thentic sources, and the result of extensive research and just observation. The description of natural objects is attended with difficulties, in proportion to the number and variety of their features, and the indistinctness of their connections and relations. Hence the difficulties of topographical description; the smallest portion of the earth frequently presents a great variety of surface, soil and character, from the influence of local causes, and an apparent and incongruous connection of natural objects, which is almost every where to be observ. ed. At the base of a rugged granitic ridge, we often find a smooth and fertile plain; the frosty and sterile hill is often connected with the warm and fertile dale; the craggy cliff is found approaching the water's edge, upon a stream, the borders of which, elsewhere, are lined with beautiful alluvial; and perhaps this very alluvial is bounded by a lofty ridge of mountain, and upon the summit of this mountain, though vastly elevated from the stream below, there may be embosomed an extensive sheet of water. From this surprising, and often marvellous connection and diversity of the physical features of the earth, it is difficult to give an accurate description of its surface, soil and character, without a minuteness which could not be indulged, even if the materials could be obtained.

But notwithstanding the prevalence of local varictics the effect of local causes, most sections of country are characterized by certain distinct features, both as it respects their internal structure and external appearance, which generally prevail, and distinguish them from other districts in the immediate neighbourhood.

A concise notice of the several distinct districts of country, which this State presents, and their general and prominent characteristics, is all that can be expected in a general view of the State. The extensive argillaceous vale upon Connecticut river claims the first attention in this view. This district commences at Middletown, and extends through the State; being about 30 miles in length, from north to south, and from 10 to 16 in width, extending upon both sides of the river. The northern part of this tract bounds west upon the great greenstone range of mountain, and east upon the granitic range, in the eastern section of the State. This tract, with the exception of the alluvial upon the Connecticunt, has an undulating surface, being pleasantly diversified with moderate hills and gentle declivities. The prevailing soil is a strong and fertile argillaceous loam, varying, in different sections, from a hard, stiff clay, to a light, sandy loam, according to the prevalence of aluminous or siliceous earths. This may be considered as the richest agricultural section, of the same extent, in the State, or perhaps in New-England.

West of this, is the greenstone district, consisting of the declivities of the greenstone mountain; and the vales between its several branches, of which the Farmington vale, west of this mountain, is the most considerable, commencing in the vicinity of New-Haven, and extending through the State, a distance of about 50 miles it is

from three to five miles in width. The vale of Quinipiack, in Wallingford and North-Haven, about 15 miles in length, and from two to five in breadth, belongs to this district, although the southern section of it is light and sandy. This tract is generally very fertile, and of an argillaceous character, and a rich farming district. West of the vale following the course of the greenstone mountain, in the northern part of the State, commences the declivities or subsidence of the extensive granitic mountain, extending through the State. This is an elevated, granitic, primitive region, generally rough and broken; and some sections of it frosty and sterile, particularly the evergreen district, in its northern part; but in general it is a good grazing country. West of this section, upon the borders of the Ousatonick, are calcarcous vales of considerable extent, being from half a mile to five miles in breadth. This tract is very rich, and well adapted to a grain culture.

The Connecticut river vale, upon the east, is lost in the declivities of the eastern granitic range, extending through the State. From this mountain eastwardly to Rhode-Island, it is generally a mountainous or hilly country, of a primitive, geological character; but the prevailing soil is warm, strong and fertile, being excellent for grazing; and upon the Quinibaug, Shetucket, and their branches, there are numerous small but fertile vales. The granitic district, from Lyme, eastwardly, extends south to the sound; but westwardly, to the extremity of the State, or to New-York line, there is a beautiful and interesting flat, upon the border of Long-Island sound; being from one to three miles in width. The most extensive and valuable part of this flat, is west of the Ousatonick river. The soil is generally a gravelly loam, very deep, strong and fertile, and some sections of marine alluvial. West of the Ousatonick, this flat is lost in a gradual rise, extending to the north and west, which becomes elevated and hilly, but not mountainous.

