WCP2463

[1]

31 Murchison Avenue

Edinburgh

11^th May 1893

Dear Sir

You will find an excellent account of the Glacial Geology of the Lake District, by poor [James] Clifton Ward, in his papers published in the Quart. Journal Geol. Soc. for August 1873 and May 1875. In these papers he maintains that the lake basins have been excavated by ice.

Bonney's reference to my support & Ramsay's theory alludes I suppose to what I have written in 2^d Edition of my "Gt. Ice Age."¹ You will find some of the details on which my conclusions are founded in papers by me "on the Glacial phenomena of the Long Island" Quart. Journ. Geol. &c 1873, & 1878 p819. [2]

I am sorry I have no copies of these papers left. Few geologists here have discussed the subject of lake erosion in recent years. The only paper of recent date that I can recall is one by J. Grant Wilson on the glacial origin of some of the Lakes of Perthshire. It appears in an early vol. of the Scottish Geographical Magazine — I forget the vol. & page, but can send the reference to you afterwards.

A few [illeg.] have been written by German & Swiss geologists of late years. If you have not had your attention directed to what they have to say, I should refer you to the following works, which are probably in the Geol. Society's Library:

Penck : "Die Vergletscherung der deutschen Alpen " 1882

Partsch: "Die Gletscher der Vorzeit in den Karpathen [und den Mittelgebirgen Deutschlands]" etc. 1882

Partsch maintains the glacial origin of the cirque lakes of the mountains of [3] Middle Europe.

You will find also an excellent summary of the evidence relating to this latter (valley lakes, & cirque-lakes in the Alps by Dr Bohm — "Vortrag gehalten in D. Sect Breslau der D. und Ae. Alpenvereins[?]", Oct. 1890. I have a separate copy of this which I shall be pleased to let you see, if you care to read it. (I shall send it with this, but must ask you kindly to return it, as it is the only copy I have). Should the Geol. Soc. not have "Penck" & "Pansch" I shall be pleased to send you my copies. The former will I am certain greatly interest you.

I have not written anything about rock[?] basins for a long time: although I have studied them in many regions since the last edition of my Gt. Ice Age was issued. But I think Ramsay's theory is "inexpugnable" [impregnable] — all the attacks upon it which I have seen have failed (at least as it seems to me) to shake his main conclusion. There is one point which Ramsay does not notice, but which I [4] think is worthy of attention. In great valley lakes we find the deepest parts of the lake in places where, owing to the form of the valley, glacial erosion must have been most excessive. Thus in Lake Como — the greatest depths obviously have some relation to the form of the old valley.

[diagram of Lake Como, an inverted Y, showing deep trenches]

At a the depression partakes partly of the character of what a term a reflection-basin. At b a similar but better marked depression occurs. Here the current of the ice was opposed by the promontory of Bellagio (x) [a promontory dividing the lake into two arms]. At c again, the ice was deflected by the winding of the valley, just as a river would be. At d the basin practically dies out. All these depressions are hollows in one great rock basin.

It has just occurred to me that you may not be a fellow of the Geol. Society, and that it may save you trouble if I should send you Partsch & Penck. [5]

Possibly the works are already known to you. If so you must pardon me the trouble I give you. I am in no immediate hurry for their return. I was busy preparing a third & largely re written edition of my Great Ice Age which I hoped to have printed this Summer, but my health has rather hindered me: and I must lay aside my pen for some months. If the books come back to me by the end of June they will be in plenty of time for my purpose.

Yours truly, | James Geikie [signature]