PROF. HITCHCOCK'S 
 
 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 
 
 H F, i u a i ; T n f 
 
 | ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN GEOLOGISTS, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 5, 1841 
 
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IIBRARY 
 
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 EARTH 
 
 SCIENCES 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
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 FIRST 
 
 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 
 
 BEFORE THE 
 
 ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN GEOLOGISTS, 
 
 AT THEIR 
 
 SECOND ANNUAL MEETING 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 5, 1841. 
 
 BY EDWARD HITCHCOCK, LL. D. 
 
 Prof. Chera. and Nat. Hist. Amherst College; Geologist to the State of Massachusetts, and 
 Chairman of the Association for 1840. 
 
 NEW HAVEN: 
 
 PRINTED BY B. L. HAMLEN, 
 1841. 
 
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 VYS 
 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 GENTLEMEN or THE ASSOCIATION : It may be expected on this 
 occasion, that I should give some account of the origin and pro- 
 gress of this society. The history is short. A number of geol- 
 ogists had for years been employed in prosecuting geological 
 surveys in many widely separated states of the Union, and as 
 they were bringing their labors towards a close, they felt a strong 
 desire to compare notes with one another, that they might clear 
 up points obscure in the districts which they had examined, but 
 which might perhaps be fully developed in others, and that more 
 uniformity might be secured in the final results. The gentlemen 
 of the New York survey at length issued a circular, inviting 
 those engaged in similar surveys in the other states, to a meeting 
 in this city a year ago. The number that responded to the invi- 
 tation by their attendance, was not large. But I am sure that I 
 shall speak the unanimous opinion of all present, when I say that 
 the meeting was most pleasant and profitable. It was highly 
 gratifying for those, who had long been engaged in the same 
 work in widely separated fields, and who knew one another only 
 by reputation, to be able to exchange salutations, and hear one 
 another's voices, and share one another's sympathies. Particu- 
 larly important was it for those of us who are very much insula- 
 ted from geological society and counsel, to meet those who could 
 solve our difficulties, and by detailing the phenomena of their own 
 districts, could throw light upon obscurities that hung over our 
 own. 
 
 Under these circumstances, it is not strange that the present 
 meeting should have been appointed ; nor that we should have 
 ventured to invite others to join us, who are engaged in similar 
 pursuits, although not in the state surveys ; and some of whom 
 are our seniors in cultivating the noble science of geology. 
 
 As to the ulterior plans of this Association, I am not aware 
 that any have been concerted, whatever may be in the minds of 
 
 3 
 
4 
 
 individual members. It will be seen that their grand object is to 
 develope American geology in a quiet and unostentatious man- 
 ner. Whatever measures will promote this object, will meet, I 
 presume, the support of the members ; and whoever has it so 
 much at heart, that he is willing to engage in active and ener- 
 getic labors to promote its advancement, will doubtless be wel- 
 comed to their fraternity. While they acknowledge their indebt- 
 edness to similar associations in Europe, for the example which 
 they have set, and especially to the London Geological Society, 
 the noble mother of them all ; they do not aspire to be compared 
 to any of them, until the fruits of their labors shall make such 
 comparisons involuntary. They wish to be known only as an 
 association of geologists, who love their favorite science so well, 
 that they will pursue it with almost equal ardor, whether they 
 are noticed or unnoticed, whether patronized or neglected. It is 
 their motto, 
 
 Hoc opus, hoc studiura, parvi propereraus et ampli. 
 
 I propose, gentlemen, at this time, to sketch briefly the most 
 important points in American geology, that, require your special 
 attention. In doing this, I must of course give some account of 
 what has been already done in this wide field. And as far as 
 possible, I shall treat both of these subjects together. 
 
 Until the commencement of the present century, almost noth- 
 ing had been done by Americans to develope our mineralogy or 
 geology. And until the year 1807, although mineralogy had 
 begun to excite some interest, yet no effort worthy of notice had 
 been made in geology. In that year, William Maclure commen- 
 ced, single-handed, the Herculean task of tracing out and deline- 
 ating the great features of our rock formations. This he at 
 length accomplished ; after crossing the Alleghany mountains in 
 fifty places. This was certainly a most remarkable example of 
 persevering devotedness to a favorite pursuit ; and cannot but 
 embalm his memory in the heart of every American geologist. 
 
 We must not presume from this isolated instance, that any cor- 
 respondent knowledge of this subject existed at that time in our 
 country. On this point we have the striking testimony of one, 
 who is still among us in the vigor of ripe manhood, to witness the 
 wondrous change which his own labors and those of others have 
 produced. " We speak from experience," says Prof. Silliman, 
 "and well remember with what impatient but almost despairing 
 
curiosity we eyed the bleak, naked ridges which impended over 
 the valleys that were the scenes of our youthful excursions. In 
 vain did we doubt that the glittering spangles of mica, and the 
 still more alluring brilliancy of pyrites, gave assurance of the ex- 
 istence of the precious metals in these substances ; or that the 
 cutting of glass by the garnet, and by quartz, proved that these 
 minerals were the diamond ; but if they were not precious me- 
 tals, and if they were not diamonds, we in vain enquired of our 
 companions, and even of our teachers, what they were." Am. 
 Journal of Science, Vol. I, p. 36. 
 
 I cannot, on this occasion, go into minute details of the labors, 
 or even of the names of those, by whom this state of things in a 
 few years was entirely changed. In 1810, appeared the Miner- 
 alogical Journal of Dr. Bruce: in 1816, the work of Prof. Cleave- 
 land on Mineralogy and Geology : in 1818, the American Journal 
 of Science was commenced by Prof. Silliman : a work which has 
 always been an efficient instrument in promoting a knowledge 
 of geology as well as other sciences ; and which, by great efforts, 
 has now reached its forty first volume. In this connection, the 
 Monthly American Journal of Geology and Natural Science, by 
 Mr. Featherstonhaugh, which reached only its first volume, should 
 not be forgotten. The transactions of several of our scientific so- 
 cieties, especially of the Academy of Natural Sciences in this city, 
 of the Lyceum of Natural History in New York, and of the Amer- 
 ican Academy of Arts and Sciences at Boston, have contained 
 many most valuable papers illustrative of the geological features of 
 this continent. An American Geological Society was formed in 
 1818: but it has accomplished little, except that it has a valua- 
 ble collection of specimens and books, chiefly through the liber- 
 ality of its president, William Maclure. The Pennsylvania Ge- 
 ological Society was organized in 1832, and published two vol- 
 umes of its transactions. Several other societies in the country, 
 of a more local character, have contributed essentially to the pro- 
 motion of geology ; and the recent organization of the National 
 Institution for the promotion of science at Washington, and its 
 vigorous commencement, promise much for this branch of know- 
 ledge. 
 
 But the feature in the history of American geology, to which 
 I feel bound to call special attention, is the institution of state 
 geological surveys by the civil authorities. I regard this feature 
 
6 
 
 as peculiarly American, for I am not aware that any general sur- 
 vey of a large district, had been ordered in any other part of the 
 world, till after it had been done in this country. At any rate, 
 sure I am, that it was entirely original with those who introduced 
 it here. North Carolina has the honor of having first directed a 
 survey of her territory. This duty was committed to Prof. Olm- 
 sted, who made a report of one hundred and forty one pages, in 
 1824 and 1825, upon the economical geology of the state. The 
 year following, South Carolina gave a similar commission to Prof. 
 Vanuxem, whose report was published only in the newspapers. 
 An interval of five or six years succeeded, before Massachusetts 
 engaged in the work. In 1830, she ordered a survey ; in 
 1832, an annual report of seventy pages, and in 1833, one of 
 seven hundred pages, with a second edition in 1835, were pub- 
 lished. In 1837, a re-survey was directed ; in 1838, an an- 
 nual report of one hundred and thirty nine pages was printed, 
 and the final report of eight hundred and forty quarto pages with 
 fifty five plates, is just completed. Tennessee began the work 
 only two or three years after Massachusetts, and committed it to 
 Prof. Troost, who has published five annual reports in pamphlets 
 of thirty to eighty pages, with a geological map of the state. In 
 Maryland, the work was begun in 1834, and Prof. Ducatel was 
 appointed to execute it, who has made seven annual reports of 
 about fifty pages each, with numerous maps and sections. The 
 survey of New Jersey was ordered in 1835 ; in 1836, Prof. Henry 
 D. Rogers, the commissioned geologist, made a report of one hun- 
 dred and eighty eight pages, with extensive sections ; arid in 
 1840, his final report of three hundred and one pages, with a ge- 
 ological map of the state and sections. The state of New York 
 was divided into four sections ; and Profs. Vanuxem, Mather, and 
 Emmons, with Mr. James Hall, as geologists, Mr. Conrad as pale- 
 ontologist, and Prof. L. C. Beck as chemist, were appointed in 
 1836, to survey them. Up to the present time, they have made 
 five reports ; the first of two hundred and twelve pages, the se- 
 cond of three hundred and eighty four pages, the third of three 
 hundred and fifty one pages, the .fourth of four hundred and 
 eighty four pages, and the fifth of one hundred and eighty four 
 pages. The work is now nearly completed ; and the gentlemen 
 are engaged in preparing their final report. The survey of Yir- 
 ginia was committed to Prof. William B. Rogers, who, since 1835, 
 
has made six reports : the first of thirty six pages, the second of 
 thirty pages, the third of fifty four pages, the fourth of thirty two 
 pages, the fifth of one hundred and sixty one pages, and the sixth 
 of one hundred and thirty two pages. 
 
 Dr. Charles T. Jackson was appointed state geologist of Maine, 
 in 1836, and he has since made three reports ; the first of one 
 hundred and twenty eight pages, the second of one hundred and 
 sixty eight pages, and the third of three hundred and forty pages. 
 He has also surveyed the public lands of Maine and Massachu- 
 setts, and made two reports. In 1839, the same gentleman was 
 appointed to survey Rhode Island ; and his final report, of three 
 hundred and twelve pages, with a geological map and sections, 
 appeared in 1840. In 1840, he was commissioned to survey New 
 Hampshire, and his first annual report will soon appear. The 
 survey of Connecticut has been made by Dr. J. G. Percival and 
 Prof. Charles U. Shepard. The latter made a report in 1837, of 
 one hundred and eighty eight pages, upon the economical miner- 
 alogy of the state. The report of the former gentleman has not 
 yet been published, but is expected in the course of the ensuing 
 year. The survey of Pennsylvania was begun in 1836, by 
 Prof. Henry D. Rogers, who has made five annual reports ; the 
 first of twenty two pages, the second of ninety three pages, the 
 third of one hundred and nineteen pages, the fourth of two hun- 
 dred and fifty two pages, and the fifth of one hundred and sev- 
 enty nine pages. The survey of Ohio was committed to Prof. 
 Mather, as principal geologist, assisted by Dr. S. P. Hildreth, Profs. 
 John Locke and J. C. Briggs, and J. W. Poster. Their first re- 
 port of one hundred and thirty four pages, was made in 1837, 
 and their second of two hundred and eighty six pages, with nu- 
 merous drawings, in 1838. Delaware commenced this work in 
 1837, under the direction of James C. Booth, Esq., who has made 
 two annual reports of a few pages, and his final report of one 
 hundred and eighty pages, is nearly through the press. In Mich- 
 igan, the survey was committed to Douglass Honghton, Esq., 
 with assistants. His first report of thirty seven pages, was made 
 in 1838, and his three subsequent ones of one hundred and 
 twenty three, one hundred and twenty four, and one hundred and 
 eighty four pages, in successive years. In 1837, Dr. D. D. Owen 
 commenced a survey of Indiana, and he has since published two 
 reports of thirty four and fifty four pages. In Kentucky, the 
 
8 
 
 work was begun in 1838, but has yet proceeded no farther than 
 a reconnoissance by Prof. Mather. In Georgia, Mr. John R. Cot- 
 ting was commissioned in 1836 ; he informs me, that about 
 half the state has been surveyed ; that three section lines, from 
 three hundred to four hundred miles long, have been explored ; 
 that "a vast amount of interesting materials, both geological and 
 agricultural, has been collected ; and that it is in contemplation 
 to publish a volume of six hundred pages the present year." 
 
 In 1834, the United States government directed Mr. Feather- 
 stonhaugh to examine, geologically, " the Territory of Arkansas, 
 and the adjacent public lands." He has made two reports, one 
 of ninety seven pages, and another of one hundred and sixty eight 
 pages, with numerous sections. In 1839, Dr. D. D. Owen was 
 commissioned to examine the Territory of Iowa, and his report, 
 in connection with that of Dr. Locke, made in 1840, contains 
 one hundred and sixty one pages. Mr. Nicollet has also been 
 surveying, both astronomically and geologically, the northwestern 
 portion of our country, including a vast region beyond the Mis- 
 sissippi ; and his report is now in a course of publication, with a 
 geological section tracing a distance of nearly two thousand miles. 
 
