( 48 * ) 
that In three Places where I have try’d it, the Strata are 
in a furprizing manner, gradually fpecifically heavier 
and heavier, the lower and lower they lye. Concern- 
ing which Matter, if God granteth me Life and leifure, 
I intend to give this raoft llluftrious Society a farther 
Account, when I have made Experiments enough to 
fully fatify my felt, and render my Obfervations fit for 
the cognizance of fo curious and accurate a Body of 
Naturalifts. 
Having given this Account of their Probation, let 
us laftly enquire into the Manner how thefe Trees came 
to be interred , which is a difficulty more eafy to be re- 
folved than the laft. And this I take to be from the 
gradual increafe of the Mud, or Sediment, which every 
Tide of the Thames left behind it. I prefume thofe Trees 
might be thrown down before the Walls or Banks were 
made, that keep the Thames out of the Marfhes 3 and 
then thofe Trees were over-flown every Tide. And by 
reafon they lay thick, and near one another on the 
ground, they would foon gather a great deal of the Se- 
dirhent, and be foon covered therewith. And after the 
Ihames-WdMs were made, every Breach in them, and 
Inundation would leave great quantities of Sediment be- 
hind it 5 as I by a troublefome Experiment found, in 
going over fome of the Marfhes, foon after rhe late 
Breach, where I found the Mud, generally above my 
Shoes, :and in many places above my Knees. And it is 
a practice among us (of which we have divers Inftance^ 
•that where a Breach would coft more to flop, than the 
Lands over-flown will countervail, there to leave the 
Lands to the mercy of the Thames ^ which by gradu- 
ally growing higher and higher, by the Additions of 
Sediment, will in time (hut out the Water of the R-iver, 
all except the higheft Tides. And thefe Lands they call 
Saltings , when covered with Grafs 5 or elfe they become 
Rted-ground, See. 
IJ u u 2 
That 
