186 Scientific Intelligence — Meteorology and Qeology. 



sorial strata of Richmond, Virginia, mentioned by Rogers and Bailey, 

 but also in the siliceous marl (Kieselguhi-) in Siberia, and near Perth 

 in New Holland. 



" 12. Finally, microscopic life is demonstrated to be a most im- 

 portant agent in the formation of the surface of the earth." — ^J. W. B. 

 American Journal of Science and Arts, vol. xlvii., No. I. — July 

 1844, p. 208. 



7. Land-Slip in the State of Vermont in A^07-th America. — On the 

 evening of Thursday last, one of the most extraordinary land-slips 

 took place which has occurred within the memory of man. The 

 neighbourhood of Lebanon, State of Vermont, was the scene of this 

 remarkable natural phenomenon. The following are the particulars, 

 as described by an eye-witness of the event : — About three miles to 

 the eastward of the village is a high conical hill — I should almost 

 say mountain — i-ising j^erpendicularly on its southern side, but on 

 the north sloping gradually from the summit to the rich table-land 

 below. This hill forms part of the property of Benjamin Wurtle, 

 Esq. ; and the land around it is divided into three farms, each of 

 which runs in a rectangular shape into the hill, meeting together in 

 a point at its apex. These farms are occupied by tenants — rather 

 an unusual thing in Vermont ; and, considering the progress of agri- 

 culture in the district, are in a superior state of cultivation. With 

 one of the tenants, Robert Gourlay, I had occasion to transact some 

 business on Thursday last ; and having called on him at his farm- 

 house about two o"'clock of the day, 1 was detained till late in the 

 evening. About half-past ten o'clock, as we were in the act of read- 

 ing over some papers preparatory to their being signed by us, we 

 ■were started by a sudden explosion. Our first impression was, that 

 a piece of artillery had been discharged in the rear of the farm- 

 buildings ; but after reflecting on the exceeding improbability of such 

 an event, we referred the detonation to an earthquake, or some sub- 

 terranean convulsion. For the next few minutes we sat in a state 

 of considerable alarm, which was a good deal augmented on hearing 

 unusual sounds from the byres and stables, as if the cattle were 

 struggling to get loose. Just as we started from our seats, by a 

 sort of instinctive resolve to ascertain the cause of this singular oc- 

 currence, we suddenly felt the house in motion. At first it was a 

 violent jerk, then a movement onwards, not unlike the first starting 

 of a ponderous railway-train. Gradually the motion increased, until 

 we felt oui'selves moving along at a rapidly accelerating rate. It 

 was a clear starry night, and 1 could see the boughs of the trees in 

 the distance passing the windows, just as we perceive the transit of 

 similar objects from the windows of a travelling vehicle. This con- 

 tinued for two or three minutes; and then there was a sudden stop, 

 producing another violent jerk, which threw my friend and me to 

 the opposite end of the room. We ran immediately to the door, 

 and our astonishment may be more easily conceived than described. 