 I ought not to omit to mention an act of private munificence, 
 which occurred before any of the state surveys were commenced. 
 The late Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer directed a geological sur- 
 vey to be made of the entire route of the Erie canal, at his own 
 private expense. This work was executed by Prof. Amos Eaton, 
 who in 1824, published a report of one hundred and sixty three 
 pages, with a section from the Atlantic to Lake Erie. I might 
 also mention with propriety, the surveys of several mineral 
 districts by private companies ; such as those of the coal-fields 
 of Pennsylvania, by R. C. Taylor, Esq., and Prof. Johnson ; of 
 the gold region of Virginia, and of portions of the coal-fields of 
 Pennsylvania, by Prof. Silliman ; of the iron region of Missouri, 
 by Prof. Shepard, &c. But time will not permit me to enter into 
 fuller details. 
 
 From these statements it appears, that within the last sixteen 
 or seventeen years, surveys have been commenced in no less 
 than nineteen states, and two of the territories of this Union ; 
 embracing an area of nearly seven hundred thousand square 
 miles. For the last four or five years, not less than twenty five 
 principal geologists, and forty assistant geologists, have been con- 
 
stantly employed in the examination of this vast region, under 
 the patronage of the state governments or of that of the Union. 
 In three or four of the states, the surveys are for the present sus- 
 pended j not, however, from a conviction of their being useless, 
 but from peculiar circumstances. In Massachusetts, New York, 
 Ohio, and Michigan, zoological and botanical surveys are con- 
 nected with the geological ; in Maryland, Ohio and Michigan, 
 there is a topographical department ; and on these various sub- 
 jects several valuable reports have already appeared, which this 
 is not the proper place to notice. 
 
 I ought also to mention here that the British provinces of New 
 Brunswick and Nova Scotia, have been geologically examined by 
 Dr. Gessner, who has made reports. I am credibly informed, 
 also, that the governor general of Canada, will recommend 
 strongly to the House of Assembly at their next session, to order 
 a geological survey of that territory. 
 
 Another very important feature, of most of these surveys, is the 
 chemical department. In the New York survey, one gentleman 
 'devotes himself to it exclusively. In some other stales, also, as 
 in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maine and New Hampshire, laborato- 
 ries for the sole purpose of analyzing the substances discovered, 
 are fitted up, and one or two chemists are employed in them 
 through the year. The number of analyses already executed in 
 these establishments is immense, amounting to several thousands, 
 and when they are all published, it will be seen that they have a 
 most important bearing, not only in an economical, but also in a 
 scientific point of view. 
 
 The annual reports have been confined chiefly to economical 
 geology; but it was understood from the commencement, that 
 careful attention should be given to the scientific geology of the 
 regions examined, and that the details should be given in the final 
 reports. An immense mass of materials must now be in the 
 hands of the gentlemen concerned in the surveys ; and we may 
 anticipate from their publication, most interesting disclosures re- 
 specting the geology of this country. Then too, the extensive 
 and complete collections of our rocks, fossils, minerals and soils, 
 which have been made and will be deposited in the capitals of 
 the states, will prove an invaluable treasure. Another important 
 result, which I trust only a few years will see consummated, will 
 be the construction of an accurate geological map of the whole of 
 
 '2 
 
10 
 
 the United States ; for it can hardly be doubted, that surveys 
 will be soon ordered in the comparatively few states that yet re- 
 main unexamined ; or if they should not, if I form a right es- 
 timate of the spirit that actuates American geologists, a work of 
 such importance will not be left incomplete. But the liberal feel- 
 ing that has led so many of our state governments, within a few 
 years, to do so much for geology, forbids the idea that any of this 
 work will be left for volunteer labor. I cannot but feel, that 
 the liberal governmental patronage which geology has of late 
 received among us, and the fact that this patronage has come 
 from all classes in the community, should make us justly proud of 
 the enlarged views and extensive knowledge displayed by our 
 countrymen. I speak advisedly, when I say, that probably our 
 favorite science is now in this country twenty years in advance of 
 what it would have been, if left to individual efforts. 
 
 Let us now enquire how much of American geology has been 
 developed by all the efforts that .have been made, with and with- 
 out governmental patronage. As I must depend for these state- 
 ments upon what has already been published, I shall of course 
 fall far short of the actual knowledge that is possessed on this 
 subject by individuals. 
 
 The primary rocks of this continent, both stratified and un- 
 stratified, correspond so exactly with, those in other parts of the 
 world, as to be easily identified. For the most part, also, they 
 compose the principal axes of our extended chains of mountains. 
 Thus, we find a range of these rocks, commencing in Alabama, 
 and extending northeasterly, in a belt from eighty to one hundred 
 miles broad, to New York ; and thence through New England, 
 occupying nearly the whole surface ; and probably from thence 
 to Labrador. In the northern part of New York, a range diver- 
 ges from that just described, and extends in a westerly and north- 
 westerly direction, till it approaches the Rocky Mountains, which 
 are also primary. Thus the vast basin of the Mississippi, is 
 bounded for the most part, on three sides by primary rocks, while 
 the secondary and tertiary strata are found chiefly in that valley, 
 and on the Atlantic slope, as far north as New York. 
 
 Only a small portion of these vast primary deposits has yet 
 been carefully examined ; nor have many features been discov- 
 ered in them that are very peculiar. The vast deposit of Labra- 
 dor feldspar and hypersthene rock, in the north part of New York, 
 
11 
 
 as described by Prof. Emmons, is one of the most interesting. 
 The same gentleman has, also, given us some remarkable details 
 respecting the occurrence of genuine injected veins of limestone 
 in. granite, in the county of St. Lawrence. The facts have led 
 him to discuss the question whether all primary limestones ought 
 not to be classed among the unstratified rocks. This question, I 
 apprehend, we have in this country abundant means of deciding, 
 as we have the analogous question respecting serpentine ; since 
 we have numerous and extensive beds of both these rocks associ- 
 ated with the oldest of our strata. That they are metamorphic 
 in a high degree, no one can doubt : nor is it less certain that 
 serpentine connected with talcose slate and gneiss, exhibits nu- 
 merous divisional planes ; and often these are parallel to the 
 planes of stratification in the adjoining strata ; but the question 
 still remains, whether that divisional structure may not be the 
 result of metamorphic agency instead of original deposition. 
 
 The northwestern border of the primary stratified belt of rocks, 
 extending from Alabama to Canada, a distance of at least twelve 
 hundred miles, is composed of interstratified beds of taleose and 
 mica slates, gneiss, and granular limestone. I do not doubt (at 
 least, from all that I can learn) that these rocks are continuous over 
 this vast distance; forming perhaps the longest belt of limestone 
 on the globe. A considerable part of this limestone is more or 
 less magnesian ; and in many places pure dolomite. It furnishes, 
 therefore, a fine field for studying the phenomena and the origin 
 of dolomitization. As to that portion of this field which has fall- 
 en under my observation, I find, that with one or two unimpor- 
 tant exceptions, all the cases of dolornitized limestone occur, 
 either in the vicinity of a fault, or of unstratified rocks, or of the 
 oldest gneiss. The pure dolomite is usually found where there is 
 reason to believe extensive dislocations of the strata occur ; and 
 the marks of stratification in the limestone disappear, nearly in 
 proportion to the amount of magnesia which it contains, so that 
 the pure dolomite shows scarcely any traces of it. I doubt not 
 that similar conclusions will follow an examination of other parts 
 of this deposit, so remarkably uniform is the geology of this 
 continent ; and moreover, these conclusions correspond to the 
 history of dolomitization in Europe. They seem to render prob- 
 able the theory of sublimation from the interior of the earth. 
 
12 
 
 I have noticed another analogous and singular fact in connec- 
 tion with this limestone, and doubt not that it is common through- 
 out its whole extent ; although I have seen it mentioned by no one 
 except Prof. Mather, in his account of the rocks of eastern New 
 York ; but am informed by Prof. Rogers that it is common in 
 Pennsylvania and Virginia. Where the limestone comes in con- 
 tact with mica and talcose slates, they are often highly impregna- 
 ted with carbon, for several feet or rods from the line of junction. 
 There can hardly be a doubt that the carbonic acid, which has 
 penetrated the slates, has been decomposed to produce this result. 
 Farther examination, in other localities, will probably throw addi- 
 tional light on the subject. 
 
 The phenomena of dykes and veins, especially along the east- 
 ern margin of the primary ranges of New England, are of a 
 highly interesting character. Some of the dykes of greenstone 
 appear to be of great size and extent. Dr. Percival has, with 
 great labor, traced two of these, through gneiss and mica slate, 
 nearly across the state of Connecticut ; and I think I have found 
 their continuation across the whole of Massachusetts ; nor do I 
 doubt that they extend far into New Hampshire. Already these 
 two dykes have been followed nearly ninety miles in length ; and 
 they are usually several rods wide. Their direction almost coin- 
 cides with the strike of the strata. In Maine, they -have been 
 found in great number and extent, by Dr. Jackson, in the primary 
 strata, and they have more distinctly the character of genuine 
 dykes than in Connecticut and Massachusetts. 
 
 In some of our sienitic rocks, we find a perfect plexus of dykes 
 and veins. I have examined one spot in the city of Salem with 
 a good deal of attention, and I cannot see why it does not afford 
 us evidence of the protrusion of unstratified rocks at eleven dif- 
 ferent epochs ; admitting that the intersection of one vein by 
 another proves the posteriority of the latter. The dykes at this 
 spot are varieties of greenstone, and the veins chiefly feldspar. 
 
 Among the multitude of substances in our primary rocks that 
 deserve further attention, I can here mention only the oxide of 
 tin. Three localities of this mineral, affording however only 
 small disseminated crystals, have long been known in Massachu- 
 setts. But within the last year, Prof. Shepard has discovered a 
 more promising locality in Connecticut, and Dr. Jackson another 
 
13 
 
 in New Hampshire. The probability is, therefore, strong, that 
 this interesting metal will ere long be obtained from our own 
 mountains. 
 
 You will perceive that under the term primary rocks I have 
 included none that are fossiliferous. The latter, especially those 
 usually denominated transition, have, as is well known, an im- 
 mense developement in our country. A single vast basin, ex- 
 tending from the Apalachian chain nearly to the Rocky Moun- 
 tains, and from the centre of Alabama, in a northern direction, 
 perhaps even to the Arctic sea, not less than two thousand 
 miles long and twelve hundred broad, and consequently covering 
 about two and a half millions of square miles ; this wide region 
 forms almost one uninterrupted deposit of older secondary or tran- 
 sition rocks; the largest undoubtedly on the globe. Until re- 
 cently, these rocks could be described only under the vague 
 designation of graywacke. But light is beginning to shine in 
 upon the chaos. The upper member, that which embraces the 
 bituminous and anasphaltic coals of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, 
 Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri, seems now to be well identified 
 with the coal measures of Europe. This forms a convenient 
 starting point, and all that remains is to compare the groups be- 
 low the coal, with those similarly situated in other parts of the 
 world. Professors Henry D. and William B. Rogers have divi- 
 ded this vast series into twelve formations j and these, including 
 the coal measures, which make the thirteenth formation, they 
 find to be not less than forty thousand feet thick. Whatever 
 may be their views as to the identity of these groups with rocks 
 described in other parts of the world, they have refrained from 
 expressing an opinion, in their annual geological reports. But 
 other gentlemen suppose they have discovered marks of identity, 
 in respect to several of the groups, too strong to be resisted. It 
 is difficult to read the reports of the Ohio geologists, especially 
 that of Dr. Locke, and those of Dr. Houghton, Mr. Featherston- 
 haugh, Prof. Troost, and that of Dr. Owen on the mineral lands 
 of Wisconsin and Iowa, and that of Mr. Conrad on the New 
 York survey for 1841, without being convinced that the car- 
 boniferous or mountain limestone is extensively developed from 
 Pennsylvania westward at least fifteen hundred miles; while 
 here, as in England, it forms the repository of an immense accu- 
 mulation of lead ore. Mr. Taylor, I believe, first pointed out the 
 
14 
 
 probable existence of the old red sandstone, or Devonian system, 
 in the western part of Pennsylvania and New York ; and this 
 opinion becomes more probable, since the discovery by Mr. Con- 
 rad, of remains of the Holoptychus nobilissimus, a fish very char- 
 acteristic of the old red sandstone in Great Britain. Mr. Hall 
 makes this group four hundred feet thick, lying immediately 
 beneath the coal-measures. 
 
 Strong reasons have been presented by Messrs. Conrad and Va- 
 nuxem, founded upon a comparison of organic remains, for suppo- 
 sing that a large part of the rocks below the old red satidstone, in 
 the vast area under consideration, and especially in New York, are 
 identical with the Silurian rocks of Great Britain. The former 
 gentleman recognizes all the important subdivisions of this group 
 described by Mr. Murchison, except perhaps the Llandeilo rocks, 
 which are the lowest. The Caradoc sandstone, the Wenlock 
 shale arid limestone, and the Ludlow rocks, are distinctly mark- 
 ed.* And in speaking of organic remains, as a means of identi- 
 fying strata, he remarks, that " an instance never occurs in this 
 country, where the species of one formation are continued into 
 an upper one in such numbers as to cause the least perplexity or 
 dispute regarding its geological age. All the various eras are ad- 
 mirably recorded, each by its peculiar group of animal or vegeta- 
 ble remains ; and to him who has carefully studied them, they 
 are quite as intelligible as if the hand of nature had arranged 
 them in a cabinet for his use." Am. Journal of Science, Vol. 
 35, p. 237. 
 
