Domestic Intelligence. 197 



2. Extracts of a letter from Wm.M'Clure, Esq. la the editor, 



dated, Madrid, Dec. 4, 1 821 . 



J* 



Progress of American Science. 



" I am glad to hear of the rapid progress science in gen* 

 era], (and mineralogy and geology, in particular) makes in 

 the United States. The men of science in Europe, are as- 

 tonished at the rapidity with which one discovery succeeds 

 another, and cannot conceive, how, in so short a time, so 

 many hands, and heads are occupied with the exact sci- 

 ences, and mechanics. 



" The vast advantages attached to freedom, are unknown 

 Cn this side of the Atlantic, and the spirit of energy with 

 which a free people pursue whatever they perceive to be 

 for their Interest, are only beginning to be understood by the 

 few. 



(From the same, to the same,) 



Comparative features of Aincrlcan and European Geology. 



" The most striking, and strongly marked difference be- 

 tween the geology of North America, and Europe, is the 

 regularity, continuity, and uninterrupted state of the strati- 

 fication, for almost the whole length of the continent ; and 

 the absence of all rocks of disputed origin. 



The trappose hornblendish rock which partially, and in 

 patches, and ridges, covers the old red sandstone from the 

 Connecticut river to the Rappahannock ; and where the 

 mndstone has been washed away in the states of New-York, 

 Vlaryland, and Virginia, loose masses of the trappose rock 

 cover the surface, as evidence of the conlinuity of the sand- 

 stone formation — this hornblendish rock is the nearest \o 

 i volcanic formation, of any I have ever seen in the United 

 States, both from structure and relative position ; it is found 

 Covering puddingstone, and sandstone aggregates, of round- 

 ed particles, made so, most probably, by water ; while we 



have not caught nature forming any rocks by water, 



at all similar to the Hornblendish rock; but we find man) 

 volcanic rocks almost similar in structure, and exactly cor- 

 responding in relative situation. This gives probability to 

 the supposition, that it is of volcanic origin, and throws 



