The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-27

form Of cong0merates In which rounded angular mass
OF serpennes imbedded PASTE which 10 car
Donate OF ime magnesa and iron, constituting ierngln
dolome. At other times nearly pure carbonate OF
lime malsge is often nterminged with the serpentne
constitutes rock by itself The same series OF rocks
presents great beds of scous dolomite containing
much carbonate of ron at other times the lime Is want
ing, and we have msgneste rock which Ia sometimes
mingled with large amount OF nearly pure sicous
matter to which carbonate cement; at
other times the silcious mixture is mixture OF tale
with silcate resembling felpar in composition Small
portions Of oxyoe Of chrome and OF nickel always
found these and these two metals also
frequently found associated with the serpennes not only
Of Canaea but OF other reg ions.
Associated with the serpentines, and sometimes inter-
mingled, Is white massive rock, having density OF
about $50, and being silcate OF aumina ana lime,
being the composition OF lime garnet other specimens
having density OF $50 to 340 appear to be intimate
mixtures Of garnet, with white pyroxene The alumni
Gus scate in some Of these ROCKS may possibly be re-
lated to docrare epidote.
This remarkable variety Of rock is evidently derived
from the alteration OF arglaceous limestone, when
has lost its carbopc acid by process precisely similar
TO that by which serpentnes and tales and cortes may
be formed from silcious and areaceoas magnesite,
while the similar doomites give rise to daage and as
besos and bornbende rocks. As general FACT II may
dents necessary to yis the Inherent species which are
brought out by subsequent metamorphose, proposition
of the highest importance for the understanding
of the theory of the metamorphc rocks
After some discussion, which was OF no public interest,
the geological section adjourned.
BIOLOGICAL SECTION.
| Prof HAIDRMAN in the chair
RuSIo INSCRIPTIONS.
Il
Maine, supposed Runic inscriptions from the
| coast of Maine 1t follows
have the pleasure of presenting TO notice somt
casts of supposed Runic inscription. which occurs upon
the island OF Monhegan, of the coast OF Name
twas my first Intention merely to present these casts,
without making ut present any remarks, but as have
been requested TO express my opinions will endeayor
Ihaye but itle doubt but that these characters
an
remely diacult The pointed class, however, belongs
| have visited shores-the TENTH eleventh and
twelfth centuries The earlier the rune the sim
pie was in form, and the more easy Of translator;
but the notifications and corruptons Of later periods
have confused and changed the character in great do
gree have drawn upon the blackboard some llustra
tons OF the bnderuner and the pointed class You will
observe from this line Of runes that there is not
much less deviation from the Runic character in this in
scnpton from Sodor, than in the markings from Monhc
gan. Here is another from brock found at Largs,
another from the Fsrroe Islands aud another from the
Robelicher Urne To illustrate the difficulty with which
inscriptions of this class translated ha
only relate the instance connected with the assassna
The celebrated Snorre Thureson whose great talents
justly him the title Of the Northern Herodotus, was
admonshed Of the danger Of assassination by warning
note from friend, written the Runic character; yet
neither ne who was 80 deeply versed in Runc lore nor
there n The cesndc Of the eary
voyages 70 this country narration which serves to sup
| port the Runc theory Of this inscription.