 These suggestions open a wide field for investigation. It is 
 one of the most important problems in American geology ; and 
 from the immense extent occupied by these rocks, I can hardly 
 doubt that here will be found the most complete type of the tran- 
 sition formations that has yet been described. Accordingly, in 
 his report for 1841, Mr. Conrad says, that " nature has probably 
 enabled the geologist to apply this classification (of Murchison) 
 in a more clear and satisfactory manner to the rocks of this coun- 
 try than to those of Europe, since the series is certainly more 
 complete, and the organic remains more abundant in species." I 
 
 * He says also, that " the inhabitants of the seas (in which these rocks were de- 
 posited) have been destroyed, and new creatures succeeded, at five different epochs; 
 and one of these groups is no more to be compared with another, than is the oolite 
 with the green sand formation." Jim. Journal of Science, Vol. 35, p. 246. 
 
15 
 
 rejoice that the work is in such able hands, and that so many ob- 
 servers are busy at so many points, and on different sides of the 
 vast field. 
 
 Besides the principal basin of the transition rocks just described, 
 detached deposits are sometimes met with in our country ; as for 
 example, in the eastern part of Massachusetts and Rhode Island ; 
 and I mention this, just to say, that I have recently come to the 
 conclusion, that even that limited district probably contains, in a 
 descending order, coal measures, the old red sandstone, and be- 
 neath these, older transition strata. 
 
 Are we to infer that the coal-bearing strata once extended over 
 the immense basin of the Mississippi, and that they have been 
 worn away, except in particular districts ? I shall not discuss 
 this question : but if the negative be true, we may still lay claim 
 probably to the largest coal-fields in the world. It is a fact of 
 great interest, also, that the coal along the eastern part of the 
 great valley, or in the vicinity of primary rocks, as has been 
 abundantly shown by Professors Rogers and Johnson, is almost 
 destitute of bitumen ; and that as we go west, it becomes more 
 and more bituminous. It is an interesting inquiry, whether the 
 coal in the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains exhibits a similar 
 change, as we recede from the chain. It is also a curious fact, 
 that gypsum and salt springs should usually be found below the 
 coal measures in this country, and not above them, as in Europe. 
 
 In extensive troughs of the primary rocks, along the Atlantic 
 slope of the United States, there occurs a formation of fine and 
 coarse sandstones and shales, with a predominant red color, asso- 
 ciated with beds of lime^one and calcareous breccia. The most 
 extensive deposit of this group commences on the Hudson river, 
 in New Jersey, and thence pursues a southwesterly course through 
 that state, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, into North Car- 
 olina, and perhaps beyond that state. A smaller deposit occupies 
 the valley of Connecticut river, and extends across the states of 
 Connecticut and Massachusetts. A third deposit, according to 
 Dr. Jackson, is found in the eastern part of Maine ; and a fourth 
 has been described in Nova Scotia; where, according to Jackson 
 and Alger, it contains gypsum and salt springs, and overlies bitu- 
 minous coal. 
 
 The lithological characters of the rocks in all these deposits, 
 are so similar, that the observer is at once satisfied of their iden- 
 
16 
 
 tity. Besides, in all of them we find limestones of a similar cha- 
 racter, extensive ridges and dykes of greenstone, and ores of cop- 
 per, associated with the sandstones and shales ; so that there can 
 hardly remain a doubt as to the identity in age of all these de- 
 posits. But can we determine their true place on the geological 
 scale ? 
 
 The Professors Rogers, who have extensively examined this for- 
 mation in the middle states, have ascertained that it is more re- 
 cent than the coal measures ; and with commendable caution, 
 they have called it the middle secondary. With less of pru- 
 dence I long since ventured to denominate it the new red sand- 
 stone ; and I hope it is not prejudice which makes the argument 
 in favor of this opinion appear to be now almost complete. A 
 careful comparison of numerous specimens of this formation with 
 a series from the new red sandstone of continental Europe, and 
 Great Britain, shows a striking resemblance in lithological cha- 
 racters. But the argument from the organic remains is the most 
 decisive. In the shales of this formation, especially in New Eng- 
 land and New Jersey, have been found numerous specimens of 
 fossil fishes of the genera Palaeoniscus and Catopterus, all of 
 which have heterocercal tails.* Now in Europe, Prof. Agassiz 
 finds that such fish rarely, if ever, occur in any rock above the 
 new red sandstone. But in that formation he finds not less than 
 a dozen species of the genera just mentioned. They occur, how- 
 ever, in the coal formations, beneath the red sandstone. But it 
 seems to be admitted on all hands, that the group in our country 
 under consideration, is more recent than the coal measures. And 
 since the heterocercal fishes found in U show that it must be 
 older than the lias, I see no escape from the conclusion that it is 
 the new red sandstone. There are other arguments to the same 
 point ; but they are less decisive. Whether we shall find all the 
 subdivisions of this formation in our country that exist in Eu- 
 rope, remains to be seen. I have little doubt, however, that 
 several of them may be easily recognized ; as, for example, the 
 variegated marls and sandstone, the new red conglomerate, (Rothe 
 todte liegende,} and the zechstcin. 
 
 * J am informed by Messrs. Redfield, the father and the son, who have so suc- 
 cessfully devoted themselves to an examination of our fossil fishes, that they have 
 found not less than nine species of these genera in our rocks. 
 
17 
 
 Thus far, as we have ascended on the scale of rocks, we have 
 found, if I mistake not, so full a developement of the European 
 formations on this side of the Atlantic, that it would not be 
 strange, if at no distant period, this country should become clas- 
 sic ground for their study. But we now reach a wide hiatus of 
 the extensive groups of the lias, oolite and wealden, which have as 
 yet been scarcely identified on this continent. Humboldt did, 
 indeed, express the opinion, that he had met with the oolite in 
 the equinoctial zone of South America ; and Mr. Lea has descri- 
 bed some fossils from New Grenada, in the seventh volume, sec- 
 ond series, of the Transactions of the American Philosophical Soci- 
 ety, which he refers to the same formation. But Von Buch, in 
 his recent splendid work on some of the fossils of South America, 
 regards them as belonging to the cretaceous group. Mr. Conrad, 
 however, has just announced the existence " of well characterized 
 and undoubted oolite in the state of Ohio." Report on the New 
 York Survey for 1841. 
 
 When we rise still higher on the geological scale, we meet with 
 a remarkable group of rocks, occupying a wide belt from New Jer- 
 sey to Alabama, and much surface also in Mississippi, Louisiana, 
 Tennessee, Arkansas, and, as I am informed by Mr. Nicollet, ex- 
 tending from Council Bluffs on the Missouri, several hundred 
 miles westward, nearly to the Rocky Mountains, all of which 
 was identified, I believe, first by Prof. Yanuxem, with the creta- 
 ceous formation of Europe, although it contains no chalk. The 
 subsequent extensive and accurate researches of Dr. Morton, Mr. 
 Conrad, and others, have completely confirmed this opinion j and 
 it furnishes an interesting example of the value of organic re- 
 mains in identifying groups of rocks very much unlike in litho- 
 logical characters. It is another instance, moreover, of the enor- 
 mous scale on which geological operations have taken place in 
 this country. From the recent memoir of the veteran geologist, 
 Von Buch, just referred to, it appears that this same formation 
 extends through a considerable portion of South America, and 
 decidedly predominates among the secondary rocks of the Andes. 
 
 Equally successful, as in the case of the cretaceous rocks, have 
 been the labors of Conrad, Vanuxem, Morton, Lea, the brothers 
 Rogers and others, in developing the tertiary deposits of this 
 country. The most northerly point along our coast where these 
 are found, is the island of Martha's Vineyard, or perhaps Nantuck- 
 
 3 
 
18 
 
 et. Thence in passing southerly, we find them occupying Long 
 Island and the eastern part of the Atlantic states, from New Jersey 
 to Florida, and the southern part of the Mississippi valley. These 
 too correspond to the other features of our geology, in being of vast 
 extent and of decided characters. Three principal groups of these 
 strata, as described by Conrad and Morton, viz. the lower or 
 eocene, the medial, and the upper or newer pliocene, seem to be 
 well made out on this side of the Atlantic. The group named 
 post-tertiary by Mr. Lyell, is found also in the northern part of 
 New York and in Canada, containing shells of a more arctic 
 character than those now living in the same latitudes. 
 
 Excepting the remarkable insulated labors of Mr. Hayden, the 
 drift, or diluvium of this country, has, until recently, received less 
 attention than almost any other formation. The same has been 
 true in Europe. This results in part from the fact, that it cannot 
 be successfully studied until the character and limits of all the 
 subjacent formations are well understood. The state surveys, 
 however, have brought to light enough of our diluvial phenomena 
 to show us, that though a difficult subject, it is one of the most 
 interesting in the whole history of our rocks. 
 
 It is an important inquiry, whether the phenomena of drift 
 in this- country, correspond with those of the eastern continent. 
 Until recently, I confess, I have doubted whether some of the 
 most striking of these phenomena were not much more fully 
 developed here than in most countries of Europe. I refer par- 
 ticularly to the smoothing, polishing, scratching and furrowing 
 of the rocks in place, and to those accumulations of gravel, 
 bowlders, and sand, which form conical and oblong tumuli, with 
 tortuous ridges of the same, and which abound in the northern 
 part of the country, from Nova Scotia to the Rocky Mountains. 
 But the recent investigations and accurate descriptions by Agassiz, 
 Buckland, Lyell, Sefstroom, and others, have satisfied me of the 
 almost exact identity of the facts in relation to drift on the two 
 continents. The resemblance, however, seems to be most com- 
 plete in this respect between Scandinavia and this country. 
 Except in Sweden, I have not yet seen evidence that the scarifi- 
 cation of the rocks is as common in Europe as in New England, 
 where if they were denuded of soil it seems to me, one third of 
 the surface would be found smoothed and furrowed. But it is 
 now found to be very common in Scotland, England, and espe- 
 
19 
 
 daily in Switzerland. It appears too, that those countries abound 
 in those peculiar accumulations of gravel and bowlders to which 
 I have referred, and which are now regarded as ancient moraines. 
 Bowlders, also, appear to have been dispersed in a similar manner 
 on both continents. 
 
 If I do not greatly mistake, the drift of this country exhibits 
 usually the following lithoiogical characters and superposition. 
 The principal mass of the drift consists of coarse sand, pebbles, 
 and bowlders, often several feet in diameter, usually mixed to- 
 gether confusedly, but sometimes exhibiting, at least for small 
 distances, more or less of a stratified arrangement This mass of 
 detritus, not unfrequently one hundred feet thick, occupies the 
 lowest position ; that is, it rests immediately on the smoothed and 
 striated rocks in place. Sometimes there is mixed with it fine 
 sand or mud ; and occasionally a limited mass of clay, appearing 
 as if out of its original position. Above this deposit, in most of 
 the larger valleys, as those of the Hudson, Connecticut, and Pe- 
 nobscot, and in many smaller ones, we find horizontal layers of 
 fine blue clay, rarely as much as one hundred feet thick. Above 
 the clay, and of less thickness, we have a bed of sand, becoming 
 coarser towards the top, and exhibiting sometimes at its surface, 
 marks of a stronger movement in the waters by which it was de- 
 posited, than could have taken place while the clay was in a 
 course of formation. Scattered over the whole surface, but con- 
 fined chiefly to the region abounding in gravel, we find insulated 
 blocks, sometimes rounded and sometimes angular. 
 
 Now if I have not mistaken the recent descriptions of Euro- 
 pean drift, its composition and arrangement correspond with those 
 of the drift of this country ; and scarcely any thing seems want- 
 ing to make out a complete identity. 
 
 It is well known that the theory of drift has for some years 
 been the most unsettled part of geology. The mass of geolo- 
 gists have, indeed, admitted that in some way or other, currents 
 of water have been the principal agency employed, because they 
 witness somewhat analogous effects from aqueous action; and, 
 until recently, no other power of adequate energy and extent has 
 been known to exist. Hence they have been willing to retain 
 the term diluvial, as a generic expression, implying simply aque- 
 ous agency in general. Yet so many difficulties attend any the- 
 ory of mere currents, that many geologists have become sceptical 
 
20 
 
 in regard to every particular theory that has been proposed. I con- 
 fess myself to have been long of that number. Yet it has seemed 
 to me of useful tendency to make isolated inferences from the 
 facts developed ; and although they may seem to favor rival hy- 
 potheses, and will need modification, as new light falls on the 
 subject, yet they will form the elements out of which a legitimate 
 theory will ultimately spring. Allow me to present for your con- 
 sideration, a summary of the most important of these inferences, 
 as they have been developed to my own mind in examining the 
 diluvial phenomena of this country. 
 
