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IV.—Historical Geology of Cornwall

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

Extract

The best description of St. Michael's Mount, as it now exists, that I can find, is by Mr. Wm. Pengelly, F.R.S.,1 as follows: “The Mount is an isolated mass of granite measuring about five furlongs in perimeter at its base. At high-water it plunges abruptly into the sea, except on the northern or landward side, where the granite comes in contact with the slate, into which it sends veins and dykes, as may be well seen on each side of the harbour.Here there is a small plain occupied by a village, adjacent to which is the harbour, built in 1726−7, and as Mr. Johns, the harbour-master, has been good enough to write me, capable of receiving ships of 500 tons burthen” Its sityation is described as follows: “ The distance between the neatest point of Marazion Cliff and spring-tide high-water mark on the Mount is 1680 feet. A tidalb isthmus (Hogus) of highly inclined Devonian slate and associated rocks, in most cases covered with a thin layer of gravel or sand, is at spring-tide, in still weather, 12 feet below; and at low-water 6 feet above the sea-level. This ridge is dry in fine westher from four to five hours every tide, but occasionally during stoms and neap tides it is not passable for two or three days.”

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1879

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References

page 74 note 1 Journ. Roy. Inst. Corn, for 1873, p. 12.

page 75 note 1 T. R. G. S. Corn., vol. ii. p. 134.

page 75 note 2 Pengelly on Submerged Forests in Torbay.

page 75 note 3 Peacock p. 110.

page 75 note 4 Ibid. p. 89.

page 75 note 5 p. 111.

page 75 note 6 Ibid. p. 112.

page 75 note 7 Peacock, p. 107.

page 76 note 1 Peacock, p. 86.

page 76 note 2 Journ. Roy. Inst. Corn, for 1873, p.181.Google Scholar

page 76 note 3 “Sanctum Michaelum qui est juxta mare.”

page 77 note 1 Phil. Trans, vol. 48.

page 77 note 2 Peacock, p. 118.

page 77 note 3 Quoted by Peacock, p. 139.

page 77 note 4 p. 140.

page 77 note 5 Peacock, p. 88.

page 77 note 6 Dr. Borlase was inclined to refer the submersion of St. Michael's Woodto the inundation of the year 830, mentioned in Irish Annals. Mr. Whitaker ascribed it to that mentioned by the Saxon Chronicle and Florence of Worcester as occurring in 1099. Vide T. R. G. S. Corn., vol. ii p. 139.

page 77 note 7 Ib. p. 137.

page 77 note 8 Ib. p. 113.

page 78 note 1 Peacock, p. 135.

page 78 note 2 Ib., p. 114.

page 78 note 3 Ib. pp. 112,113.

page 78 note 4 Proc. Brist. Nat. Soc. 1870, vol. v. p. 35.

page 78 note 5 Journ. Royal Instit. Corn, for 1873.

page 79 note 1 T. R. G. S. Corn. vol. vii. p. 153.

page 80 note 1 (Peacock, p. 183.) Pliny, Nat. Hist. lib. iv. §30: “Sunt autem xl Orcades modicis inter se discrete spatiis. Septem Acmodæ, et xxx Hebrides; et inter Hiberniam ac Britanniam, Mona, Monapia, Eicina, Vectis,” etc.

page 80 note 2 T. R. G. S. Corn. vol. vi. p. 230, etc.

page 80 note 3 As far as Britain is concerned.

page 80 note 4 The banks are now only two or three acres in extent.