_Former Junction of England and France_.--From the correspondence
pointed out by Mr. William Phillips, the geologist, between the strata
of Dover and the hills west of Calais; and by M. de la Beche, between
the strata of the coast of Dorset and Devon, and those of Normandy, it
may be inferred that the English Channel is a submarine valley, which
owes its origin in a great measure to diluvial excavation, the opposite
sides having as much correspondence as those of ordinary valleys on the
land.

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_Soldiers_.--English soldiers were at one period distinguished
by badges, like those worn by watermen. The general colour of their
dresses appears to have been white; though, in 1544, a part of the
forces of Henry VIII. were ordered to be dressed in blue coats, guarded
with red, without badges, the right hose red, and the left blue. In
1584, Elizabeth ordered the cassocks of the soldiers sent to Ireland
to be a sad green, or russet; though the cloaks of the cavalry were
red. In 1693, the dresses of the soldiers were grey, and those of the
drummers purple; but the red uniform was probably adopted when the
House of Hanover acceded to the throne.

In the time of Cromwell and Charles II. ordinary hats were lined with
iron plates, to prevent assassination.

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