Mountains.-There are five distinct and considerable mountains in the State. Three of them are of a granitic, geological character, and two of greenstone. The western or Ousatonick mountain commen、 ces in the southwestern section of the State, and extends northwardly through it; its general course following that of the Ousatonick river. This mountain has no distinct continuous ridge, but consists of a succession of eminences, and numerous spurs and branches, some of which are very elevated, particularly Mount Tom, situated between Litchfield and Washington, which has an altitude of 700 feet. The general character of this mountain is granitic; but its prevailing features are in many respects different from those of the other two granitic ranges. It is not continuous, and the summits of the eminences, although equally elevated, and more bald, are not so cold and frosty. Its declivities generally afford a warm, fertile soil; and the base of many of the eminences consists of limestone, which also abounds in

many of the intervening vales. This mountain is rich in mineral treasures, particularly iron ore, which abounds in various places.

The next granitic range, in order, commences in the western section of New-Haven county, and extends northwardly through the State, into the interior of New-England. It consists of a continuous ridge, generally facing to the east. It is not very elevated, its summits being principally covered with forests. The northern section of this range is clothed with evergreens; hence it is here called the Greenwoods mountain. This evergreen region is cold, frosty and sterile. The northern section of this range is more elevated, its ascent more direct, and its declivities very rugged.

The third is a greenstone range. This mountain rises near the sound, in the vicinity of New-Haven. It has, for some distance, two branches; one of which commences at East and the other at West rock. The West rock branch extends some distance, and subsides. The west branch, and the east branch for some distance, are a succession of eminences; but the latter becomes continuous and elevated, extending in a northerly direction through the State, and far into the interior. This range has very conspicuous and peculiar features. It faces to the west, presenting, upon its west side, a bold, mural precipice, which, near the summit, consists of naked rocks, exhibited in broken fragments. Upon the east it has a gradual rise, and affords extensive and fertile declivities. The greenstone strata of this range, in their general features and mineral treasures, correspond with the trap or greenstone of the old world. They abound in minerals, particularly copper ore, which is found in various places. This mountain may with propriety be called the great greenstone range.

The fourth range of mountain commences in the eastern section of New-Haven, in the vicinity of Long Island sound, and extends northwardly, forming the western boundary of Middletown, and terminates at Rocky-hill, in Hartford. This range is of the same geological character as the last, but is not continuous; consisting of a succession of eminences or hills, which in general have but a moderate height; but there are some very bold elevations, exhibiting the more prominent features of the great greenstone range. This has usually been called the Middletown mountain, but with more propriety might be called the lesser greenstone range. These several mountains are all west of Connecticut river.

The fifth mountain is the extensive granitic range east of Connecticut river, which forms the height of land that separates the waters that fall into the Connecticut from those that run into the Thames. This mountain has, at its commencement, two branches; the principal of which rises in the eastern section of New-Haven county, and extends northeastwardly, and rising upon the east side of Connecticut river. The other branch commences near the sound, in Lyme, and extends northwardly, nearly parallel with the river; but is not continuous, consisting of broken eminences. But after the union of these

branches, the mountain becomes a distinct and continuous range. becoming more elevated as it extends to the north, affording some bold elevations, of which Bald mountain, situated between Somers and Stafford, is the most distinguished. The prevailing strata of this range are primitive granite; but in many of its declivities micaceous schistus abounds.

Mineralogy. The mineral treasures of Connecticut are valuable and extensive; but they have received but little attention, with the exception of iron ore. This is the most important mineral in the State. It abounds in Salisbury and Kent, and is of an excellent quality. It is also found in Sherman, Roxbury, Washington and Cornwall, and bog ore, of an excellent quality for castings, is found in Stafford. Copper ore abounds in various places in the greenstone range, particularly in Granby, Hamden and Cheshire. Iron pyrites has been found in Hamden and Berlin; and there are indications of galena, or lead ore, in Berlin, Cheshire, Middletown, Brookfield and Killingly. Black lead, or plumbago, has been discovered in Cornwall and Marlborough. Porcelain clay has been found in New-Milford and Cornwall, white clay in Washington, and yellow ochre also in Washington and NewMilford. Recently a valuable cobalt mine has been discovered in Chatham. From the examinations which have been made, the ore of this valuable mineral is extensive; being found principally in micaceous veins. This is a very valuable mineral, and promises to be a source of great profit.

