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beyond a doubt that, geologically speaking, the age of the drift is the 
age of the existing world. “ In short,” he says, ee the cliffs of 
Brighton afford distinct proofs that a period of perfect quiescence 
and ordinary shore action, very modern in geological parlance, but 
very ancient as respects history, was followed by oscillations and 
violent fractures of the crust, producing the tumultuous accumula- 
tions to which attention has been drawn.” 
Unless, then, the Abbeville beds of drift can be separated from 
those so widely prevalent in other countries, the discovery of human 
implements underneath this drift will rather tend to bring nearer to 
us than had ever been supposed some great and sudden diluvial 
action, than to cast any very clear light on the absolute time — that 
is, on the time measured by years or centuries — which has elapsed 
since the creation of our race. The facts which have been brought 
O 
to light prove, indeed, clearly enough, that since man walked the 
earth some great changes have affected the condition of its surface : 
and it is impossible as yet to say what bearing this discovery may 
be found to have on that remembrance of at least one great catas- 
trophe, which is not more a part of sacred history than it is of pro- 
fane tradition. 
We must not, however, shut our eyes to the indirect effect which 
this discovery must have on the question of positive time. In the first 
place, there is a school of geologists, led by our distinguished coun- 
tryman Sir Charles Lyell, who disbelieve generally in those conclu- 
sions which point to violent and sudden changes ; and, in the next 
place, it must be remembered that changes which in point of geolo- 
gical time might well be accounted rapid, might nevertheless well 
occupy thousands of our years. There is proof in those gravel- beds 
of the Somme of a double motion, one of submergence to the depth 
of certainly more than 100 feet, another of subsequent elevation, 
during which the immense mass of material which had been brought 
down and deposited by water, has been worn through and broken into 
escarpments, either by the existing stream or by more powerful 
currents. We have no data from which to measure in years the 
time which the accomplishment of such a series of changes may 
imply. But I think the general impression left upon the mind 
must be in favour of a very high antiquity. Farther light may be 
cast upon this subject if the drift-gravels of France, the south of 
England, and other countries, can be co-ordinated with any one of 
