Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-11-20
From the Boston Patriot

- \
tern Journal We find interesting remarks on the
mineral regions at Ohio aud Illinois, and account of
ga petr'fi forest, described by Judge Hall in tue
ILLINOIS Magazine The mineral egion of Illinois is
said TO be unrivaled. II IS yet but partially tieyeI
oped. Chemistry, mncraiogy, and geology will vet
unfold ITS treasures The rich turf which yet covers
Its prarcs has scarcely bruken excppt for The
purposes of agriculture; and the which lie be-
meath it, a, present are useless. II is bceSnI that
the mineral region viii supply lead enough Cor The use
OF both Europe and America. Copper and coal have
been frequently discovered; and silver ore has been
found in the southern parts of the state Medicinal
springs have hecn found. strongly mpregnated with
suphate of nagncsia and other mineral pr lpertics
One ofthe mos curious mineral discoveries ofsska.
present day, is the "petriiied forest on the N
river. A letter to The editor of the Illinois ~
states, that the pc tritactions of stunps and
trees abundant for the distance of thirty 4 a.
Yer open prairie the bank OF the Mis-
rhe topography of this section of the count.y.
ows ON the sd.s "i limits Of the hills a, an e.
several hundred feet above the level of the
river, and at an estimated height of some thousand
feet above the the eaths surface is literally CO.
vered with sumps, limbs and of pe,rifed trees
presenting the appearance of ga petried torest bro
ken and thrown down by powerful con,uI,ion
OF nature, and scattered in all directions in innumcra
BILE fragments
Some Of the trees appeared have been broken off
IN falling, close to their roots; while others stand at an
elevation of several feet above the surface Some of
the stumps when measured proved to be upwards of
fifteen feet in circumference
AS these formations arc suDnoseJ I'm y. r-o,,r..I
by the agency OF water and Of mineral substance il is
natural TO conjecture that this region at some dav
been siiomersed in water. But when; Are they An.
tedluVan remains; this re pon GOV cred NJ M
Rod subsequent to the general delugei They must
have proceeded from such causes unless il is
that petrifactions may be produced by the smoI,
ton OF the atmosphere. These are interesting ,opics
of enquiry.
| petriied forest! 4 vast wilderness ch.,gca %
STONE! was 1t the gradual work of ages; and did the
hand OF grey time de post the stony particles
in the grains of the wood, sand by sand or was il
ther an instantaneous transformation from vegetable
lite TO mineral death, like the sudden change of oa
wife INTO pillar of salt Did the great process of 40
trhcatlon commence at the day, when Noab,s vessel
OF Old, was tossed III the boundess and overwhelming
waters oi the Deluge, or not till ages afterwards
some great nundation, IN The prar,es of the W.s,!-
Has there taken place in those extensive
some mighty unreveslcd flood laying waste she f,;r
hunting grounds of the ering aborvipal su.on
ing away his cabin the hill compelling him 4, true,
his lie to his birchen canoe; destroying the line
and the mammoth uprootng forests, and tearing In,
limb from limb; and plungng all nature into Chaos
Could these things be, and If so, NAV not an ali ws.
Providence direct their recurrence
beautiful object must be that ''petrif- ed fores,
either when the md day sunshine sets IL, diamond
Particles in blaze; when the twilight colours
with ROXY hus' or the moonlight, endues j. with
marble ike whiteness. You might fancy Yourself in
AlaIns garden but that the trees the scIyes az well
as the fruit, like diamonds, and precious son.s
You might fancy YOURSELF III winter forest of Ncw
England whose massy branches and trunks mr.. b..,;
ly encrusted with ice, and sparkling snow YIN p;h,
fancy yourself among the sparry grotoes of fairy-Ian
but there IS little need for the exercise of fancy wb
II hardly surpass the simple and substantial
What a scene for the pen Of Byron or a SCAT,
vast forest with its inhabitants savage man.
bIrd--at a moment transformed aad retrif.d--.n;r,o
ted nature changed into inapmatc matter-lre IN =;
lent aud unchaDging death.