Limestone abounds extensively in the western section of the State, particularly upon the borders of the Ousatonick river, and in the vales intervening between the mountainous eminences and ridges, which characterize this section of the State. Marble is found in New-Milford, Washington, Brookfield and Milford. That in the latter place is clouded, resembling the Italian dove marble; has a rich colour, an excellent texture, and sustains a very high polish.

Quarries of freestone exist in various places, particularly within the argillaceous district upon Connecticut river. Those most deserving of notice, in a general view, are in Chatham, Haddam and East-Hartford. There is also a quarry of excellent white fire proof stone in Stafford, suitable for furnace hearths; a singular coincidence, that stone, suitable for furnace hearths, which is rarely found, should exist in the neighbourhood of iron ore, of a suitable quality for casting.

Some small quantities of coal have been found in Berlin, and recently in Suffield. There are also some indications of coal in Middletown and Hartford.

The mineral waters of the State are numerous; but there are no watering places of much celebrity, except those of Stafford and Suffield. The first of these has deservedly acquired a conspicuous reputation, is a place of extensive resort, and is provided with very ample accommodations; the latter is also provided with convenient ac

many of the intervening vales. This mountain is rich in mineral treasures, particularly iron ore, which abounds in various places.

The next granitic range, in order, commences in the western section of New-Haven county, and extends northwardly through the State, into the interior of New-England. It consists of a continuous ridge, generally facing to the east. It is not very elevated, its summits being principally covered with forests. The northern section of this range is clothed with evergreens; hence it is here called the Greenwoods mountain. This evergreen region is cold, frosty and sterile. The northern section of this range is more elevated, its ascent more direct, and its declivities very rugged.

The third is a greenstone range. This mountain rises near the sound, in the vicinity of New-Haven. It has, for some distance, two branches; one of which commences at East and the other at West rock. The West rock branch extends some distance, and subsides. The west branch, and the east branch for some distance, are a succession of eminences; but the latter becomes continuous and elevated, extending in a northerly direction through the State, and far into the interior. This range has very conspicuous and peculiar features. It faces to the west, presenting, upon its west side, a bold, mural precipice, which, near the summit, consists of naked rocks, exhibited in broken fragments. Upon the east it has a gradual rise, and affords extensive and fertile declivities. The greenstone strata of this range, in their general features and mineral treasures, correspond with the trap or greenstone of the old world. They abound in minerals, particularly copper ore, which is found in various places. This mountain may with propriety be called the great greenstone range.

The fourth range of mountain commences in the eastern section of New-Haven, in the vicinity of Long Island sound, and extends northwardly, forming the western boundary of Middletown, and terminates at Rocky-hill, in Hartford. This range is of the same geological character as the last, but is not continuous; consisting of a succession of eminences or hills, which in general have but a moderate height; but there are some very bold elevations, exhibiting the more prominent features of the great greenstone range. This has usually been called the Middletown mountain, but with more propriety might be called the lesser greenstone range. These several mountains are all west of Connecticut river.

The fifth mountain is the extensive granitic range east of Connecticut river, which forms the height of land that separates the waters that fall into the Connecticut from those that run into the Thames. This mountain has, at its commencement, two branches; the principal of which rises in the eastern section of New-Haven county, and extends northeastwardly, and rising upon the east side of Connecticut river. The other branch commences near the sound, in Lyme, and extends northwardly, nearly parallel with the river; but is not continuous, consisting of broken eminences. But after the union of these