116 Mineralogy and Geology of the White Mountains. 
its branch the Amonoosuck, is not less than eighty or eighty-five 
miles from the mountains, ) observed the same fact here, under the 
following circumstances.—He had returned from a ride of a few 
miles up the Connecticut, and along its banks, and noticed the 
water but slightly risen above its usual summer height, and clear. 
half an hour, he was informed, the river had suddenly 
assumed a very peculiar aspect, and so different from what he had 
just seen, that he was incredulous of the truth of the report. On 
going to the bridge, (half a mile,) he saw no longer a river of pure 
water, but the channel somewhat fuller than when he last saw it, 
and a semi-fluid mass, of a light brick red, descending in a sluggish 
current. The water, in fact, was charged with as much earth as 
it could sustain, and retain its fluidity. Unfortunately, no mem- 
orandum was made, so as to recall the exact time of this occur- 
rence, and thus enable us to measure the velocity, or the time ta- 
ken to reach this place ; but it was coincident with the arrival of 
the news of the storm, and the river continued to flow thus for 
several days.* 
- The mountains furrowed by the channels above mentioned, are 
in a peculiarly favorable condition to be examined, and the records 
of their history are written in indelible characters. There is the 
most abundant evidence of the prevalence of igneous agencies in 
elevating these mountains, and afterwards filling the fissures with 
intrusive rocks; and from the numerous trap dikes in the sienite 
and other rocks of the New England coast, and the very remark- 
able ones in the highlands of Essex county, N. Y., it is not im- 
probable the whole of this primitive region has been convulsed 
and elevated by the same causes. 
Decomposing Granite. 
There are many violent causes at work to reduce the large 
masses of granite to fragments; but as those which are at rest and 
removed from the action of running water and violent concussions. 
* The oxide of iron, arising from the decomposition of the rocks for years, seems 
by this storm to have been swept away, and carried down by the streams; and the 
inhabitants who live on the bank of the river opposite this village, speak of this 
ochery appearance of the water as sae peculiar, having oceurred only at this 
Sa the last twenty yea 
an above antiael has been perfectly acquainted with the river 
during hisehole life, and he assures me peshing of this kind has been known here 
except on this occasion, for the last years 