 In the first place, these phenomena must have been the result 
 of some very general force, or forces, operating in the same gen- 
 eral direction j that is, southerly or southeasterly. For in a 
 southerly direction has the drift been so uniformly carried, and 
 the furrows and scratches on the rocks so generally point south- 
 erly, that the force which produced these effects must have tend- 
 ed thither. Our valleys have, indeed, considerably modified the 
 course of the drift ; but not enough to contradict the general 
 .statement. It would be strange if careful examination should 
 not discover here, as in the Alps and in Great Britain, that the 
 moving force had sometimes been exerted outwardly from the 
 axes of high mountains. But I am not aware that as yet any 
 facts of importance in favor of such an opinion, have been brought 
 to light. At any rate, the evidence of a force urging detritus 
 and bowlders in a southerly, or more strictly in a southeasterly 
 direction, is too marked, and has been noticed by too many inde- 
 pendent observers, over a breadth of nearly two thousand miles, 
 to be doubted ; even though local exceptions should be discover- 
 ed ; and such a uniformity of direction over so vast an area, in- 
 dicates a very general agency. 
 
 Secondly, this agency has operated at all altitudes, from the 
 present sea level, and probably beneath it, to the height of three 
 thousand or four thousand feet. In New England, most of our 
 hills and mountains, not excepting insulated peaks, not higher 
 than three thousand feet, are distinctly smoothed and furrowed 
 on their tops and northern slopes, and upon their east and west 
 flanks, to the bottom of the lowest valleys. Dr. Jackson sup- 
 poses he has found transported detritus on Mount Katahdin, 
 four thousand feet high. But he could discover no marks of this 
 action at the summit of the White mountains of New Hampshire, 
 
21 
 
 which are six thousand two hundred and thirty four feet high ; 
 although the nature of the rock there, is most unfavorable for 
 preserving furrows and markings. 
 
 Thirdly, the smoothing and furrowing of the rocks exhibits 
 almost equal freshness at all altitudes, which indicates an ap- 
 proach to synchronism in the producing cause. 
 
 Fourthly, the almost perfect parallelism preserved by the 
 grooves and scratches over wide regions, shows that they were 
 made by the projecting angles of very large and heavy masses of 
 great extent, moving over the surface with almost irresistible 
 force, by water or some other mighty agent. There is sometimes 
 more than one set of scratches, which intersect one another at a 
 small angle, as has been shown by Prof. Locke to occur in Ohio, 
 but each set preserves its parallelism most perfectly. Even where 
 they pass over high and precipitous ridges, they are rarely turned 
 out of their course. 
 
 Fifthly, this agency appears to have been less and less power- 
 ful as we go southerly. We have as yet, indeed, had but few 
 trusty reports on this subject from the southern portions of North 
 America ; but had the phenomena of drift been as striking there 
 as in New England, New York and Canada, they would certainly, 
 ere this, have been described. It ought not to be forgotten, how- 
 ever, that De la Beche has described the drift of Jamaica as very 
 similar to that of New England. 
 
 Sixthly, the relative levels of the surface have not been essen- 
 tially changed by vertical movements, since the epoch in which 
 this agency was exerted. They could not have been much 
 changed without disturbing the detritus, often fancifully arranged 
 in the valleys and on the flanks of the hills ; nor without some- 
 times breaking up the smoothed and furrowed surfaces of the 
 rocks along their joints or planes of stratification. But such a 
 disturbance I have never witnessed. 
 
 Seventhly, the North American continent must have attained 
 essentially, its present height above the ocean, previous to the ex- 
 ertion of this agency. For all our formations, as high at least as 
 the eocene tertiary, are covered with drift ; and I know of no ev- 
 idence of any important uplift subsequent to that which has tilted 
 up our tertiary strata. This work, therefore, could not have been 
 accomplished while the continent was beneath the ocean. Other 
 evidence of this position might be adduced, did time permit. 
 
22 
 
 Eighthly, water must have been one of the forces employed 
 in this agency. The regular deposits of clay and sand which 
 form the upper part of the diluvial deposit, must surely have 
 been accumulated at the bottom of bodies of water, which have 
 subsequently been drained off. Much, also, of the finer part of 
 our drift is more or less stratified, and exhibits that oblique lamin- 
 ation which is peculiar to aqueous deposits. Nor can I conceive 
 of any other mode in which detritus has been transported hun- 
 dreds of miles, as ours has been, but by the aid of water ; al- 
 though this alone could not do it. In New England, we have 
 been able to trace erratic blocks not more than one hundred or 
 two hundred miles, because we then reach the ocean. But in 
 the central parts of the country, I am informed by Prof. Mather, 
 that the primary bowlders from Canada and the western part of 
 Michigan, are found as far south as the river Ohio ; which would 
 make their maximum transit from four hundred to five hundred 
 miles ; about the same distance as the bowlders from Scandinavia 
 have been carried into Germany. What agency but water could 
 have effected such a transportation ? 
 
 It is very natural, also, to ascribe the smoothness and furrow- 
 ing of the rocks to the action of water. But I have in vain ex- 
 amined the beds of our mountain torrents and the shores of the 
 Atlantic, where the rocks have been exposed to the unshielded 
 and everlasting concussion of the breakers, and can find no at- 
 trition that will compare at all with that connected with drift ; 
 and I am satisfied that to explain it we must resort to some other 
 agency. 
 
 Ninthly, ice must have been another agent employed to pro- 
 duce the phenomena of drift. What else could have transported 
 large blocks and gravel over such a wide space as has been men- 
 tioned, and have lodged them too, upon the crests of narrow and 
 precipitous ridges; and especially, what other agent could have 
 produced those singular mounds arid peculiar ridges of gravel and 
 bowlders that meet us in so many places ? 
 
 Tenthly, this agency must have been exerted previously to the 
 existence of man upon this continent, and have been of such a 
 nature as to destroy organic life almost entirely. For the remains 
 of man and other existing animals have not been found in drift ; 
 but those occurring there belong chiefly to extinct species, while 
 the deposits of clay and sand made during the same period, 
 scarcely contain a species of animal or plant. 
 
Yet eleventhly, this agency must have been comparatively 
 recent. For the disintegration of the surface of the smoothed 
 and furrowed rocks to the depth of half an inch, would usually 
 obliterate all traces of their erosion. Yet in how many places 
 does this effect appear as distinct as if produced during the pres- 
 ent century ! 
 
 Finally, this agency must have been far more powerful than 
 any now operating upon the globe. In the language of Prof. 
 John Phillips, which he applies to the phenomena of drift in 
 general, " such effects are not at this day in progress, nor can we 
 conceive the possibility of their being produced by the operation 
 of existing agencies operating with their present intensities and 
 in their present directions." Treatise on Geology, Vol. 1, p. 
 296. 
 
 Beyond such independent inferences as these, I confess I have 
 been of late years unwilling to go ; and have regarded the nu- 
 merous theories of diluvial action, which have recently appeared, 
 only as ingenious hypotheses. But it is well known that the 
 Glacier Theory, originally suggested by M. Venetz, and subse- 
 quently adopted by M. Charpentier, and more fully developed of 
 late by Agassiz, is now exciting great interest in Europe. To 
 say nothing of geologists in this country who have expressed 
 themselves favorably towards it;* it is surely enough to recom- 
 mend it to a careful examination, to learn that such men as Agas- 
 siz, Buckland, Lyell and Murchison, after long examination, have 
 more or less fully adopted it; although on the other hand, it ought 
 to be mentioned, that such geologists as Beaumont, Sedgwick, 
 Whewell, Mantell, and others, still hesitate to receive it. 
 
 In a country like ours, where no glaciers exist except in very 
 high latitudes, and with the very defective accounts which have 
 hitherto been given of those in the Alps, it is not strange that the 
 attempt to explain the vast phenomena of diluvial action by 
 such an agency, should appear at first view, fanciful, and even 
 puerile. But the recent work of Agassiz, entitled Etudes sur les 
 Glaciers, gives a new aspect to the subject. It is the result of 
 observations made during five summers in the Alps, especially 
 upon the glaciers ; about which so much has been said, but con- 
 
 * See Mr. Conrad's Notes on American Geology, in Am. Journal of Science, 
 Vol. xxxv, p. 237. 
 
24 
 
 cerning which so little of geological importance has been known. 
 Henceforth, however, glacial action must form an important 
 chapter in geology. While reading this work and the abstracts 
 of some papers by Agassiz, Buckland and Lyell, on the evidence 
 of ancient glaciers in Scotland and England, I seemed to be ac- 
 quiring a new geological sense ; and I look upon our smoothed 
 arid striated rocks, our accumulations of gravel, and the tout en- 
 semble of diluvial phenomena, with new eyes.* The fact is, 
 that the history of glaciers is the history of diluvial agency in 
 miniature. The object of Agassiz is, first to describe the minia- 
 ture, and then to enlarge the picture till it reaches around the 
 globe. 
 
 The glaciers are vast masses of ice, often leagues in extent, 
 formed of melting and freezing snow, which are sent out from the 
 summits of the Alps by the force of expansion into the valleys 
 below, often to the distance of twelve or fifteen miles. Those 
 elevated and wide plateaux, called in Switzerland Mers de Glace, 
 exhibiting only one thick sheet of ice, through which the crests 
 and summits of the mountains sometimes rise like volcanoes, are 
 the grand source or birthplace, of the glaciers. In their descent 
 they plough their way through the soil, pile up pebbles and sand 
 along their sides and at their extremities, and even upon their 
 backs j which, upon the retreat, or melting of the glacier, consti- 
 tute moraines, and correspond exactly in composition and shape 
 to those accumulations of gravel and bowlders that have been as- 
 cribed to diluvial action. The stones and sand frozen into their 
 lower surface, also, like so many fixed diamonds, smooth and fur- 
 row the surface of the rocks in precisely the same manner as they 
 
 * I trust that the members of the Association will pardon me for having made 
 some alterations in the form, though not in the leading thoughts, of this part of 
 my Address, since it was delivered. They will recollect, that while I expressed a 
 very favorable opinion of the Glacial Theory, so far as I understood it, I stated that 
 I had not seen the work of Agassiz named in the text. Through the kindness of 
 Prof. Silliman, I have since been favored with the perusal of the copy of this 
 work which, with its splendid alpine illustrations, he received from the author. I 
 am indebted, also, to Dr. J. Pye Smith, of London, for an abstract of the papers of 
 Agassiz, Buckland and Lyell, read before the London Geological Society last au- 
 tumn, on the ancient glaciers of Scotland and England. A flood of light having 
 thus been unexpectedly thrown in upon my mind, I am free to acknowledge that 
 many of my difficulties in respect to this theory have 1 oen removed, and that the 
 great mass 6f evidence in its favor, thus brought before me, has led me to express 
 a warmer admiration of its leading features and a greater readiness to adopt its lead- 
 ing principles, although satisfied that it will need important modifications. 
 
25 
 
 are abraded overall northern countries. Vast blocks of stone are 
 likewise conveyed without abrasion, by the advance of the gla- 
 ciers, and lodged in peculiar situations. 
 
 From year to year, the evidence has been increasing, of the 
 prevalence of intense cold in northern regions in the period im- 
 mediately preceding the historic. The elephants and rhinoceros 
 found, undecayed, in the frozen mud of Siberia, the arctic charac- 
 ter of the few organic remains found in the post-tertiary strata of 
 Scotland arid Canada, and described by Lyell and Bowman, and 
 of the borders of Lake Champlain, as described by Emmons 
 and Conrad ; and the great extension of the ancient moraines in 
 the Alps, are the evidence from which Agassiz infers that in that 
 period, all northern countries were covered with a vast sheet of ice, 
 filling the valleys and extending southerly as far as diluvial phe- 
 nomena have been observed. Glaciers would then be formed on 
 mountains of moderate altitude ; and, indeed, he supposes that 
 all the northern parts of the globe might have constituted one 
 vast Mer de Glace, which sent out its enormous glaciers to the 
 south ; thus giving the same direction to the drift and the striae 
 on the rocks. As these vast masses of ice melted away, when 
 the temperature was raised, immense currents of water were 
 the result, which would lift up and bear away huge icebergs, 
 whereby extensive erosions would be produced, and blocks of 
 stone be transported to great distances. Subsequently, lakes 
 would be formed where moraines had produced barriers, clay and 
 sand would there be quietly deposited, and the waters be ulti- 
 mately drained, by the wearing down of the barriers of detritus. 
 
 It is doing injustice to this theory to attempt so brief a descrip- 
 tion of it. A detailed account of existing glaciers, which cannot 
 here be given, forms the best preparation for a just appreciation of 
 the theory. Admitting its truth in the main, let us see how it 
 applies to the phenomena of drift in this country. 
 
 In the first place, it explains satisfactorily, the origin of those 
 singular accumulations of gravel and bowlders, which we meet 
 with, almost every where, in the northern parts of our country. I 
 cannot doubt that these are ancient moraines ; just such as exist 
 in Scotland and England. Were this the proper place, I could 
 point out a multitude of localities of these, most of which have 
 been a good deal modified by subsequent aqueous agency ; but 
 some of them retain the very contour which they had as the 
 
 4 
 
26 
 
 ice melted away.* The lateral moraines are perhaps most com- 
 mon, especially if, with Dr. Buckland, we regard our terraced val- 
 leys as modifications of these ; but I am confident that in our 
 mountain valleys, the terminal and the medial moraine are not 
 infrequent. I have long been convinced that the agency of ice 
 was essential to explain these accumulations ; but I was not aware 
 that their antitypes existed in the moraines of the Alps. 
 
