DESCRIPTION OF THE COAST. 
43 
during the rush of waters from the west. It is, therefore, not to be 
doubted, that such hollows are at least as old as that period. What 
effects may have been subsequently produced by the wearing of streams, 
the descent of rains, the course of floods, or the bursting of lakes, the 
present coast furnishes no sufficient data for discussing ; perhaps, too 
little attention has been bestowed on this subject, since Dr. Hutton’s 
opinions on the origin of valleys have been rejected as a general theory. 
I think I am acquainted with several instances clearly proving that 
iti diluvial soils, and even in solid strata, small valleys have been ex- 
cavated by the streams which flow in them, or else by the postdiluvian 
floods. But after examining the remainder of the section, and perusing 
the following descriptions, the reader will find no great reason to doubt 
that the valleys on the Yorkshire coast are generally as old at least 
as the diluvian a>ra, and that their principal features are due to great 
currents of water, directed along lines of fractured strata, or following- 
other lines of least resistance. 
Beyond the Danish dike, the cliff top continues at the same height 
to a little gully which descends from the village of Flamborough, but 
further on it rises greatly to the beacon, which is above one hundred 
and ninety feet from high-water. This great augmentation of height 
is not owing to any sudden change of dip in the chalk, but to an un- 
common abundance of the diluvial matter which covers it. Around the 
beacon are several large boulders of granite, greenstone, fine-grained 
sandstone, &c. not less than three quarters of a ton in weight. Much 
chalk rubble is mixed with the diluvium of these cliffs. Descending by 
a rapid slope to the south landing-place of the Flamborough fishing- 
boats, we observe here, as at Danes’ dike, the chalk strata deeply 
excavated beneath a thick cover of chalk rubble and diluvial clay. * 
* Is it not probable that such a valley was excavated by a violent flood, of some duration and 
varying impetus, and that, as the force diminished, accumulations of clay and pebbles took place, and 
raised incessantly the bed of the current, till, all the accumulations having ceased, the valley gave 
passage to a regular small stream, which, in consequence of its rapid descent, reversed the operation, 
and cut its narrow passage deeper ? 
G 2 
