‘ae. 
244 Ona Rocking Stone in Durham, N. Hampshire: 
‘In the town of Durham” says Dr. Morse, “is a rock 
computed to weigh sixty or seventy tons. It lies so exact- 
ly poised on another rock, as to be easily moved with one 
finger.” Curiosities of this kind naturally excite attention, 
and from their rare occurrence, seem to merit a particular 
description; for were they the works of art, we should be 
surprised at the human ingenuity which could adjust the 
mighty balance ; and as works of nature, they do not fail to 
excite our admiration. The rock at Durham isa detached 
block of coarse granite, of about fifteen feet in diameter on 
the top, and nearly round ; and averaging about seven feet 
in thickness. It is situated ona rise of ground in the south- 
erly part of the town, and in the neighborhood of a chain of 
moving it from its balance with levers. It was a barbarous 
curiosty, of which it is hoped the persons concerned are now 
ashamed! The rock cannot now be moved; although, in 
looking at it on the sides marked 1 and 2 in the following 
plan, a person would be led to think otherwise. 
The left band bottom figure (See the plate at the end,) 
represents the rock at Durham as it now lies, thrown to the 
right from its equipoise, and resting on two points. It also 
presents the side marked 3, The figures 1 and 2, present 
views of the sides thus marked, in the figure first mentioned. 
The figure 4 represents the surface of the rock, fifteen feet 
in diameter, nearly round. The weight of this stone prob- 
ably approaches the estimate of Dr. Morse. 
sides this, I know of no rocks of a similar description, 
excepting One, weighing from fifteen to twenty tons, in An- 
dover in this State, and one of smaller size in Ashburnham, 
Mass. Both these may be easily moved several inches by 
the hand; but their appearance is uninteresting, compared 
with the former situation of the rock at Durham. 
