y DESCRIPTION or THE 
otherwife unaccountable appearance, was occafioned intire= 
ly by its inverting the objet, for the reafons above given. 
If it be afked, why then do not the common long refrac- 
tors, which generally invert, produce the fame decepti- 
on? I anfwer, very probably they would do fo if fet befide 
a Gregorian reflector and the eye fe ai alternately to the 
one and to the other*. 
N° I. 
Defcription of the White Mountains in New-Hamp/hire.. 
By rue Rey. JEREMY BELKNAP or New-Hampsuire. 
“eee HE white mountains in the northern part 
‘ of New-Hampfhire have, from the earlieft 
fettlement of the country, attracted the attention of all 
forts of perfons. They are undoubtedly the higheft lands 
in New-England, and are difcovered in clear weather by 
veffels coming on the eaftern coaft, before any other land; 
but by reafon of their bright appearance are’ frequently 
miftaken for clouds. They are feen on fhore at the diftance 
of fixty or eighty miles on the fouth and fouth-eatt fides, 
and are faid to be plainly vifible in the neighbourhood of 
Quebec. The Indians had a fuperftitious veneration for 
them as the habitation of invifible beings, and for this 
reafon never ventured to afcend their fummits, and always 
endeavoured to difcourage every perfon who attempted it. 
From them, and the captives whom they formerly led to 
Canada through the pafs of thefe mountains, many fictions 
have been propagated through the country which have in 
time {welled to marvellous and incredible ftories; particu- 
larly, 
* The above was written in 1774, when I had no achromatic aftronomical telefcope in my 
poffeffion. 
