The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-06-02

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containing it, both for reading and study, il
special aid Of collections by the hands OF the
pupils, a grand simultaneous Increment would
be made for the advancement of American
science-an uprising of hundred Thousand
schools in body, going forth to take lessor
from the COLDER VOLUME OF Cop" every
leaf line, word, and letter of which declares
that its Author is divine and glorious.
HOLBROoK's GEOLOGICAL CABINET.
An Introduction and Aid 10 Books.
The Bible is book of examples, founded
on principles for the regulation of human con
duct; especially 80 for the management o.
the mind and soul, or intellect and heart
The example furnished by it, as a starting poin
in the pursuit of knowledge, is not only ap
propriate, as founded on Divine Wisdom, bu
is equally simple, beautiful, and sublime. In
the beginning God created the heavens and
the earth" is the sentence commonly referred
to, as a specimen of the very highest sublim.
ity. It's sublimity is in its simplicity, connect,
ed with the glorious truth uttered A sentence
more full Of instruction never has been, prob
ably never will be, uttered. 1t is also pre-emi-
nently fitted to an inquisitive young mind,
eagerly observing surrounding objects; at the
same time rapidly and successfully, because
practically learning them.
If the elements of the created universe form
the First Lesson of the Creator to his crea-
lures, why not follow the example thus set us
by Him who created mind, as a starting point in
the training of mind In accordance with
this example of Divine authority, the elements
of our globe are selected as first lesson"
for children. A GEOLOGICAL CABINET" is
prepared consisting of twenty-five mineral
specimens so selected, arranged, labelled, and
described, as to show, almost at glance, the
elements and structure of mountains, rocks
and soils; exactly fitted to crafty the eager
curiosity of every child to learn what he sees !;
not only by SEEING but by handling, examin-
ing, comparing, classifying, and other steps
for acquiring the most substantial knowledge,
by the most thorough modes of learning.
Mature before Books, and Drawing before
Writing,n is a motto always in accordance
with common sense, and now completely tested
by experience both in this country and Eu-
rope 1t is already widely adopted by both
continents, and is certain soon to be observed
by all persons, everywhere, in the early in
struction of children. The Alphabet of &c.
ology," by preceding the Alphabet of Books,
changes the latter from an unmeaning, irksome
task to an instructive, delightful lesson; learnt
rapidly and certainly, because practically and
agreeaby.
The principal families of rocks, or geologi-
cal formations, are the granite family, COM
posed of three members, and forming all the
highest mountains in the world the horn
blend or trap family, consisting also of three
or four members widely scattered over the
earth lime formations, very abundant, va
rious and useful; magnetism or serpentne
formations, containing highly valuable ores :;
conglOmerate rocks, or those formed from the
fragments of broken down rocks carbon, or
coal formations; fossils, or organic remains
or rocks containing the remains of more than
nine thousand animals, with those of numerous
plants coral ranges, very extensive, and still
increasing by the labors of insects of the sea };
and volcanic rocks, composing very numerous
islands, and some mountains. from ten to ff-
teen thousand feet high. All these vast ranges
OF rocky aud mountain masses, constituting
the elements the grandeur, and riches of our
EARTH beautifully and emphatcally declare
the sublime truth, that He who formed them
has indeed and in truth "lceighed the mount
aims in scales, and the hills in u balance"
Nos. and. 2.-QuARrz is the only mineral
found everywhere. II forms a considerable
part of all the highest mountains in the world,
is the principal element of soils, composes
nearly all the pebbles upon shores and in
banks of gravel and sand, is the only material
essential in the manufacture Of glass and, in
some of its varieties, formed most or all the
gems mentioned as set in the breastplate Of
Aaron, the high priest also, those mentioned
as composing the streets of the New Jerusa-
rtz al ~
stones used in all ages Of the world, as per-
sonal ornaments, worn on fingers, breasts, &c,
and hence furnishing to considerable ex-
tent, articles OF commerce among nations
1t scratches most other minerals, and Is hence
brown, smoky, blue, green, yellow, and cloud
ed with various shades of different colors.
The most common quartz crystal is hexag-
onal or sxsided prism, ending in pyramid,
with the same number of sides. The names,
determined by the colors, forms Sc, are milk
quartz, smoky, gray, yellow, rose, limpid, Jas
perry, blue, red, and clouded quartz; with nu-
merous other varieties. The gems are anne
thyst, or purple quartz; jasper, or red quartz !;
cornehan, yelowish red; agate, clouded, &c.,
&c.
No 3-BuRsroNE is porous quartz princi-
p0ily brought from rTducc, ana USED Tor the
stones of flour mills, and is preferable for that
use to any other material yet discovered. Its
great hardness and numerous pores give it the
character Of an aggregation of knives, admra-
bly, fitted for reducing wheat and other grains
to -four.
No 4.-FELspAR resembles quartz, and is
extensively combined with it in rocks, mount
aims soils, &C. When pulverized or decom-
posed, it forms clay rs pulverized quartz does
sand The two, combined are the principal and
essential ingredients of oil soils, and of course
should be fully snd Familiarity understood by
oil farmers. Felspar is used for making China
ware, or porcelain, as quartz is for glass II is
scratched by quartz, and breaks more in the
form o.! lamina, or smooth table surface, Civ
ing it the appearance of a collection of small
steps. Its color is white reddish white flesh.
color, sometimes brown, and occasionally other
colors Ii is far less various, and less beautiful
in its varieties, than quartz. When it has
CLASSY appearance, and 10 translucent it is called
adularia. Labrador felspar, found extensively
in Essex county, N. Y, is opoloscent or has
play of colors, as it is exposed to the light in
different attitudes.
No. 5-hlIcA unites with quartz and felspar
to form the Himmalaya Mountains, the Andes,
Rocky Mountains Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathian,
Ursl and oil the highest mountains in the