1880.] 44o [Phillips. 



rocks of the first, second, third and fourth groups maybe due to subsequent 

 faulting, but they are nevertheless more recent. 



The accompanying map gives the general outline of the groups. I have 

 used Prof. Frazer's section along the Susquehanna river for illustration 

 with my interpretation. He produced the section through Chickis in his 

 report C. C. of the Second Geological Survey. The changes I have made 

 are on structural grounds. 



An Account of an Old Work on Cosmography. By Henry 

 Phillip*, Jr., A.M. 



{Read before the American Philosophical Society, January 16, 1880.) 



It has occurred to me that as all knowledge is within the scope of our 

 pursuits, an analysis of a work on Cosmography, the production of a once 

 famous author, might not prove unacceptable. The errors among which 

 men once blindly groped, the silly tales of wonderment with which re- 

 turned travelers were wont to astonish their stay-at-home friends, the ab- 

 surd statements once received as absolute facts, but later exploded by the 

 Ithuriel -touch of truth, now at these later days, when we are entirely freed 

 from superstition, folly and ignorance, and a blind reliance upon the ipse 

 dixit of anyone, may afford us a lesson pregnant with instruction. It is, 

 therefore, with this view that I venture, this evening, to present to our 

 Society an account of a book which bears for its title : 



"Cosmographia Universalis Libri VI. in quibus juxta certioris fidei scripto- 

 rum traditionura describuntur omnium habitabilis orbis partium situs propri- 

 reque dotes, regionum topograph 'usee effigies. TerraB ingenia quibus fit ut tarn 

 differentes et varias specie res et animatas et inanimatas ferat. Animalium 

 peregrinorum natura? et pictm - se. Nobiliorum civitatum icones et descriptiones, 

 Regnorum initia, incrementa et translationes. Regum et principium Genealo- 

 gi?e. Item omnium gentium mores, leges, religio, mutationes ; atque mtmora- 

 bilium in nunc usquead annum looOgestarum rerum Historia. Autore Sebast. 



Ml'NSTEKO." 



On the recto of the title-page appears the portrait of the author, an 

 elderly, hard-featured man, beneath which are two Latin poems, laudatory 

 of that distinguished person and his work. The preface is dated at Basle, 

 March, 1550. 



Sebastian Minister may serve us as an example of the scholars of the 

 olden time. He was born at Ingelheim,' in 1489, and became a Cordelier 

 monk, but, having adopted the opinions of Luther, he renounced the robes 

 and the yoke of a cloister and took to himself a wife. Such was the usual 

 course in those days which the converted clergy took to show their hatred 

 to the tenets of the church of Rome, where enforced celibacy was of prim- 

 ary importance, and weighed so heavily upon them. 



For several years Munster taught at Basle, wiiere he gave to the public 

 many valuable works, having rendered himself so very learned in geographi- 



