2 Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont- 
through a channel of probably not more than a yard in width, 
the water of the lake flowed out in a dull streamlet toward the 
south-west, and between trees, shrubs and rocks, worked out 
for itself a sluggish passage. This was the original outlet of 
the lake, and the remotest head-water of the river La Moelle, 
atributary of Lake Champlain he northern shore was 
generally low, rising not more than five or six feet above the 
surface of the lake; and consisted of a narrow belt of sand, 
succeeded by a bank of light sandy earth. The country al! 
around the lake, as well as along:its outlet at the southern ex- 
tremity, was one unbroken forest. 
- The distance from the northern end of Long Lake to the 
southern end of Mud Lake, was about two hundred rods. 
There was no original communication betweeen them: the 
waters of the former, as we have already seen, having been 
discharged, towards the south, and those of the latter, to- 
wards the north. The ground between the two was covered 
with a thick forest, and formed a very rapid declivity, from 
Long Lake towards Mud Lake. The low bank of sandy 
earth which formed the northern boundary of Long Lake, 
continued of an uniform height for about five rods from the 
shore, where, becoming more firm and solid, it descended so 
rapidly towards Mud Lake, that the perpendicular descent 
between the two, in the distance of two hundred rods, was at 
least two hundred feet. 
The bottom of Long Lake near the western shore was 
rocky; at the southern extremity, beneath the shoal water, it 
was a mound of sandy earth ; and throughout the great body of 
the lake, was either sand or mud. The mud was black, light 
and loose ; when wet, flowing like water, and when dry, ofa 
blue colour, and light as a cork. The descent at the north- 
_ érn shore was bold and rapid; and on the bottom, near the 
shore, was spread out a calcareous petrifaction, or deposit, 
called by one of the workmen a hard-pan, of the thickness 
generally of two or three inches, though occasionally of six or 
ight. I saw numerous fragments of it; and one, which I 
‘brought home, was an inch and a half thick, and had the so- 
lidity and hardness of limestone. Its upper surface was of a 
hight yellowish brown colour, and had the smoothness of a 
