The history and antiquities of Boston, and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the hundred of Skirbeck, in the county of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut-Huntre fen ... sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc. By Pishey Thompson. Illustrated with one hundred engravings.

GEOLOGY OF THE DISTRICT. 663
considerable time, during which the surface became raised by the deposits both of the seawater and the fresh which met thereon, much higher than it was originally, or at the time
of its first embankment and cultivation, until it was raised, as it now is, from 10 to 18 feet
above its original level at the time of its embankment.
"After the establishment of the kingdom of Mercia (A.D. 586), the Saxons began to improve the country by such methods as were most agreeable to the soil, the nature, and the
situation thereof; and to their works it is most reasonable to impute the regaining and
improvement of the marshes, or lower part of the district."
We have been favoured by a highly scientific friendcl with the following
observations respecting the various changes which, in his opinion, have taken
place in the Lincolnshire Fen District previous to its present state. To differ,
as we do, in our conclusions from such an authority, is, we are aware,prima
facie evidence against us. This juxtaposition, however, of opposing opinions
may, however, supply materials by which a more correct theory of the Geology
of the District may be arrived at.
Our correspondent says,"' First, the Kimmeridge clay (the clunch of Farey), formed the ancient coast, covered
with a stratum of peaty soil, on which grew forest trees.2 This stratum was permanently
above high-water mark, and may be seen at the present day, south of Wisbeach, in the
Bedford Level, having its primreval elevation.
" Secondly, a very considerable and extensive depression of the coast took place, caused
probably by an earthquake, which carried its effects inland, at least as far as the foot of
Lincoln Hill, and involved in its effects, where it crossed them, the several measures of the
Oxford clay, the Killoway rock, the corn-brash, and the two oolites, as far in breadth as the
present level of the fens points out; an irruption of the ocean following, and covering the
chasm occasioned by this catastrophe.
" Thirdly. A gradual accumulation of warp took place, by small tidal deposits from the
sea (which, to the present day, carries the d6bris of the London clay, of the North Lincoln
coast, and Holderness suspended in its waters); while, at the same time, the depressed
coast, in all probability, began slowly to rise again, thus favouring the recovery of the land,
until, in process of time, it attained an elevation above ordinary high-water mark, when
it was banked in by man, to oppose all future invasion of the sea.
" Fourthly. Thus it remained for many ages, comparatively unproductive, a coarse wet
pasture, from which state it was finally improved by the Civil Engineer, who cut the
requisite drains (artificial rivers), which have dried the country, and with the enclosures,
brought it to its present beautiful and prosperous state."
In a subsequent communication, our correspondent says, —
" The subsidence which caused the formation of our fens is not to be considered as an
isolated fact. Many valleys in England have had a similar origin, among which the great
horizontal plain commencing near Doncaster, and proceeding southward,-embracing the
western border of Lincolnshire, and the eastern one of Nottinghamshire, and prolonged
through a large portion of the vale of the Trent beyond Nottinghamn-is not one of the least
examples. I wish also to add, that the rock itself upon which Nottingham Castle stands,
affords satisfactory evidence of the tremendous force of the catastrophe which caused the
subsidence." 3
Our scientific correspondent makes the following observations respecting the
geological developments exhibited during the progress of the late works at the
Black Sluice, and on the South Forty-Foot Drain:THOMAS BRAILSFORD, Esq. of Toft Grange, of subsidence, most probably produced by volcanic
near Boston. action; because such valleys are found in positions,
2 If this supposed subsidence took place after the and exhibiting features, which cannot be accounted
creation of forest trees, as our correspondent states, for by any other theory. What we object to is the
would not the remains of quavdrupeds and of the calling in of two unusual operations of nature to
human species be found in the superstratum which account for circumstances entirely within the range
then subsided? We have never heard of such re. (as we think) of the daily and constantly working of
mains having been found. the ordinary laws of the physical world.
3 We are far from denying the existence of valleys