Lief the Fortunate sailed in he year 1000 with thirty
five companions in search Of those lands which BJarne
After passing Newfoundland, which they called Hclhe-
land, and Nova Scotia, to which they gave the name
harkand, they arrived at island after sailing days
and two nights This island may be supposed TO have
| been Monhegan, from the following circumstances The
Mortimer on the horizon mountains blue with dis
server at Monhegan-he and lay east Of the main land
This is the position Of Monhegan From the island they
were waited into lake tsemng with the larges. and
6nest salmon Near by they built their booths which
river Is wen REPRESENTED by he HcnneSec which flows
into the ocean close BY Monhegan ard Merry Meeting
Bay, the called confluence OF the Kennebec and An
droscoggn rivers corresponds admirably to the lake be
| fore mentioned. Moreover, am informed by Mr. VII
hanson the historian OF the STATE that two centuries
the early settlers, when clearing the lands on the banks
of the KenDebec above Its confluence discovered what
ruins over which grew the primeval forest These may
have been the remains Of esbudir-the relics Of seven
Ii this scrawl not made by Lief his companions
may have been made by karlsfne, during the voyage
rom vpeand he came to lands Which ia every
view noble and majestic forests or, perhaps by Thor
wald in his expedition in the direction OF Name IN the
FOR three centuries the celandic accounts maintain
that the Norhmen visited our coasts, and Is not all im
probable that Of these bold Vikings attracted
TO this island whose advanced position and LOFTY heights
presented the earliest view Of land TO the mariner
preaching the coast OF Maine aud here they may have
rudey attempted to commemorate their discovery or in
scribe hurriediy TO the memory OF departed comrade
have little doubt but that the strata which this in
| scrption assured At first somewhat by ma
,ure, and that the advantage embraced by the Scan
dinavian but would like TO inquire OF biologists whether
Of capitalization could form this long series Of
characters and the theory Of diuvia glacial agency
being precuded whether any would dare TO ascrbe
them to that force, hidden ana mysterious watch Tour
neitrt and Camcrarius were wont to call the Play Of
i nature.
Tuis led to long discussion the OF which Mr.
Henry X. scnooIcRAr took occasion to that ne hal
doubt Whatever q the landing Of the Norhmen; bot
nothing Of course where they landed wh,;
they did He konhegan vas avery likely place Ter
NO, asonon,n no ,onsh, ibs .H.s oas ns ~
20 understand II at Copenhagen.
DR.. HANtN took occasion say that he only knew Of
M
land, and Third, with az unpronounceabe name, IN
Professor HArprnAs made q few remarks, after which
Professor Wnsos, Of Canada, made n most interesting
speech the general subjeot OF Runic inscriptions he
observed that great caution AIRY In examining
them other matters Runic inscIp
The Professor heard with the attention after he
bad discosed the fact that one OF the inscriptions which
Dr. Hsmln had written the blackboard, as sample
Runc characters had been first copied by Professor
| tons OF this kind to Copenhagen to be decphered
There were not three men In Copenhagen who
understood the Runc character. Tpe grosscst mistakes
had been by attic mpts TO docpher such inscriptions
| without proper caution.
| nun enis and our collections at home. WAS fatal
mistake TO send them abroad. Postcrity had claim
upon US for every treasure tina, We found Their value
the place where they were discovered.
INSCRIPTIONS.
| Dr. HANIS would take that opportunity OF reading
| short paper on the inscription on Dehton Rock.
have here section OF a cast which have lately taken
just made alusion, VIII take this opportunity
press views upon this subject The inscription
upon this cast seems TO have been made by some blunt
| instrument rather by stone than by steel.
believe that the inscription Is Algonquin at least the
greater part Of IT, but do not mean 20 assert that
there did not EXIT any foreign characters beside the In
dian repre- entation for have been able 10 AXE
careful examination Of Its confused aud ndstnct lines
The foreign rude letters may have made the In
dian In dersion OF the pale face. Allowing this TO be
Algonquin Photograph may serve, from certain circum
stances TO date the period Of the ast great human
displacement In this part Northern America other
I wlse the Algonquin invasion.
hola fhoI rof nd tbo
positions TO this country, aud their colonization
OF Massachusetts, and Rhode Island then mus also
| efye credit 10 other portions Of their narrative.
Tbe only nhabitApt the Mortimer found In this part OF
country small and dwarfsh Indars whom they
called 10 derision "skrellingsr and sometimes Small
| nRe,n which In Ictlandc means the thing--i e.,
| 'small and puny men, These Skrellpgs, Jonas Arm
| nc wcr AMI sho NJ