Recommends letters by William Topley in Geological Magazine. WT discusses past distribution of oceans and continents.

Argues against volcanic origin of coral islands and for the submergence of continents. Cites Judd’s argument on the volcanoes of the moon.

Comments on TMR’s "Oceanic islands" [Geol. Mag. 8 (1881): 75–7]. Fact that oceanic islands are all volcanic argues for view that no continent ever occupied the oceans. Chalk seemed best evidence of ocean having existed where continent now stands. CD leans to view that continents have occupied present positions since Cambrian.