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This system, thus laid down, is considered by Mr. Beaumont 

 as one of the most remarkable mineralogical and metalliferous 

 zones of the globe, including all the localities whence are 

 derived the remarkable minerals of Greenland and Labrador, 

 the gold mines of Vermont, Virginia, North and South Carolina, 

 Georgia, the several gold mines of Cuba, the gold and platina 

 mines of Hayti, and the gold and platina mines of Choco and 

 the Eastern Cordilleras in New Grenada. 



If we now ask for the reason why this immense belt should 

 be so much older than any other mountain chain of this Conti- 

 nent, we are referred to the single statement, that in New Hamp- 

 shire and Vermont the primary rocks following this direction are 

 overlaid unconformably by the strata of the Taconic system. 

 And since the Taconic system is supposed by Mr. Beaumont to 

 be older than the oldest Silurian, the inference on his part was 

 but natural, that the ridges of New Hampshire, Vermont, and 

 Massachusetts must indeed be very old. They were thus made 

 the point of departure of this vast system, to which most of the 

 above-mentioned localities were added merely on account of 

 their direction or of the minerals which they contain. 



Now that serious doubts are entertained as to the existence of 

 a Taconic system in New England, especially since it has been 

 proved by the investigations of the geologists of Canada that the 

 slates of the Green Mountains, which were referred to the 

 Taconic, belong in reality to the Silurian formation, the theory of 

 Mr. Beaumont cannot longer be relied upon, being thus deprived 

 of its principal basis. If it is once admitted that the Green 

 Mountains are not Taconic but Silurian rocks, there is no reason 

 why we should not refer them simply to the age of the Allegha- 

 nies, the more so as we have direct evidence in the raised con- 

 glomerates of Massachusetts, that at least some of the ridges of 

 New England are not of an earlier age than the coal formation. 



How far this reasoning might apply to the many other regions 

 connected by Mr. Beaumont with this supposed oldest Meridional 

 system, Mr. Desor was unable to say, but observed, that with all 

 due regard for the great abilities of his illustrious teacher, he 

 thought there was no sufficient reason for upholding any longer 

 this peculiar system, unless it be established on better proofs. 



In removing thus this so called oldest Meridional system from 



