GENERAL VIEWS. 
191 
Elevation of Lands. 
The evidence of subterranean disturbances and partial elevations, con- 
tained in a former chapter, still leaves untouched one important object 
of general research, viz. the elevation of the mountain limestone district 
above the level of the sea. The Penine chain suffered elevation and with 
it the whole Penine region was uplifted ; but since that tera red sand- 
stone beds were deposited in a sea flowing round the hills of limestone 
and gritstone, and these have in their turn been raised above the sea ; 
how was this effected? This question is not of local interest merely, 
it applies, with suitable conditions, to the whole surface of red sandstone 
in England ; and is to be repeated for almost every succeeding forma- 
tion. Accustomed to admit the effects of local elevation, it seems easy 
to ascribe to similar agencies the more extensive effects now contem- 
plated: lines and axes of convulsion may be imagined sufficiently 
numerous and effectual to elevate the whole island: but this hypo- 
thesis will not bear a moment’s examination, for these axes and centres 
are indeed imaginary. Hardly the least trace of such appeals in the 
red sandstone of the plain of Carlisle, or the great central red sandstone 
field of England. Only two possible causes remain for consideration, 
an extensive abstraction of the ocean, or an extensive elevation of its bed. 
The ocean can not have been lowered here to the extent required in 
this case (see my Guide to Geology) in consequence of any supposed 
displacements of land in other situations, consistent with reasonable 
views of the constitution of our planet : neither will any assumed 
general changes of temperature of land and water satisfy all the con- 
ditions : we have therefore finally to choose between gradual and ex- 
tensive elevation of the land, and extensive abstraction of the ocean 
to other situations on the globe, in consequence of some alteration in 
the earth’s axis or other great physical catastrophe. 
For many reasons we should hesitate to adopt the latter view ; the 
former hypothesis is recommended by its agreement with the leading 
t m th contained in all inferences concerning ancient subterranean move- 
ments ; and it is supposed to be actually a cause still operating in the 