 In the second place, this theory explains in a most satisfactory 
 manner, the smoothing, polishing and furrowing of the rocks at 
 different altitudes. All these effects are perfectly produced be- 
 neath the glaciers in the Alps; nor can I conceive of any other 
 agent by which the work could be executed. It certainly was 
 not done by currents of water alone. One has only to cast his 
 eye upon the splendid plates by Agassiz, of the polish and sti-ire 
 produced by the glaciers, to be satisfied that the multitudes of 
 examples of analogous phenomena in New England, and in New 
 York and Ohio, as described by Profs. Dewey, Emmons, and 
 Locke, and Dr. Hayes, are precisely identical with those in the 
 Alps. 
 
 In the third place, it explains the transportation of bowlders, 
 and their lodgment upon the crests and narrow summits of moun- 
 tains, and that often without having their angles rounded. 
 
 In the fourth place, it accounts for the occurrence of deposits 
 of clay and sand above the drift. For it furnishes the requisite 
 quantity of water to fill the valleys, and the means of damming 
 up their outlets for a season. 
 
 In the fifth place, it shows us why these deposits of clay and 
 sand are almost completely destitute of organic remains, either of 
 animals or plants, although probably centuries must have been 
 consumed in their formation. 
 
 In the sixth place, it accounts for some rare and peculiar phe- 
 nomena connected with diluvial action, which seem to me inex- 
 plicable on any other known principle. I shall name only two. 
 The first is, that the northern slopes of some of the mountains 
 of New England, although quite steep, and their summits 
 rounded, exhibit strias and furrows which commence several 
 
 * Descriptions of some of these with sketches, will be found in my Report on 
 the Geology of Massachusetts, published in 1833: but more numerous descriptions 
 and drawings are given in the Final Report just published. See especially Figs. 
 15, 19, 73 and 74, of the wood cuts, and plate 3 of the lithographs. 
 
27 
 
 hundred feet below their tops, and pass over them without los- 
 ing their parallelism ; and yet the situation of the drift shows 
 that these markings were made by an ascending and not a de- 
 scending body. Such might be the effect, if the whole surface 
 of the country were covered by a thick sheet of ice expanding in 
 a southerly direction. 
 
 Of the other case, I have met with two examples in New 
 England, and know not that they have been noticed elsewhere. 
 In these cases, the perpendicular layers of agillaceous and horn- 
 blende slate, covered in one place, by fifteen or twenty feet of 
 drift, have been fractured to the depth of ten to fifteen feet, so as 
 to be more or less separated, producing horizontal fissures, which 
 are filled by mud, while the laminse are inclined, at various angles. 
 In short, it seems as if an almost incredible force had been exer- 
 ted upon the surface in an oblique direction. Such a force might 
 be exerted by an immense mass of ice in the process of expan- 
 sion ; but I know of no other source from which it could have 
 been derived.* 
 
 On the other hand, there are features in the phenomena of di- 
 luvial action in this country, which are explained by this theory 
 in a much less satisfactory manner. One is the southerly direc- 
 tion which our drift has taken, and the great distance to which it 
 has been carried. It cannot be conceived that any single glacier 
 should have expanded several hundred miles in a southerly direc- 
 tion, especially over a surface which could have had scarcely any 
 southerly slope. Even if we admit a Mer de Glace in the north- 
 ern regions so lofty as, in the beginning of the work, to send gla- 
 ciers a vast distance, yet the force seems to have continued to 
 operate in the same austral direction, even to the bottom of our 
 valleys. It is, however, probably true, that the great mass of our 
 drift will be found within fifteen or twenty miles from its original 
 place ; and that which occurs at greater distances, may perhaps, 
 have been transported by powerful currents of water. It is al- 
 most certain that the sheet of ice which covered the surface, ac- 
 cording to this theory, must have been at least three thousand or 
 four thousand feet thick, because our mountains have been to that 
 height, swept over. Now if, as Agassiz and others suppose, 
 the fall of temperature, at the beginning of the glacial period, was 
 
 * Descriptions and sketches of these cases are given in the Final Report on the 
 Geology of Massachusetts, Vol. ii, p. 396 and 559. 
 
28 
 
 very sudden, why may not the return of the heat have been 
 equally sudden ? If so, the most powerful debacles must have 
 been the result ;* and as the ice would disappear most rapidly 
 along its southern border, perhaps in this way a current in that 
 direction may have been produced. And yet, I confess that I re- 
 gard this theory more defective in not furnishing an adequate cause 
 for the southerly course of our drift, than in any other point. 
 
 I find another difficulty in explaining satisfactorily by this the- 
 ory, how drift could have been often carried fro'm lower to much 
 higher levels ; as it has been sometimes if I am not greatly 
 mistaken. Thus, the Silurian rocks of New York, and the 
 quartz rock in the valleys of western Massachusetts, have been 
 carried over, and left upon, Hoosac and Taconic mountains and 
 the Highlands of New York. It is easy to conceive how an im- 
 mense sheet of ice, by its expansive power, should force portions 
 of its mass to ascend moderate declivities, of a few hundred feet, 
 but not so easy to imagine them thus forced upwards one thou- 
 sand or two thousand feet, as they undoubtedly have been in New 
 England.f 
 
 Another difficulty results from the fact that some of the most 
 remarkable of our moraines are found, not in valleys, but on the 
 sea coast, some of them fifty, and others one hundred miles dis- 
 tant from any mountains much higher than themselves. I refer 
 to tttose remarkable conical and oblong tumuli of drift, sometimes 
 
 * A curious example illustrative of this point has just been communicated to 
 me by Rev. Justin Perkins, American missionary in Persia, not far from Mt. Ar- 
 arat, in a letter dated at Ooromiah, Nov. 6th, 1840. In giving an account of two 
 very powerful earthquakes experienced on and around that mountain in the sum- 
 mer of last year, he says, " The vast accumulation of snow which had been in- 
 creasing on and about the top of the mountain for so many centuries, was broken 
 into pieces, and parts of it shaken down on the sides of, the mountain in such im- 
 mense quantities, that (it being midsummer, and the snow descending down as far 
 as a warm climate, and suddenly melting,) torrents of water came rolling down 
 the remainder of the mountain, and flooded the plain for some distance around its 
 base." 
 
 t In the north of Europe, also, the drift has been carried " from lower to higher 
 levels," according to Mr. Murchison ; and he imputes the strias to " icefloes and 
 detritus, set in motion by the elevation of continental masses, and grating upon 
 the bottom of a sea." On the Geological Structure of Northern and Central Russia, 
 &c., by Murchison and Verneuil, p. 13. London, 1841, pp. 16. Very likely the Gla- 
 cier Theory may need some analogous modification to adapt it to this country; 
 and yet it seems to me that expanding ice is a far more powerful agent to force 
 detritus up an inclined plane, than currents of water. 
 
29 
 
 more than two hundred feet high, which occur in Plymouth and 
 Barnstable counties in Massachusetts. I see nothing in this the- 
 ory that will explain such astonishing accumulations in such cir- 
 cumstances ; and yet their existence may not militate against its 
 truth. For even the present mighty glaciers of the Alps, may 
 give us but a faint idea of the effects of the advance and retreat 
 of a sheet of ice thousands of feet thick. We have no evidence 
 in this country, that any of our mountains have been elevated 
 since the glacial epoch ; as seems to be proved to have been the 
 case with the Alps, and this circumstance may have produced a 
 considerable modification of glacial action on this continent. 
 
 I do not mention these difficulties (to which I might add more,) 
 as any strong evidence against this theory. For so remarkably 
 does it solve most of the phenomena of diluvial action, that I am 
 constrained to believe its fundamental principles to be founded in 
 truth. Modifications it may require : for it would be strange 
 enough if it had already attained perfection, even in the skillful 
 hands that have thus far framed and fashioned it. But I can 
 hardly doubt that glacio-aqueous action* has been the controlling 
 power in producing the phenomena of drift. Having hovered so 
 long over the shoreless and troubled ocean of uncertainty and 
 doubt, I may be too ready to alight on what looks like terra firrna. 
 But should it prove a Delos, I have only to plume my wings 
 again, when it sinks beneath the waves. 
 
 I have dwelt long on this subject; its great importance, its in- 
 teresting aspect at this time, and its wide developement in our 
 country, must plead my apology. 
 
 In referring to our alluvial formations I shall call your atten- 
 tion only to a single subject, and that is, microscopic paleon- 
 tology. The splendid discoveries of Ehrenberg in this depart- 
 ment, were yet fresh among us, when Prof. Bailey demonstra- 
 ted that similar relics abound in this country. They form ex- 
 tensive deposits, covering many acres, and sometimes several 
 feet thick, beneath our peat-bogs. The substance appears to be 
 the Bergmeld, or mountain meal, or fossil farina, of the Germans, 
 and is mostly composed of the Shields or Carapaces of the family 
 Baccillaria. Some do, indeed, yet doubt the animal origin of 
 
 * By which I mean the joint action of ice and water, without deciding which 
 has exerted the greatest influence. 
 
30 
 
 this family ; but the weight of opinion seems to be on the other 
 side. Hitherto I believe, in this country, these relics have been 
 found only in primitive regions ; but as it is not always the case 
 in Europe, (Am. Journal of Science, Vol. XL, p. 177,) we may 
 believe it is not so here. Over the primary regions they have 
 been found from Maine to Wisconsin, and south to Virginia. So 
 numerous are the localities, that in New England at least, I am 
 confident they may be found in nearly every town based on pri- 
 mary rocks. The report on the geology of Massachusetts is en- 
 riched with a valuable paper on the fossil infusoria of that state, 
 by Prof. Bailey ; and a memoir on the same subject, embracing 
 the whole of the United States, may soon be expected from that 
 gentleman. It will give some idea of the wide field which the 
 microscope has opened to palaeontology in this country, to state, 
 that in a single specimen of fossil farina from West Point, Ehren- 
 berg has detected fourteen species of siliceous infusoria. Besides, 
 it can hardly be doubted that our iron ores and other deposits in 
 addition to the Bergmehl, will afford these remains. 
 
 These remarks receive strong confirmation from the interesting 
 discovery by Prof. W. B. Rogers, in the tertiary strata of Virginia, 
 as announced in his Geological Report of 1841. of a deposit of 
 these infusoria. It is composed almost entirely of their siliceous 
 shields, occupies areas of considerable extent, sometimes attains 
 the enormous thickness of twenty five feet, and is rarely less 
 than twelve feet thick. If such is the beginning, what, gen- 
 tlemen, will be the end of this infinitesimal geology ! We 
 seem fast advancing towards a realization of the proverb, omnis 
 calx e vermibus, omnis silex e vermibus, omneferrum e vermibus. 
 
 Having thus ascended to the top of the scale of American 
 rocks, and briefly shown how far their characters have been 
 fixed, and their equivalence to European strata demonstrated, a 
 few miscellaneous topics only remain for examination. 
 
 One of these subjects is that of concretions. And it seems to 
 me that it needs to have light thrown upon it as much as any in 
 the whole range of mineralogy and geology. It needs a second 
 Haiiy to develop the fundamental principles of concretionary 
 structure. Brongniart, De la Beche. and Fitton, have, indeed, 
 thrown out many valuable hints on the subject, and rendered it 
 probable that concretions result from segregation by means of 
 elective affinity. But why the particles should arrange them- 
 
31 
 
 selves in curved rather than straight laminae, and why the curves 
 should differ from one another, does not appear. The siliceous 
 limestone of Fontainbleau contains more sand than the calcare- 
 ous concretions of this country, called claystones ; and yet the 
 former assumes a polyhedral and the latter a spheroidal form. 
 
 These claystone concretions, which abound in our diluvial 
 clays, seems to me to afford a better opportunity than any other 
 for studying this subject. They appear to consist of the clay 
 containing them, cemented by carbonate of lime, which usually 
 forms about fifty per cent, of the mass ; although I doubt whether 
 it exists in definite proportion. I have found in them, also, both 
 in those of New England and in specimens from the diluvial 
 clay of Sweden, a small amount of organic matter, very prob- 
 ably resulting from the crenic acid, which existed in the water 
 when the clay was deposited. I am informed, however, by Dr. 
 Tamriau, of Prussia, that " the Swedish scientific men believe 
 these claystones to be something of organic remains : some 
 sort of mollusca, which were more or less wrapped in a man- 
 tle." But even if we admit that some soft animal formed the 
 nucleus, it is impossible to doubt that the claystones have as- 
 sumed their present forms as the result of a concretionary agen- 
 cy. Those forms are often so very regular, and furnish such 
 mimic representations of numerous artificial objects, that we need 
 not wonder they should be regarded, both in this country and in 
 England, as the work of art ; that among us, they should be im- 
 puted to the ingenuity of the aborigines; arid in England, be 
 supposed to have been turned in a lathe, as a substitute for me- 
 tallic coin, and have taken the name of Kimmeridge coal money. 
 
