294 Proceedings of the Albany Institute. 



At the close of the geological survey of New York, we 

 had carried the evidence of life to the lower beds of the 

 Potsdam sandstone, and this had been regarded by some EM 

 the final or earliest limit of life on this planet, and theories 

 had been framed accordingly. 



There were some, however, who were unwilling to 

 assent to such views; believing in the probability thai 

 the older formations might yet give evidence of organic 

 existences. 



This late discovery has carried back the evidences of 

 organic life infinitely beyond what was before known, for 

 below the Potsdam sandstone there was a great accumula- 

 tion of slates, sandstones aud conglomerates known as the 

 Huronian system, and below this the great formation of 

 Labradorite feldspar forming mountain masses, while 

 below all these the Kozoon had been found. 



Mr. Hall regarded this discovery as the most important 

 for geological science of any during the present age, and 

 of more importance to the establishment of true views re- 

 garding geology than any single discovery ever made. 



Adjourned. 



January 30th, 1865. 



Gen. Read then read a paper upon the family of Saxe 

 Coburg, tracing the history of the family from Frederick 

 the warlike, who in A. D. 423, obtained the electorate of 

 Saxony, and marking the various steps of genealogical 

 descent from that date, past the division into Albertine and 

 Ernestine branches, to Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg, 

 Prince Consort of England, and 15th in descentfrom Frede- 

 rick the warlike. The article contained many interesting 

 and little known incidents of early German history aud 

 family traditions. 



Dr. F. B. Hough offered to the notice of the Institute, a 

 paper written by .Indue Dean, of Oneida count}', embody- 

 ing the Indian tradition upon the subject of the creation. 



