98 Association of American Geologists and Naturalists. 



Recapitulation. — All the various causes discussed may be referred to 



one general cause. 



That cause, one that is believed capable of explaining all the phe- 

 nomena of geology. 



This cause, the secular refrigeration of the globe, combined with the 



effects of gravitation and the rotation of the earth on its axis. 



The discussion on Prof, Mather's paper was deferred until 

 Thursday morning. 



Adjourned to 9 o'clock, A. M. 



Thursday, May 9. — The Association met at 9 o'clock, A. M., 

 Dr. Locke in the chair. 



The correspondence of the Secretary of the last meeting with 

 gentlemen invited to this meeting was read. The Secretary read 

 a paper communicated by Samuel Webber, M. D. of Charles- 

 town, New Hampshire — M Observations on some appearances in 

 the alluvial banks of the Connecticut River." 



The object of Dr. Webber's paper was to show that the terraced char- 

 acter of the banks of the Connecticut river was due to a gradual and 

 successive change of the river's bed in the progress of a long era ; at 

 each successive change of its bed the river flowed on a lower level, 

 leaving its former bed as a low terrace, a little elevated above its new 

 surface level. Dr. W. remarks that this change is going forward con- 

 stantly, the river now running on the right hand of the valley, and now 

 on the left, altering the boundaries of ptoperty, forming islands and new 

 shores, and gradually sinking from its previous levels. In this manner, 

 he conceives, we can account for the very elevated plateaus or terra- 

 ces of the river banks, seen particularly well at Charlestown, New 

 Hampshire, where the terrace on which the town stands is one hundred 

 and one feet above the present level of the river. Dr. W.'s paper was 

 accompanied by two sectional views in illustration of these phenomena. 



A letter from W. G. Lettsom, Esq. of the British legation, was 

 read, proposing to exhibit to the Association specimens from the 

 " Washington silver-lead mine/' in Davidson County, North Car- 

 olina. Also, a letter from Prof. C. U. Shepard, noticing a fine 

 collection of specimens of native gold from the newly discovered 

 mine at Lincolnton, Lincoln County, North Carolina, owned by 

 Messrs. Cancler & Johnson, now exhibited for sale at 162 Pearl 

 street, New York. Weights, 267, 193, 153, 106, 30 dwts. 



Prof. Mather read an abstract of his paper of yesterday, when 

 its discussion was commenced by Prof. H. D. Rogers, and con- 

 tinued by Profs. Mather and W. B. Rogers. No abstract of 

 the remarks was submitted to the Secretary. 



