44 
CHALK CLIFFS. 
The chalk rubble and other gravel here, is often agglutinated into solid 
blocks. Beyond the south landing-place, the cliff, gradually bending 
round to the west, attains in one place the height of one hundred and 
thirty-six feet, and is mostly composed of solid chalk. Further on, 
where the chalk is depressed, and the diluvial clay thickened upon it, 
the cliffs are wasted by the sea, in a very remarkable manner : broad 
and lofty arches appear in the projecting masses, caves are formed, which 
open upwards to the day, and romantic islets of chalk are surrounded by 
the full swell of the waves. These appearances continue from the first 
pillar, called the Matron, to Selwicks bay, beneath the light-house ; and 
the cliffs are decidedly most broken where the chalk is least elevated. 
The light-house appears to stand one hundred and sixty feet above the 
sea. Beyond Selwicks bay, layers of flint become very conspicuous in 
the chalk, and several curious indentations break the line of the cliffs, 
which are from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and forty 
feet high, between Selwicks bay and the north landing-place, in one 
of which rise two island pinnacles of chalk, called the King and Queen. 
The north landing-place of the Flamborough fishermen is a little hollow 
or bay of rocks, with a channel for boats at low -water, and a gravelly 
beach. Here are caves in the depressed chalk, worthy of examination 
by the lover of scenery, and the geologist. 
The origin of many inland caverns in limestone is exceedingly obscure. 
Though water flows through many of them, and by incessant attrition 
smooths their surfaces, and modifies their forms, yet, perhaps, we 
ought rather to believe that the cave, previously existing, directed the 
course of the stream, than that water excavated the cave. By the sea- 
side it is otherwise ; the destructive action of the sea is not doubtful ; 
the cliffs crumble before its salt vapours, and waste away under its 
furious waves. One loosened stone beats down another, and thus the 
soft parts are hollowed out, whilst the harder portions jut into promon- 
tories, or stand naked in the water. If the soft parts, exposed to the 
waves, be enclosed in firmer matter, caves and arches are formed, which 
are afterwards liable only to slow alteration ; but if these yielding ma- 
terials extend far in a horizontal direction, the cliff undergoes rapid 
