SUMMARY OF DEDUCTIONS. 
131 
But in connexion with a presumed generally 
greater size of our rivers in former years, and the 
conclusion more particularly of a bodily rising of 
the tide at one period, we are brought to the neces¬ 
sary inference that the vallies and combes opening 
to the sea and having their floors but little above 
its present level, were once parts of its domains, or 
at least the victims of its occasional intrusions ; the 
romantic combes on the coast between the rivers 
Erme and Avon seem to me good cases in point, 
though I feel bound to say that in these and all 
such instances there is a lack of decisive evidence 
in the accumulation of “ Alluvium.” 
I conclude therefore in regard of the foregoing 
contents of this chapter, that in the lapse of recent 
centuries the sea around us has been gradually 
diminishing in bulk, and that it still continues to 
retreat. And with respect to the main question here 
discussed, I am of opinion that at the termination 
or soon after the occurrence of the great Deluge the 
sea stood much further outthat forests of great 
extent existed in former years where now are estu¬ 
aries and the sea itself;—that by some inward 
convulsion of the earth, the sea rose and usurped 
the lower lands, and imbedded the forest tracts in 
alluvial detritus and soil;—that when by some re¬ 
curring inward movement of the globe this 
elevation ceased, the waters retired towards their 
present abode, somewhere intermediate indeed 
between the post-diluvial sea-level and the height 
attained to during that disturbance which dislodged 
them and heaved them to their transient exaltation. 
Very much in connexion with the present subject 
of alluvial occurrences and substances, is the enu¬ 
meration of the pebbles which are so abundantly 
R 2 
