My dear Sir

Some years ago you did me the honour to send me a most interesting letter containing an account of some observations made by you on the gravelly drift near Southampton—and which had led you to suggest an explanation of the vertically-placed stones in that accumulation.¹ You may remember that you attributed the peculiar position of those stones to differential movements in the drift itself arising from the slow melting of beds of frozen snow interstratified with the gravels. Your view explained also in a very satisfactory manner the wide distribution of the gravels over the flattish platforms or plateaus between the valleys. I have found this explanation of great service even in Scotland, and from what I have seen of the drift gravels in various parts of Southern England and Northern France I am inclined to think that it has a wide application. I write now to ask whether you will permit me to publish your view in your own words in a forthcoming volume of mine in which I treat of the climatic and geographical changes which have taken place in Europe since the commencement of the pleistocene period.² Should you think fit to grant my request I need not say that I will be extremely obliged. You will at the same time I am sure confer a favour on many other glacialists who have long been puzzled with the phenomena which your explanation so satisfactorily accounts for.

Do not trouble to write in reply unless you would rather that I did not use the letter which you were so kind as to send me. A post-card with the single word “No” will suffice if you do not approve.

With highest regards | Yours faithfully | James Geikie