Seeks CD’s opinion and references on the causes of terraces in the south of England. He supports sea action as cause, either by currents or on coasts, and has been engaged in a controversy in the Geological Magazine [4 (1867): 571–5] with the subaerial school. Poulett Scrope thinks they are agricultural.

Thanks CD for information on inclined terraces in S. America, which DM thinks applies to the chalk downs of S. England. CD’s definition that the sea widens and fresh water deepens is key to the subject.

DM is highly gratified by CD’s opinion of his labours on boulders [see 12252]. He owes his start on this subject to CD. Since 1843 he has supported CD’s views on transportation of boulders by ice.

The violent stranding of floating ice as first mentioned in CD’s article ["Ancient glaciers of Caernarvonshire", Collected papers 1: 163–71] is the most remarkable of the Moel Tryfan phenomena.

Has found three zones of stones in the Welsh and Pennine mountains which he accounts for by elevation and subsidence. Does CD think that these movements in historical times have been caused by earthquakes or by slow and gradual movements?

The use of earthquakes as a geological cause in his previous letter was careless.

Shelly beach deposits over considerable distance from Ireland to Scotland seem better explained by high sea-level than low land.

Only CD seems to have reported shattered rocks under the Moel Tryfan drift.

Thanks for the American pamphlet, which has caused him to write the enclosed extract on "bent and shattered edges of slaty laminae".

Asks for CD’s opinion on certain theistic ideas. If spontaneous generation from inorganic material is denied, then life must be derived from some eternal being.