20 Account of an Excursion to Mount Katahdin. 
These theories will be hereafter much farther extended, and noth- 
ing will contribute more to bring them to perfection than numerous 
series of exact experiments; for mathematical analysis can deduce 
from general and simple phenomena, the expressions of the laws of 
nature ; but the application of these laws to very complicated effects, 
requires a long course of accurate observations. 
Art. If.—Account of an Excursion to Mount Katahdin, in Maine ; 
by J. W. Batwey, Acting Professor of Chemistry, &c. U.S. Mili- 
tary Academy, West Point. 
TO PROFESSOR SILLIMAN, 
Sir—During a short visit which I made this summer to Water- 
ville, in Maine, my curiosity was excited by the accounts I read 
and heard concerning Mount Katahdin, the highest mountain in the 
State. Its elevation and isolated position, together with the tradi- 
tionary legends of the Penobscot Indians, that Katahdin is the resi- 
dence of evil spirits, have given to this mountain considerable local 
celebrity. It has, however, been visited by few white men, and 
of their observations no accurate accounts have been published. Not 
being aware of the proposed geological survey of the State, (which, 
since my return, I learn has been assigned to able hands,) and in 
hopes that by visiting this mountain some interesting geological and 
botanical observations might be made, I proposed to Prof. Keely of 
Waterville College an excursion, on which Prof. Barnes of the same 
institution promised to accompany us. 
In this communication, the object of which is to give a sketch of 
our journey and observations, I have purposely entered into some 
details, which may appear too trivial for admission into a scientific 
journal, but I believe these will be useful, by giving to any persons 
who may wish to visit Katahdin some idea of the manner of life 
they may expect to lead, the preparations to be made, and the route 
to be pursued. 
Having procured a light wagon, Mr. Keely and myself proceeded 
on Saturday, the 6th of August, for Bangor. Our route lay through 
Clinton, Dixmont and Hampden. The rock passed over this day 
was argillite or graywacke slate, divided into very thin, nearly ver- 
tical laminz, slightly dipping to the southeast. The direction or 