 An examination of numerous specimens from New England, 
 has led me to the conclusion that certain predominant forms may 
 be discovered, which they affect ; although between them are 
 numerous intermediate varieties ; and sometimes there would 
 seem to have been a struggle between two of these forms for the 
 mastery. These predominant forms are the sphere, the oblate 
 spheroid, the prolate spheroid, the annulated, the lenticular, and 
 the cylindrical. The first is the most important, though least 
 common; and perhaps all the others may be conceived to result 
 from it. I think, also, that if we may suppose the clay to have 
 been in a plastic and not a fluid state, so as to admit of the per- 
 meation of carbonate of lime in a state of solution, and that differ- 
 
32 
 
 ent centres of attraction existed in the clay, it is not difficult to 
 conceive how all the varieties of form assumed by the concre- 
 tions, may have been produced by a modification of circumstan- 
 ces. I find, that as in crystals of minerals, certain forms predom- 
 inate at particular localities, so it is with the claystones. And 
 finally, I am led by all the facts to the conclusion, that these con- 
 ' cretions are produced by laws as fixed and definite as those of 
 crystallography. To discover and develop these laws, therefore, 
 must be an object of great interest. 
 
 There is another interesting concretion in the same diluvial 
 clay, in all parts of our country, consisting generally of concen- 
 tric alternating layers of clay or loam, and the same material more 
 or less colored and consolidated by the hydrate of iron. The axis 
 consists usually of the root of a vegetable, or some other organic 
 body. Portions of the same clay are sometimes crossed by par- 
 allel divisional planes, so as to produce rhomboidal prisms, pre- 
 cisely like those in the older consolidated rocks, which have usu- 
 ally been referred to the agency of heat. But this clay can, 
 probably, never have been even sun-dried ; and, therefore, we 
 must resort to some other explanation of this jointed structure. 
 And since the experiment of Mr. Robert Weare Pox upon the in- 
 fluence of galvanism upon clay, I can hardly doubt but this agen- 
 cy might have produced it, and also the ferruginous concretions 
 that have been described, and perhaps have aided in forming the 
 claystones. But to settle these points will require numerous ob- 
 servations and experiments ; and my chief object in these re- 
 marks is to show that this is a promising, though long neglected 
 field of research. 
 
 It is expected in many of the state surveys, that particular at- 
 tention will be given to the connection between geology and ag- 
 riculture. To do this, the geologist is obliged to call in the aid 
 of organic and analytical chemistry ; obviously the most difficult 
 branches of that most useful science. Hence the analysis of 
 soils, of the plants which they produce, and of the various fertili- 
 zers which are applied by the farmer, as well as of the rocks 
 whose disintegration produces the soil, ought to form the objects 
 of a commission distinct from that of ordinary geology : and I 
 hope the time is not far distant, when such an office will exist in 
 all the states of the union. For although we ought not to look 
 for striking benefits from such a work so soon as from a geologi- 
 
33 
 
 cal survey, yet, with sufficient time given to a geological chem- 
 ist, there can be no doubt but most valuable ultimate results 
 would follow his labors. 
 
 Although the science of agricultural chemistry had a vigorous 
 commencement in the labors of Davy and Chaptal, yet its subse- 
 quent progress has not been correspondently rapid j and it must 
 yet be regarded as in its infancy. Hence too much has been ex- 
 pected from the analyses of soils in our country, and a conse- 
 quent disappointment has been felt. Distinguished chemists are 
 not yet agreed in respect to some of the fundamental principles 
 of the science. The recent able work by Prof. Liebig on organic 
 chemistry, affords evidence of the truth of this statement in the nu- 
 merous new views which it presents, and which he declares to be 
 different from those usually maintained. Many of these views 
 will be adopted at once, as original discoveries ; but in regard to 
 others, it is not to be expected that chemists will receive them 
 without discussion. With Raspail he maintains, that plants are 
 nourished solely by the absorption of carbonic acid from the at- 
 mosphere and from soil ; whereas, the prevailing opinion is, that 
 they derive their support partly from carbonic acid and partly by 
 the direct imbibition of organic matter in some of the forms of 
 humus, by their roots. He supposes that the humus acts no 
 other part than to furnish carbonic acid by its decomposition. 
 Others maintain that some of it is taken up in a state of solution, 
 by capillary attraction, or by galvanic action. And as all chem- 
 ists were not convinced by the arguments of Raspail, they may 
 not be satisfied with the more able reasoning of Liebig, on the 
 same subject. His views of the agency of nitrogen in vegetable 
 nutrition, his discovery of ammonia in the atmosphere, and his 
 many new views respecting the agency of salts upon vegetation, 
 and on other subjects, will render this work a most valuable ad- 
 dition to agricultural chemistry. 
 
 The earlier agricultural chemists laid by far too much stress 
 upon the mineral constitution of soils, and disposed of the organic 
 matter by one simple act of combustion. But more recent exper- 
 imenters have found, that the composition and condition of the or- 
 ganic matter are of the highest importance in relation to vegeta- 
 tion, and they have made great efforts to ascertain the true 
 character of mould or humus. It is agreed on all hands, that it 
 is composed of several distinct compounds. But, in determin- 
 
34 
 
 ing their nature we find, as we might expect, that distinguished 
 chemists differ somewhat in their conclusions. Berzelius in- 
 cludes all the organic matter of soils under the term humus. In 
 this he supposes that he finds crenic, apocrenic, and humic acids, 
 with extract of humus and humin. This was his view of the 
 subject, if I understood it, in 1840 ; and it does not differ from 
 his views seven years before, except in substituting recently the 
 term humic acid for geine, and humin for carbonaceous mould. 
 In this country, Dr. S. L. Dana employs the term geine in two 
 senses. When he speaks agriculturally, he means by it "all 
 the decomposed organic matter of the soil," which he divides 
 into the soluble and insoluble j and in this sense he regards cre- 
 nic and apocrenic acids, humin and extract of humin, as forms of 
 geine. When he speaks chemically, he regards geine as a distinct 
 compound, the same in composition as the substance denominated 
 geine by Berzelius in 1833, and humic acid in 1840; although 
 he supposes the humin and carbonaceous mould of the same chem- 
 ist to be identical with humic acid, and of course only varieties 
 of geine. Dr. Jackson, however, contends that geine is not a dis- 
 tinct compound, and that it is essentially composed of crenic and 
 apocrenic acids. I mention these facts, not with a view to enter 
 at all in this place, into the discussion of these points, but merely 
 to call the attention of gentlemen to them as matters of great in- 
 terest. I am too well acquainted with the gentlemen who have 
 adopted different views on these subjects, not to believe that they 
 will thankfully accept of light from any quarter, and consider it 
 an honor, rather than a disgrace, to give up opinions which exper- 
 iment or sound argument shows to be untenable. For they well 
 know, that in a progressive science, like agricultural chemistry, 
 the honor of original discovery belongs to him who makes an ad- 
 vance upon his predecessors ; nor can it pluck the laurel from his 
 brow, although others aided by his labors, should subsequently go 
 beyond him. In the present case it may be thought, that rules 
 for the analysis of soils, founded upon different views of the char- 
 acter of their organic matter, must be useless. But I must ex- 
 press the opinion, that the agricultural value of analyses, conduct- 
 ed according to these conflicting views, cannot be very different ; 
 and in a scientific respect, in the present state of agricultural 
 chemistry, analyses performed in different modes must be an im- 
 portant means of arriving ultimately at the truth. 
 
35 
 
 The remarkable fertilizing power of green sand, first discov- 
 ered in this country, has raised another question in agricul- 
 tural chemistry, of great practical interest, concerning which, 
 there is not so much of an opposition, as of an unsettled state of 
 opinion. The question is, which of the ingredients of this sub- 
 stance produce the fertilization. Ail will agree, probably, that 
 the potassa found in some green sand, acts an important part. But 
 if this is the only ingredient, then the green sands of New Eng- 
 land and old England, will be of no agricultural value, as they are 
 destitute of potassa. But others suppose that the iron exerts a 
 favorable influence ; and others, that the minutely divided state 
 of the silica is important ; as it seems to be in the Bergmehl, 
 which is also useful in agriculture. But I have time only to ex- 
 press the confident expectation, that some of the gentlemen who 
 hear me, will, ere many years, clear up this subject. 
 
 Had not these subjects been so intimately connected with sev- 
 eral of the state surveys, they might seem irrelevant on this occa- 
 sion. I return, therefore, to one more appropriately geological. 
 
 But little has yet been published respecting the anticlinal and 
 synclinal axes and their correspondent systems of strata in our 
 country ; although I doubt not that numerous facts on the subject 
 are in the note-books of our geologists, in respect to the particu- 
 lar sections of country which they have examined. But this is 
 one of those subjects upon which, as upon diluvial action, gene- 
 ral results, applicable to the whole country, can be made out only 
 after long examination ; it is one, therefore, peculiarly proper for 
 such an association as I now address ; and I predict, that when 
 the facts from different parts of this continent are collated and 
 compared, it will be found that we have some of the most re- 
 markable and magnificent systems of elevation and depression 
 on the globe. There is no small reason to believe, indeed, that 
 on the western side of this continent, from Cape Horn to the 
 northern Arctic Ocean, one vast anticlinal axis exists, along the 
 crest of the Andes and the Rocky Mountains. Subordinate and 
 perhaps intersecting systems of strata will undoubtedly be found 
 along this extended line ; but this appears to be the great con- 
 trolling and probably the most recent uplift on the continent. 
 The occurrence of volcanic vents along the whole line, while 
 they do not exist in the eastern part of the continent, renders it 
 probable that the former has been upheaved at a later epoch than 
 
36 
 
 the latter. But there is another fact that makes this almost cer- 
 tain, or it shows at least, that the western, and particularly the 
 southwestern part of the continent, has been raised to a much 
 greater height than the eastern side. It is well known that the 
 cretaceous formation of North America passes under the Atlantic 
 Ocean near New York, with its superincumbent tertiary strata. 
 The latter reappear on Long Island, arid in great distinctness 
 on Martha's Vineyard, near the coast of Massachusetts, beyond 
 which they are no more seen south of Greenland. But as we 
 go southwesterly from New York, the chalk formation gradually 
 rises, and between Council Bluff and the Rocky Mountains, as I 
 am informed by Mr. Nicollet, it sometimes reaches the height of 
 two thousand feet, which is much higher than on the Atlantic 
 coast. It appears, also, from the recent memoir of Von Buch, 
 on the petrifactions of South America, that the same formation 
 exists extensively developed in the Andes, from 10 north to 15 
 south latitude. It there attains the astonishing height of thir- 
 teen thousand feet above the ocean. Subsequent to the cretace- 
 ous period, therefore, the Andes must have risen to that height ; 
 while the coast of New England and the middle states has been 
 elevated only a few hundred feet. In the southern states the up- 
 lift appears to have been still less. 
 
 The Appalachian range of mountains forms another anticlinal 
 ridge, extending northeasterly through New England, and not 
 improbably to Labrador. The rise of this chain elevated the 
 cretaceous and tertiary rocks on the Atlantic slope, as well as the 
 new red sandstone, and tilted up the southeastern margin of the 
 transition rocks in the valley of the Mississippi. The uplift of 
 the Rocky Mountains raised the western side of the same rocks, 
 and produced the easterly slope of the strata extending to the 
 Mississippi. That river, therefore, flows through a synclinal val- 
 ley, and it was the existence of that valley which determined its 
 course. The same is true of the river Ohio, which, according to 
 Dr. Hildreth, flows through a synclinal valley. The sections given 
 by Prof. Emmons, show that the same is true of the St. Lawrence. 
 From the last report of Mr. Houghton, it appears that Lake Su- 
 perior occupies a synclinal valley, and not improbably a valley 
 of elevation. East of Little Falls, according to Mr. Conrad, the 
 Mohawk flows many miles through a valley of depression. In 
 New England, the primary strata dip towards the Connecticut 
 
37 
 
 river on both sides, at least through a considerable part of its 
 course ; and there is evidence, also, that an extensive fault in the 
 primary rocks runs through that valley. Prof. Mather describes 
 "a line of fracture and anticlinal axis" as passing a little west of 
 the Hudson river, as well as numerous joints and fractures in the 
 valley of the Hudson, which not improbably may be a valley of 
 dislocation. Indeed, I doubt not that in most of those cases 
 where rivers have found their way through gorges of lofty and 
 precipitous ridges, it will be discovered that a break previously 
 existed in the strata. To give an example : the great western 
 railroad, leading from Boston to Buffalo, and destined, ere long, to 
 reach St. Louis, and ultimately perhaps the Pacific Ocean, is car- 
 ried across the Hoosac range of mountains through a deep cut 
 made across the ridges by Westfield river j and in no other place, 
 probably, could it have been carried through. But I have re- 
 cently satisfied myself that the course of that river was deter- 
 mined for a considerable distance, at least, by the existence of a 
 wide fissure in the primary strata, which was subsequently filled 
 in part by an enormous vein of granite. Is not this a beautiful 
 example of prospective benevolence on the part of the Deity, 
 thus, by means of a violent fracture of primary mountains, to pro- 
 vide for easy intercommunication through alpine regions, count- 
 less ages afterwards ! 
 
