Mr. Wi l l [ a m Phillips on the Chalk Cliffs near Dover . 1 7 
Walmer Castle, beneath rubble and alluvial matter with which it is 
there covered to the depth of 15 or 20 feet. 
In this long range of cliffs, which in many places forms an imme- 
diate barrier to the sea, it is not to be expected that every part should 
be equally accessible to investigation. Between Deal and Dover 
there is but little difficulty, nor for nearly half the way from Dover 
towards Folkstone ; but in the latter half of that distance, an im- 
mense fall, or rather, it should seem, repeated falls have taken place; 
so that that part of the cliff of which the beds remain in situ , is, at its 
extremity beneath the signal-house, nearly a mile from the shore. 
The ruin lying between this cliff and the sea, for about three miles 
in length, affords scenery inferior in beauty to the “ Undercliff” of 
the Isle of Wight, only because from its want of soil, it is less 
susceptible of cultivation ; while from the same cause its grandeur 
is more striking. The greatest part of it, however, is sufficiently 
covered by herbage to have become a pasturage for cattle. The cliff, 
bounding this ruin towards the sea, is, from its position, evidently 
not in situ ; and it is equally clear that the enormous masses of which 
it is composed, have fallen forward from near the summit of the 
cliff in situ . On the probable cause of this large ruin, I shall pre- 
sently offer a few remarks. 
In the less precipitous parts of the cliff, and particularly along that 
part of it, between which and the sea the ruin lies, it is in a consi- 
derable degree covered by herbage ; which however does not prevail 
so greatly as to prevent the observation, that it is, throughout its 
whole length from Walmer Castle to Folkstone, very distinctly 
stratified; that the strata are numerous, regular, and perfectly de- 
fined, although from the nature of the cliff it is not possible every 
where to trace the stratification. The chalk with numerous flints, 
that with few flints, that without flints, and the grey chalk, all appear 
Vol. V. 
c 
