I have resolved to note — as seems 
to me the duty of a local geologist — whenever the opportunity 
occurs, any section in the neighbourhood which is likely to be 
destroyed, either by artificial or natural means — making a careful 
sketch if the beds seem complicated or unusual, and in all cases 
giving as clear and mibiassed a description as I can, adding after- 
wards any personal notes and inferences which are likely to be of 
use — so that any future geologist, who may be interested in the 
locality, may have something more satisfactory than "the marks 
of that which once hath been " — a brick wall perchance, or a filled- 
in drain — to work upon. 
Nor could I have chosen a better time to begin than the 
present for there have just been, and are now, sections uncovered 
which in a few months will be hidden for an altogether indefinite 
period. No sooner had one line of wrecked sea defences been 
completely renovated — during the course of which the section 
accompanying this paper was laid open — than the sea has broken 
through another series directly to the south, and threatens at 
the time of writing, unless speedy measures be taken, (of which 
there is no immediate likelihood) to sweep away the whole. 
Besides this, the town is now being deeply drained, and a series 
of sections may be collected which will probably throw lig'ht on 
the remarkable differences between the beds on the north and 
those on the south side of the town. 