 These slight sketches are sufficient to show that the great and 
 striking features of our country are dependant upon a few extend- 
 ed axes of elevation and depression ; and that probably subordi- 
 nate anticlinal and synclinal lines will be found connected with 
 most of the minor features of our surface. To trace them all 
 out will be a great, yet most interesting work ; as it will be to 
 ascertain the systems of strata connected with them. Of the 
 latter, we have in New England no less than five or six distinctly 
 marked. They are all of them of ancient date, and most of them 
 very ancient. The oldest, which may be called the oldest meri- 
 dional system, because it runs not far from north and south, is 
 composed chiefly of gneiss and mica slate \ and crosses Massa- 
 chusetts near its centre, including, although this is not certain, 
 probably the most elevated land in New England. The second, 
 which I call the northeast and southwest system, because it runs 
 in that direction, is more distinctly marked than any other ; hav- 
 ing a high and uniform northwesterly dip. It corresponds in 
 
38 
 
 direction with that of the Alleghany mountains, and probably 
 forms a part of their most easterly ranges. It extends, also, 
 through almost the whole of Maine. It is composed chiefly of 
 primary rocks. The third system, I call the east and west sys- 
 tem. It is composed of primary and the oldest fossiliferous rocks ; 
 having a northerly dip. It occupies no great space in New Eng- 
 land. But perhaps the east and west ridges of mountains de- 
 scribed by Dr. Houghton, on the south side of Lake Superior, 
 may belong to the same system ; although I think we ought to be 
 very cautious in referring the rocks of widely separated regions 
 to the same system ; especially if their strike is merely parallel, 
 and not upon the same continuous line. The fourth system em- 
 braces the rocks from gneiss upwards, so as to include most of the 
 clay slate and Silurian groups. The strata have a perpendicular 
 or inverted dip. I call it the Hoosac or Green mountain system, 
 because it embraces most of those mountains : but if I mistake 
 not, it extends through the whole of the Appalachian chain of 
 mountains, and possesses some remarkable peculiarities, to which 
 I shall shortly call your attention. The fifth system embraces 
 only the new red sandstone and its associated trap; and hence it 
 may be called the new red sandstone system. But I am in doubt 
 whether it ought not to be embraced in the fourth system. The 
 sixth system I call the northwest and southeast system, because 
 such is its strike, with a small northeasterly dip. It occurs in 
 Rhode Island, the southeast part of Massachusetts, and southwest 
 part of Maine : but it is very limited, unless it should be found 
 that the four ranges of mountains, described by Dr. Richardson, 
 in the extreme northwesterly part of this continent, belong to it. 
 I regard it as the most recent system in New England ; because, 
 although composed of gneiss and the older slates, it corresponds, 
 in strike and dip, with the eocene tertiary on Martha's Vineyard ; 
 and probably both were elevated at the same time. 
 
 The whole number of systems of strata, corresponding in their 
 general strike and dip in this country, will undoubtedly be found 
 to be much greater than those now described. Nor should I have 
 mentioned these, which have been observed in a limited district, 
 had I not great confidence in the uniformity and great extent of 
 the geological features of this country ; so that if we find a par- 
 ticular arrangement in one district, we may safely presume upon 
 the existence of its counterpart in other parts of the land. These 
 
39 
 
 hints, therefore, may afford some feeble aid in the great work of 
 tracing out the systems of elevation that exist on this continent. 
 
 I have alluded to some peculiarities in the Green Mountain sys- 
 tem of strata; and if I may venture a little longer upon your pa- 
 tience, I will ask a few moments' attention to what I must regard 
 as one of the most remarkable features in American geology. 
 Still, I have so imperfect a knowledge of the subject, as to be 
 conscious of venturing forward with few landmarks to guide me, 
 into an almost unknown region. I am aware, also, that there 
 are gentlemen before me, who have given the subject more atten- 
 tion than I have, and who are perhaps prepared for its full devel- 
 opement. 
 
 We have all read of the enormous dislocations and inversions 
 of the strata of the Alps ; and similar phenomena are said to exist 
 in the Andes. Will it be believed, that we have an example in 
 the United States on a still more magnificent scale than any yet 
 described ? I have mentioned in another connection, a series of 
 strata, consisting of gneiss, mica, talcose, and argillaceous slates, 
 with limestones and Silurian rocks, extending from Canada, along 
 the western side of New England and the eastern side of New 
 York, to the Highlands on Hudson river, and thence southwes- 
 terly through the Appalachian mountains as far as Alabama ; a 
 distance of at least twelve hundred miles. Along a large part of 
 this distance, a remarkable apparent inversion of the dip exhibits 
 itself ; so that the newer rocks appear to pass beneath the older 
 ones ; and that too over a great width of surface. Certainly this 
 is the case from Canada to New Jersey, and thence through 
 Pennsylvania and Virginia, I infer from the reports of the Profes- 
 sors Rogers, that similar phenomena occur, which these gentle- 
 men have been studying with great care and success ; and the 
 results, I learn, will soon be given to the public. The effects of 
 the extraordinary agency under consideration, has not been sim- 
 ply to toss over the strata, so as to give them an inverted dip, but 
 in general to produce a succession of folded axes, with a gentle 
 slope and dip on their eastern sides, and a high dip, or more fre- 
 quently an inverted one, on their western side. 
 
 Such a disturbance as this would be far less remarkable, were 
 it not so extensive. I cannot describe the width of the belt that 
 has been thus plicated, except in that portion of it which has 
 fallen under my notice. It appears to me, that in the latitude of 
 
40 
 
 Massachusetts, at least all the strata between the Hudson arid Con- 
 necticut rivers, and probably a little west of the Hudson, about 
 fifty miles in breadth, were affected by this disturbance. The first 
 ridge, in going westerly from the Connecticut to Hudson river, is 
 Hoosac mountain, and its eastern slope is gentle, while its western 
 side is very steep, and the strata are nearly perpendicular, or ra- 
 diate- from the axis of the mountain. This appears to have been 
 the principal axis of elevation. Next succeeds a deep valley and 
 then the Taconic range of mountains, which also slopes gently on 
 its east side, while its west side is very steep, and its crest very 
 narrow. The dip of the strata is also small on the east side, and 
 high on the other. Between this ridge and the Hudson, are no 
 ranges of mountains very well marked, but the same large in- 
 verted dip continues, and probably more than one folded axis may 
 be found in this space. Whether the belt of strata that have 
 been subjected to this singular disturbance, is as broad, north or 
 south of Massachusetts, I have no certain knowledge ; but pre- 
 sume it to be as wide and probably wider. 
 
 I am aware that some able geologists,* whose opinions I highly 
 respect, and who have carefully observed these phenomena, en- 
 deavor to explain them by supposing that we have mistaken the 
 secondary divisional planes of the rocks for true planes of strati- 
 fication ; or that the character of the slaty and calcareous rocks 
 of Taconic and Hoosac mountains has been misunderstood ; and 
 that they are in fact more recent than the fossiliferous rocks near 
 the Hudson ; in other words, that they are metamorphic. But 
 for reas'ons that cannot now be given, for want of time, I have 
 been forced to relinquish all these modes of explanation ; and al- 
 though I will not say that I fully adopt, yet I cannot but look 
 with a favorable bias upon the only remaining solution of the 
 problem already hinted at, that the strata have actually been toss- 
 ed over from their original position. 
 
 Let us suppose the strata between Hudson and Connecticut 
 rivers, while yet in a plastic state, (and the supposition may be 
 extended to any other section across this belt of country from 
 Canada to Alabama,) and while only slightly elevated, were acted 
 upon by a force at the two rivers, exerted in opposite directions. 
 If powerful enough, it might cause them to fold up into several 
 
 * See Prof. Emmons and Mather's views in the reports of the New York sur- 
 vey for 1837, p. 232, and for 1841, p. 92. 
 
41 
 
 ridges ; and if more powerful along the western than the eastern 
 side, they might fall over so as to take an inverted dip, without 
 producing any remarkable dislocations, while subsequent denuda- 
 tion would give to the surface its present outline. 
 
 Now in support of such a supposition, it may be said, first, that 
 it would satisfactorily explain the present position of the strata. 
 For if they could now be lifted up and made to dip in an opposite 
 direction, every thing, for the most part, would be brought right ; 
 that is, the natural order of superposition would be restored. Se- 
 condly, this supposition explains the moderate dip of the rocks in 
 the valleys, and the gentle slope of the mountains on their east- 
 ern sides, and the abrupt escarpment of their western sides. 
 Thirdly, the occurrence of thermal springs along many of these 
 folded axes, as is the case in New England and Virginia, and the 
 extensive dolomitization of the limestone in the valleys, afford 
 presumptive evidence of long lines of fracture, just where, by this 
 hypothesis, they ought to exist. Fourthly, we should readily ad- 
 mit that such a plication and inversion of the strata might take 
 place on a small scale. If for instance, we were to press against 
 the extremities of a series of plastic layers two feet long, they 
 could easily be made to assume the position into which the rocks 
 under consideration are thrown. Why then should we not be 
 equally ready to admit that this might as easily be done, over a 
 breadth of fifty miles, and a length of twelve hundred, provided 
 we can find in nature, forces sufficiently powerful ? Finally, such 
 forces do exist in nature, and have often been in operation. After 
 we have admitted, as every geologist does admit, that the exist- 
 ing continents and mountains of the globe have been elevated 
 from the ocean's bed, there is scarcely any effect, short of an im- 
 possibility, which we may not impute to the same agency. Merely 
 for illustration, without maintaining its truth, let us suppose with 
 Beaumont, that the vertical movements of our continents result 
 from the shrinking of the internal parts of the earth, which cau- 
 ses a plication of its crust, simply by the force of gravity. And 
 suppose the present crest of the Appalachian and Green moun- 
 tains to have formed the line of least resistance on this continent. 
 Is it difficult to conceive, that by such a power, a broad belt of 
 the earth's crust, more than a thousand miles long, might have 
 been ridged and overturned, with just as much facility, as a sec- 
 tion two feet long, with the force which a man could exert ? I 
 
 6 
 
42 
 
 apprehend that the chief difficulty is to bring the mind up to a 
 realization of so mighty an agency. In other words, the diffi- 
 culty lies in the narrowness of our views, rather than in the in- 
 adequacy of nature. I confess, that as I have sometimes stood 
 upon some of our loftiest mountains, that seem to have been over- 
 turned, and looked into the valleys, from one thousand to two 
 thousand feet deep, and abroad upon the vast ridges that stretch- 
 ed away far as the eye could follow them on every side, and then 
 tried to conceive of them extending from Canada to Alabama, 
 and to have been ridged up and thrown over, my mind has stag- 
 gered under the mighty thought, and I have involuntarily ex- 
 claimed, that such a work could have been performed only by 
 the immediate agency of Him, who meted out heaven with a 
 span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and 
 weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance. 
 
 But I must not dwell longer upon this fascinating theme : and 
 I must desist also, not for want of materials but for want of time, 
 from pointing out other objects of interest in American geology 
 that deserve the special attention of this Association. 
 
 And now, on looking back upon the ground which I have gone 
 over, I am astonished and delighted at the progress of American 
 geology, and it seems to me more like a dream than the reality. 
 Only twenty five years ago, when first my attention was turned 
 to the subject, excepting the grand but rough outline sketched by 
 Maclure, and a few insulated efforts by Professors Silliman, Cleave- 
 land and Eaton, and Dr. Hayden, all was darkness and perplexi- 
 ty. A geologist was as rare as an oasis amid the sands of Africa ; 
 and to be seen accoutred geologically, with hammer and knapsack, 
 would subject one to ridicule, if not to a suspicion of insanity. 
 But how changed the scene ! From the top to the bottom of the 
 series, the principal groups of our rocks seem now to be nearly 
 settled and identified. And as the rapid rise and developemetit 
 of this great nation is a spectacle of deep interest and sublimity, 
 so our geologists find a correspondent grandeur in our rock forma- 
 tions. Now too, nearly all the state governments of this country 
 extend their patronage to geological researches ; lectures upon ge- 
 ology are demanded and given in all our larger towns ; and the 
 wonders of this science form the theme of discussion in the draw- 
 ing-rooms of taste and fashion, 
 
43 
 
 You perceive, therefore, gentlemen, that in the work which we 
 have undertaken, we are urged forward by powerful motives ; 
 and although much has been done, still more remains to be ac- 
 complished. Indeed, the enterprise is as yet only just begun. 
 Even when the state surveys are completed, there will be abun- 
 dant opportunity to gather fresh laurels in the same field. For, 
 then the way will be prepared to go into particular districts, un- 
 incumbered by horses and carriages, and spending time enough 
 there on foot, fully to explore and understand their structure ; a 
 work, which can hardly be done, except in a few instances, du- 
 ring the limited time devoted to the state surveys. A multitude 
 of points in our geology, also, are yet only dimly seen, or imper- 
 fectly settled. In fixing these, and developing new discoveries, 
 there will arise differences of opinion, and we may expect to fall 
 into frequent perplexities and mistakes. But let not such differ- 
 ences generate distrust and alienation, among those who have an 
 important common cause to sustain, and an interest as well as fel- 
 low-feeling in sustaining one another. Let discussion be as free 
 as air ; and let every man keep his mind open to conviction ; 
 but American geologists, above all other scientific men, have no 
 time for personal altercation. They have too great a work before 
 them ; they are scattered over so vast a field, that it will be diffi- 
 cult to interfere with one another ; and all of them, I doubt not, 
 would welcome other laborers, to aid in gathering the abundant 
 harvest. 
 
