Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-03-14

there is assure in the rock, and large pebbles OF
yard in diameter are found, hard, finty, round
ed at the ends and placed all in one direction, just
like fleet of ships at anchor all their sterns in
one direction, turned thus by the current; and
have no doubt this appearance was occasioned in
the same way by strong current of the ocean.-
Ii is common feat of gaantry for young men
to exhibit their agility by leaping across this
chasm in the presence OF those whose admiration
they seek and the place thus came to be called
Purgatory- SO IL would be il they should fall
into it, In Herefordslire, England, great album
dance of such rocks may be found. containing
most beautiful pebbles and looking much like a
plum pudding petrifed, whence, indeed, they de-
rive their name.
We will now pass to the rocks which are found
lying upon tho clay slate, called by distinguished
German Geologist Werner, transition rocks, be-
cause they are placed midway between the gran
tie or primary rocks and the secondary. They
lie the last Of the primary rocks aud continue 10
the old red sandstone, or as some say to the lime
stone under the coal. But this term had better
be discarded, as il had reference TO the heretica
doctrine that The earth was at first choatic, and
that il passed gradually to it's present state.
The general division Of these rocks is into the
Silurian and Cainbran from the reason that they
prevailed in those parts Of Wales called Cambria
and Suria. They were found by the Romans
when they frs, visited that country and were ex.
amlned by an English Geologisi, Hutchinson,
vesiigated The Ural mountains, IL the Russian En-
peror caused canal to be cut for his especial ben
eft in examining certain locality aud am glad
to see these eminent men Of science visiting our
country. l may say that am the only survivor
Of the first corps of geologsls in this country
DIR. Mcclure, Prof Cleveland DR.. Mitchell, and
one or two others with myself, were the first to
cultivate this subject in the U. s., and its progress
has been rapid and delightful; and the scientific
journal of which have been the edtor-and not
being the author may say it without vanity-has
been highly praised by Mr.. Lyell and other emf
nent English geologs!s. am glad to see the al
acrlty and the zeal with which the subject is pros
ecued in this country. Already twenty out of
the twenty-six States have ordered geological in
vestigations, and when their contributions all
brought in, then master mind will take hold Of
and digest them and bring them into ono beauli
ful systematic whole.
AS regards the structure of the Cambrian rocks,
which are some $4,000 feet thick, while the Siiu .
rian is 500, can say but a few words. Ii 10
composed Of slate, sandstone and limestone. The
fine slate used on houses is procured from these
localities though equally good quality is begun
to be quarried in Maine will proceed to a top
ic Of interest," indicating the frs, impress OF the
Creators hand in bringing things into life and
the rocks OF our earth, upon this point always tell
true story. Our histories may lie--or their au-
thors may err, and between their lalsehood and
error we have little reason TO depend upon them.
But the rocks canno: lie they remain as the Gre
ator placed them--or at least under the same laws
which he first ordained and all we have to do is
TO open this book Of nature and read il attentive
y and with diligence. Nor need the religious fear
any subversioa Of their faith, nor nfdes hope for
any support from the investigations OF geology !;
as the slandereis ef the science falsely declare.-
All the objects Of geology aim at truth and a.
mOng the many distinguished geologists i have
known, have found but or TWO infdels.
'Irattt 10 al,uou and trs,th lima
been remarked, can ever I've in conflict with any
other. IL is certain that long succession OF ages
passed away after the creation of this earth be-
fore man was formed. Nor does this at all con.
tradict the Scriptural account; for we are told
that in the beginning God created the heavens and
the ear,h-and WHO but God knows when the be-
ginning was? But Uhy particular animals were
created before man we can no more guess than
why they exist now. They still escape our do
minion- almost as completely as if man were not
in existence. The fish in the ocean laugh at our
hooks--uness they come too near them: the
birds of the air laugh at our an unless they come
too near our guns And the insects can we
do with them? We can destroy few large quad
rupeds but only 10 replace them by others.
We will look now at the remains found IN The
Silurian rocks. Among them are what are called
Misunderstanding three lohes or divisions, They
were crustaceous animals, capable OF contracting
OF doubling themselves up, as is seen by finding
with their eyes perfect-great goggling eyes =
looking out at you from their rocky bed and there
is this peculiar structure in their eyes they haye
each about 400 lenses, piled one on another like
cannon balls in a Navy Yard and presenting a
similar appearance. THIS proves that these early
waters were not choalic, Ms is maintained by Wer.
per because these eyes were made to SEQ with, and
the wnter must have been clear, for had II been
muddy they could not have seen through it, even
il their eyes had not been put out. When the
eyes were placed opposite to each other, moreover
these lenses are Omitted-for they would not care
to took at each other. will not say that these are
the earliest animals ever in existence, for Others
| may have existed which have not yet been dIs-
| covered.
| We will now pass to another class. Those who
| are familiar with the borders Of Lake Ontario may
| have seen rocks of conica form some ten feel
in length crossed by partitions Through the
middle was channel in which the animal lived
You have all seen the shell Of pearly nautilus
the nauiiuius pompiiius as il is calIed-which are
80 often found upon the manels Of the tasteful ane
elegant. They are called pol,ahalamons, having
many chambers or divisOnS-compleIely separat
| ed from each other and air-tight; 80 that It wal
evident the animal could not inhabit them. MOI
was il ever known how they did live until MIR
Bennett, an English Geologist, was so fortunate al
10 find one alive; and he found that the creature
| dwelt in the outer porch OF these chambere-rep
| resented in figure here exhibited. A syphon Gu
iss, or slender tube, runs through oil the cham
bers JUS, like the channel in the other species, ex
cept that il 10 straight. The nautilus is OF ih'
same general character with the common cutie
fish, which, you know, is furnished with long arms
sufficient to embrace the body Of u man. Animah
are also found called cephalopodes, having lhe
feet upon their heads, aud thus walking with thei
heads down. Fishes alone are found in the Silu
rian rocks. There is most beautiful collection o
these fossils al Durham, CT. There is also fount
vast number of moluschous animals, upon which
i cannot stop TO advert.
1t may DO interesting to be informed that yol
have in this State most extensive surlan section
After you get few miles beyond Albany, II
found all through to the Lakes; and Mr.. Lyell hal
told me tina, there are there rocks older Than an,
in Wales or England. The old red sandstone L
which l will next advert 10 found just below ih'
coal is called old to distinguish il from the new
which 10 above the coal and 1t receives It's rec
color from the oxide Of iron il contains. The rec