Mineralogy and Geology of Nova Scotia, 575 



now visible nearer the horizon ; at 20 minutes, redness disap- 

 pearing, one bright streamer directly north, more distinct than 

 the others ; at 25 minutes, no redness visible, the northerly 

 streamer still distinct, with a dull white light more westerly; 

 at 30 minutes, no streamers visible, the whole changing to a 

 confused dull light, and gradually dying away; soon after 

 which the phenomena ceased. 



The evening was cold and clear, with the exception of the 

 mists covering the low grounds. Upon my return home the 

 barometer and thermometer stood thus : external therm., 

 49° Fah. ; internal do., 57° ; barometer, 29*80. 



Kensington, Oct. 5. 1836. 



Art. VI. A Lecture on the Mineralogy [and the Geology] of Nova 

 Scotia. By Mr. Titus Smith. Delivered on March 5. 1834, 

 before the Halifax Mechanics' Institute, and printed by order 

 of the Institute. [Communicated to this Magazine by R. G.] 



(Continued from p. 375.) 



That curiosity which the Author of our being has implanted 

 in the mind of man, undoubtedly with a view of stimulating 

 him to the acquisition of knowledge which must ultimately 

 be beneficial to him, will not permit him to rest when he ob- 

 serves that great and extraordinary changes have taken place 

 in the world which he inhabits, without attempting to learn 

 how these changes have been effected. When he has disco- 

 vered a considerable number of facts which bear upon the 

 subject, and has so familiarised his mind to them, that he can 

 take them all in view at once, he will perceive that there are 

 other facts, which are necessarily implied by those he has 

 discovered, and a greater number which he will think are ren- 

 dered probable by those which he knows to be certain; and in 

 this manner, before he is well aware that he has such a design, 

 he will have framed a theory of the whole subject. These 

 observations are introduced as some apology for the following 

 hypothesis, which I should almost believe, did I know that 

 the rocky parts of the earth generally resembled the little that 

 I have seen. 



The tradition of a "golden age," of a period in which 

 there was no change of seasons, so generally spread through 

 all ancient nations, is in some degree supported by the fossil 

 remains of antediluvian animals and vegetables, which give 

 no indication of a difference of climates. The Mosaic account 

 of the creation and deluge favours the same opinion. " The 

 Lord had not caused it to rain on the earth ;" " A mist went 



