— 160 — 
It is assumed that the Island by degrees aflar many ages requisite for the deposit of 
the innumerabie strata now exisiing, was raised al ove the surface, when the action 
of the waves commenced their abrading effects, leaving traces from the very summit 
to the base, of such abrasion in the extraordinary form? which tue sea bas cut out. 
The difficulty now conaes to decide whelber the Island has risen wholly to its 
present height above the level of the Oeean, r wbether that element has gradually 
receded from tha hemisphere and left Round Island to assume by degrees it existing 
Position. (*) 
The determination of this question is r udded with difficulties and intricacies, for it 
may be argued that the sea, during a lapse of ages liad advanced, and then retired 
according to the ptecession of the equ =xes at the same time that the land itself 
had been upraised by the violent pressure from below. 
Assunoing however that both phenomena were not in action al the same moment, 
some data may ba afforded lojudge whether the sea has left the land or the mountain 
has risen by volcanic agency; if the latter opinion is adopted, it is evident that 
wbatever may be the d.p oi he strata, still, the abrasion by the sea must be nearly 
horizontal and all the overlaying cavities successively left by the walers, should be in 
the same parallel ; such however is not the case, for it appears on the other hand, 
in favorising the rising of the land (allho’ il is not an absolute condition that the 
abrading effect of the strata should be parallel with it,) yet the fornaer could not re- 
main horizontal, excepting at the top, and the angle of such abrasion should increase 
in direct ratio towards the sea which is apparently the case. 
Either position will serve to prove the vast number of ages which must have pissed 
away during the lirst deposit and induration of ihe various strata, and the addi- 
tional ages required by ihe action of the waves to accomplish Step by step, inch by 
jnch, the vvonderftsl woik which is now exposed to view from the base to the very 
summit of the islaud. 
It will be evident tbro* out this brief notice that I have endeavoured to adopt Mr. 
a Von Buch’s » theory, one, which was afterwards foilowed up by professor « Hoff- 
man » of Berlin, termed the theory of elevalion Craters or (Erhebungs Craleie), it has 
been combated by that rnost talented authority Mr. Lyell in tbe xni chapter of his 
work; but I humbly conceive that «Round Island’s« formation is a very powerful 
argument in # Von Buch’s o favor and the principal weapon used by Lyell, against 
tbis theory as set forth in the case of « Mount Nuovo » cannot be applied to Round 
Island, for the mountain is on all sides « rent -by innumerabie fissures and disloca- 
4 tions, shewing faults in all directions, » and on every side are seen large masses of 
the stratified tufaceous conglomerate which have been overset by the convulsions to 
which the island has been subjecled as well as the action of the waves. 
Whatever errors an inexperienced admirer of the science ofGeology may have fallen 
into, I trust may be indulgently passed over, but 5 hope enough has been shewn, 
independent of my own remarks to prove the immense age of this pertion of the 
globe ; indeed from the total absenee of every thing üke organic remains in the 
whole mass of the island, I had been led to thiok that the creation of the island 
migbt have dated during the interval between the euoch as marked by the 9 h verse 
Ist chapter of Genesius, and the fifth day when fishes of the sea and the fowls of the 
air were « broughl fortli and blessed. » 
In examining however some of ihe masses of lime sione which were on the sur- 
face of the island but not imbedded. I have traced organic remains of shells which 
altho’ not convinciug me, forbids my h,, zarding so hardy an opinion. 
It may not be irrevelant to mention that no « Guano ® was found at Serpent Island, 
allho’ the air was darkened Vfith sea-birds near the shore: n would appear that the 
(*) This is a Theory I have al ready presumed to offer and which Sir J. Huschelt was good enough 
to notice in a correspondence with him on tlns and other subjects, altho’ he was a part adverse to 
ünch Theory. I have attached a Copv of my Notes for perusal. L, 