 I make these remarks, not because I have observed among our 
 geologists any peculiar tendency to alienation and controversy, 
 but because I have witnessed the reverse ; and, therefore, such 
 remarks may have some influence in preserving them from those 
 jealousies and personal altercations that have too often broken up 
 the harmony of scientific associations. 
 
 As motives to continued exertion I have mentioned the favor of 
 government, and the just estimation in which the community are 
 beginning to hold our favorite science. But there are con- 
 siderations of a much more elevated character, to urge onward 
 the genuine student of nature. The cultivation of this science 
 carries with it its own reward. It is continually disclosing to its 
 votaries, facts and inferences of most thrilling interest. How 
 eagerly does the antiquary unroll the newly discovered papyrus, 
 that reveals an earlier chapter in a nation's history, or the exist- 
 
44 
 
 ence of some hitherto unknown race ! The farther back the 
 new record carries him, the deeper is his interest and enthusiasm. 
 Such developements of lost races and lost ages in the world's 
 history, are continually rewarding the labors of the geologist ; 
 and in point of antiquity, I had almost said, that the most ancient 
 event in chronology, the six days work of creation, is the most 
 recent in geology. From that beginning of registered time, we 
 wander back through cycles of duration, which we can measure 
 only by a succession of events, and not by chronological dates, 
 except to be assured that they are inconceivably long ; and yet, 
 the relics of those early periods are as fresh as if entombed yester- 
 day. The fossil reptile, or fish, or shell, nay, even their most 
 delicate parts, are as perfect as when alive ; although tens, and 
 perhaps hundreds of thousands of years have rolled away since 
 they died. We see their footmarks following one another in reg- 
 ular succession, as distinct as those of living animals upon the 
 snow and the mud j and even the pattering of a shower, that fell 
 thousands of ages ago, is as fresh before us, as if every drop had 
 been instantly petrified. In short, there passes before us a series 
 of distinct creations of organic beings, adapted to the varying 
 condition of our planet ; each successive group becoming more 
 and more perfect, until every thing in nature was prepared for the 
 existing races, with man as the crown of all. 
 
 Such developements as these are no longer to be regarded as 
 the dreams of disordered fancy, but as the sober and legitimate 
 deductions of science. And what large and refreshing views do 
 they present of the plans and the benevolence of the Deity ! 
 They open back a vista as far and as wide into the arcana of time, 
 as astronomy discloses into the arcana of space. They show 
 us that the brief space of man's existence on the globe, is but 
 one of the units of a vast series of cycles that have passed already 
 away ; and the time is at hand, when geology, equally with 
 astronomy, will be celebrated for its power of liberalizing the 
 mind and filling it with noble conceptions of the universe and its 
 Infinite Author. Surely, in such ennobling thoughts, the geolo- 
 gist finds a rich reward for all his toils. 
 
 I know indeed, that our science has been regarded as coming 
 into collision with that sacred volume, to which, as Christians, 
 we are bound to bow as the invariable standard of religious truth. 
 Geologists, too, have been represented, and I must say without 
 
45 
 
 any proof from their writings, as exulting in the supposed collis- 
 ion ; but I am happy to believe, that such apprehensions are rap- 
 idly passing away. Theologians, of enlarged and impartial minds 
 are beginning to study geology ; and instead of finding its truths 
 hostile to revelation, they find, that it furnishes them with new 
 and interesting matter, such as no other science can, for illustra- 
 ting the perfections and government of Jehovah ; and such men 
 as Drs. Chalmers and Smith,* have already reaped from it a rich 
 harvest. I trust that the day is not distant, when the supposed 
 geological objection to revelation will be as little remembered, as 
 is now the analogous objection derived from the Copernican sys- 
 tem of astronomy ; and which, two or three hundred years ago, 
 was supposed to be fraught with so much danger. 
 
 Another mode in which practical geology carries with it its 
 own reward, is by bringing us into constant communion with 
 unsophisticated nature, in her most sublime and interesting as- 
 pects. It is hardly possible to place the geologist in any spot on 
 the globe, where he does not witness around him the marks of 
 mighty agencies and revolutions, that are unheeded by the com- 
 mon mind, but which furnish him with a rich fund for reflection. 
 But his most appropriate place is among the wildest scenery of 
 nature ; now, plunging into the deep cavern, studded with glit- 
 tering spars, and perhaps the charnel-house of the antediluvian 
 world ; now, tracing his way through the dark gorge, with jutting 
 rocks rising around him, as if they formed the battlements of 
 heaven ; now, mounting the lofty ridge and drinking in the glo- 
 ries of the vast landscape ; and now, standing upon the edge of 
 the yawning precipice, to witness the roaring cataract, as the 
 waters thunder down their steep and rocky bed, until, escaping 
 from their narrow passage, they flow out quietly, as the calm and 
 majestic river, to fertilize and beautify the extended plain. In 
 all these scenes, he sees the arm of Omnipotence laid bare, and 
 is initiated into the sublimest mysteries of nature. There, while 
 his body and his mind are invigorated, he acquires a permanent 
 relish for all in creation that is sublimely great and elegantly lit- 
 tle. Henceforth, he possesses a source of gratification of which 
 
 * See Chalmers's Natural Theology, and Smith's Lectures on the Relation be- 
 tween the Holy Scriptures and some parts of Geological Science. An able view 
 of this subject is also given in the sermons of Rev. Mr. Melville, of London, Vol. 
 ii, p. 297, Am. edition. 
 
46 
 
 all the fluctuations and calamities of life cannot deprive him. 
 Other sources of happiness, as circumstances change and age ad- 
 vances, will pass away. But, a genuine attachment to nature 
 clinging to the heart will buoy it up, when the powers begin to 
 fail, and the floods of affliction to roll over us ; and like the vol- 
 cano surrounded by polar snows, the flame will seem more bright 
 and beautiful amid the frosts of age. Hac. studia adolescentiarn 
 alunt, senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis perfu- 
 gium ac solatium prcebent ; delectant domi, non impediunt foris ; 
 pernoctant nobiscum, peregrinantur, rusticantur. (Cicero, Orat. 
 pro Archia.) 
 
 Gentlemen, in these remarks I am confident that I am descri- 
 bing your own experience. For this love of nature, and not 
 governmental or individual patronage, has been your chief stim- 
 ulant in geological research. Should that patronage, which is 
 now extended to your efforts, be withdrawn, of which I have 
 little fear, and should the tide of popular favor turn against 
 you, I know that you will not, therefore, be diverted from your 
 favorite pursuit. No : let us rather pledge ourselves to more vig- 
 orous efforts in this noble enterprise, which has already done 
 so much, and is destined to do much more, to develop the re- 
 sources of our beloved country ; so much to awaken youthful 
 genius ; so much to promote our personal happiness ; so much to 
 -enlarge the boundaries of science ; and, above all, so much to un- 
 fold the glories and illustrate the perfections of the INFINITE 
 DEITY. 
 
 Officers of the Association for 1841-2. 
 
 Prof. B. SILLIMAN, LL. D., M. D., and F. G. S. L., &c., 
 
 Chairman. 
 
 Prof. LEWIS C. BECK, M. D., &c., Secretary. 
 Mr. B. SILLIMAN, Jr. 
 
 Mr. B. SILLIMAN, Jr. ) . 
 
 Mr. CHARLES B. TREGO, \ ^^tant Secretaries. 
 
47 
 
 List of th6 Members of the Association of American Geologists. 
 
 Prof. B. SILLIMAN, 
 
 New Haven, Ct. 
 Prof. EDWARD HITCHCOCK, 
 
 Amherst, Mass. 
 Prof. LEWIS C. BECK, 
 
 New Brunswick, N. J. 
 Prof. HENRY D. ROGERS, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 LARDNER VANUXEM, 
 
 Bristol, Pa. 
 WILLIAM W. MATHER, 
 
 Jackson C. H., Ohio. 
 Prof. WALTER R. JOHNSON, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 TIMOTHY A. CONRAD, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 Prof. EBENEZER EMMONS, 
 
 JAMES HALL, 
 
 CHARLES B. TREGO, 
 
 Albany, N. Y. 
 Albany, N. Y. 
 
 Prof. JAMES C. BOOTH, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 MARTIN H. Bo YE, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 ROBERT E. ROGERS, M. D., 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 ALEXANDER McKiNLEY, 
 
 C. B. HAYDEN, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Smithfield, Va. 
 RICHARD C. TAYLOR, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 DOUGLASS HOUGHTON, M. D., 
 
 Detroit, Michigan. 
 BELA HUBBARD, 
 
 Detroit, Michigan. 
 CHARLES T. JACKSON, M. 1)., 
 
 Boston, Mass. 
 Prof. J. T. DUCATEL, 
 
 Baltimore, Md. 
 Prof. JAMES B. ROGERS, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Prof. WILLIAM B. ROGERS, 
 
 University of Virginia. 
 
 C. BRIGGS, Jr., 
 
 Columbus, Ohio. 
 
 S. P. HlLDRETH, M. D., 
 
 Prof. J. P. KlRTLAND, 
 
 Marietta, Ohio. 
 
 Prof. JOHN LOCKE, 
 
 Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 
 Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 
 Prof. J. LANG CASSELS, 
 
 F. MERRICK, 
 J. W. FOSTER, 
 
 Willoughby, Ohio. 
 
 Athens, Ohio. 
 
 Zanesville, Ohio. 
 
 CHARLES WHITTLESEY, 
 
 EZRA S. CARR, 
 
 Columbus, Ohio. 
 
 E. N. HORSFORD, 
 
 Albany, N. Y. 
 
 Albany, N. Y. 
 
 EBENEZER EMMONS, Jr., 
 
 Albany, N. Y. 
 WILLIAM HORTON, 
 
 Craigville. Orange Co.,N. Y. 
 COLUMBUS C. DOUGLASS, 
 
 Detroit, Michigan. 
 ABRAHAM SAGER, M. D., 
 
 Detroit, Michigan. 
 JOHN R. COTTING, 
 
 Milledgeville, Georgia. 
 ANDREW A. HENDERSON, 
 
 Huntingdon, Penn. 
 ROBERT M. S. JACKSON, % 
 
 Huntingdon, Penn. 
 JAMES T. HODGE, 
 
 Plymouth, Mass. 
 ISRAEL SLADE, 
 
 Charlottesville, Va. 
 Prof. CHARES B. ADAMS, 
 
 Middlebury, Vt. 
 ABRAHAM JENKINS, Jr., 
 
 Barre, Mass. 
 
48 
 
 Prof. ALBERT HOPKINS, 
 
 OWEN MASON, 
 
 Williamstown, Mass. 
 
 JOHN L. HAYES, 
 
 Providence, R. I. 
 
 JOSIAH D. WHITNEY, 
 
 Portsmouth, N. H. 
 
 Northampton, Mass. 
 MOSES B. WILLIAMS, 
 
 Boston, Mass. 
 P. LESLEY, Jr., 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 Prof. OLIVER P. HUBBARD, 
 
 Hanover, N. H. 
 Prof. J. W. BAILEY, 
 
 West Point, N. Y. 
 
 B. SlLLlMAN, Jr., 
 
 New Haven, Ct. 
 PETER A. BROWNE, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 WILLIAM C. REDFIELD, 
 
 JOSEPH A. CLAY, 
 
 EDWARDS HALL, 
 J. N. NICOLLET, 
 
 New York. 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 GEORGE B. EMERSON, 
 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
 JOHN F. PRAZER, 
 
 FRANCIS MARKOE, Jr., 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Washington City. 
 Rev. ALONZO GRAY, 
 
 Andover, Mass. 
 JOHN H. REDFIELD, New York. 
 Prof. AMOS EATON, 
 
 Troy, N. Y. 
 JAMES D. WHELPLEY, 
 
 Neiv Haven, Ct. 
 
 ISAAC LEA, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Albany, N. Y. 
 Baltimore. 
 
 Prof. PARKER CLEAVELAND, 
 
 Bowdoin, Maine. 
 Prof. J. W. WEBSTER, 
 
 Boston, Mass. 
 Prof. CHESTER DEWEY, 
 
 Rochester, N. Y. 
 SAMUEL L. DANA, M. D., 
 
 Lowell, Mass. 
 T. ROMEYN BECK, M. D., 
 
 Albany, N. Y. 
 'Prof. JAMES RENWICK, 
 
 New York. 
 
 SAMUEL G. MORTON, M. D., 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 RICHARD HARLAN, M. D., 
 
 JOHN GRISCOM, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 THOMAS NUTTALL, 
 
 H. H. HAYDEN, M. D., 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Baltimore. 
 
 Dr. HENRY KING, 
 
 St. Louis, Missouri. 
 DAVID DALE OWEN, 
 
 New Harmony, Indiana. 
 
 Officers of the Association for the Meeting to be held in Boston 
 
 the last Monday in April, 1842. 
 SAMUEL GEORGE MORTON, M. D., &c., Chairman. 
 CHARLES T. JACKSON, F. G. S., (France,) M. D., &c. Secretary. 
 Prof. EDWARD HITCHCOCK, ""I 
 Dr. CHARLES T. JACKSON, > Local Committee. 
 Mr. MOSES B. WILLIAMS, J 
 Prof. B. SILLIMAN, LL. D., &c. to deliver the opening address. 
 
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