The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

THE BASIN OF THE THAMES. 147
Thames m:iT be said to be made up of parallel strips varying in width, but all
striking from the south-west to the north-east. A broad band of cretaceous rocks
extends, however, to the south, having its root in the " plain " of Salisbury, and
forming the range of the Xorth Downs, which separates the tracts of the Weald
from the valley of the Thames. The eastern extremity of the county of Kent,
which may be likened to the prow of England, forms part of this extended band
of chalk. These jS^orth Downs, together with the culminating points rising upon
the uplands from which they extend eastward, fonn the highest elevations within
the basin of the Thames. Their height, however, in no instance exceeds
1,000 feet.* The chalky uplands to the north of the river are even less elevated,
and only the Chiltern Hills, which stretch north-eastward from the Thames, above
Reading, can compare with them, their culminating point, TTendover Hill, attain-
Fig. 80.—ClKEXCESTEK AND THAMES HeAD.
Scale 1 : ITo.WX).
ing a height of 90-5 feet. Formerly these liills abounded in timber, especially
beech, and aflbrded shelter to numerous highwaymen. To put the latter down, and
to protect the inhabitants of the neighboui-ing parts from their depredations, a
" steward " was appointed under the Crown. For several generations past the
duties of this officer have ceased, but his office remains, in order that it may be
conferred on any member of Parliament, not otherwise disqualified, who is desirous
of resigning his seat. The applicant, by accepting office under the Crown,
renders his seat in Parliament vacant, and a writ for a new election is ordered.
The basin of the Thames has singularly varied in extent in the course of
geological ages, in accordance with the oscillations of the land and the displace-
ments of the sea. Whilst England still constituted a portion of the neighbouring
* Milk Hai, 967 feet; Inkpen, 973 feet ; Leith Hill, 967 feet.