Geological Society. 159 
well as the fossils they contain, become entirely crystalline. Mr. Dar- 
win further states, that this singular overlying group contains very nu- 
merous veins of copper, silver, arsenic, and gold, which may be traced 
down to the granite ; and as a general conclusion, he expresses his 
conviction that the granite (now rising into central peaks 14,000 feet 
in elevation), must have been in a fluid state since the tertiary group, 
above described, was deposited. 
Dec. 2nd.—A letter was first read from Capt. Belcher, R.N., 
F.G.S., addressed to Woodbine Parish, Esq., Sec. G.S., dated 10th 
of March, 1835, inclosing two others from Lieut. Bowers, R.N., 
and H. Cuming, Esq. 
These letters referred to the effects produced at Valparaiso by the 
earthquake of November 1822. 
Capt. Belcher says that he had carefully searched the Remark- 
Books of His Majesty’s vessels stationed on the Chilian coast, between 
September 1822 and March 1823, but had not found a notice in any 
way connected with the Port of Valparaiso. He therefore infers that 
no British ship of war was present; but he thinks that if the distur- 
bance produced by the earthquake of November 1822 had been of a 
nature to alter the soundings, or even induce the residents to attach 
importance to any known charges, they would have formed a subject 
of special communication by the commanders of ships of war. 
Lieut. Bower states in his letter, dated 7th of March 1835, that he 
was not at Valparaiso at the time of the earthquake, but arrived from 
England in February 1823, and found everything in the same situa- 
tion as when he quitted it twelve months previously. He adds, that 
since the earthquake, the water has gradually receded from the part 
situated between the landing-place and the market-place, and that a 
row of stores and substantial dwellings had been erected where the 
sea formerly flowed. 
Mr. Cuming’s letter is dated 5th of March 1835. 
The writer arrived at Valparaiso in January 1822, and resided there 
constantly until 1827, and from the latter period, with occasional ab- 
sences, till May 183]. At the time of the earthquake, he lived in the 
Plaza Mayor, near the landing-place at the Arsenal, and his house 
was destroyed by the first shocks. He did not go to the beach during 
the night, but was informed that the sea had retired a considerable 
distance, and had returned with great force. On the morning of the 
20th he noticed the effects, but found nothing more than a high tide. 
He never heard of the rocks having been heaved up, or of the perma- 
nent retirement of the sea, until the publication of Mrs. Graham's 
work, to the statements contained in which neither he nor his friends 
could subscribe. 
Mr. Cuming’s pursuit of conchology and natural history generally, 
caused him to visit frequently the rocks and inlets with which the 
northern and southern parts of the Bay abound ; but though the rocks 
were covered with Fuci, Patellz, Chitons, Balani, &c., yet he never 
perceived the least difference in their appearance from the date of his 
arrival to his finally quitting Valparaiso. He mentions particularly, 
as points which he often examined, the Caleta, the Quebrada de Dios, 
