Miscellaneous Notices, &c. 159 
person of capital, and the requisite stock of information, 
enter into the business of working the bed, I have no doubt 
it would be profitable. 
nclosed, is a small paper of a powder, found in Law- 
rence County, about eighty miles west of Marietta, in a 
bank of clay, and when first found, is in a liquid state, of 
the consistence of cream, and nearly of that color; on dry- 
ing it becomes blue. It is in separate parcels, confined to 
small cells in the clay, in the manner that native quick-sil- 
ver is sometimes found. It is said to be found in considera- 
ble quantities. Ishould be glad of your opinion as to its 
quality and use. 
The powder mentioned by Dr. Hildreth, is of a delicate 
azure, much resembling powder blue, and was not unnatu- 
rally, thought to be oxid of cobalt; as however it loses its 
color by the blow pipe, becomes magnetic, by being heated 
on charcoal and very decidedly so, if grease be added be- 
fore the heat is applied,, itis probable that is similar to the 
blue iron earth of mineralogists found in the diluvial coun- 
try of New Jersey, and elsewhere.— Editor. 
August 8, 1828. 
Mexico. 
ll. Extract of a letter to the Editor, from an American 
resident in Mexico, dated Halcotal, near Temascaltepec, 
July 13, 1828, 
1. Geological character of the country. 
chyte and lava, form about ninety nine parts in 4 > 
of the country yet visited. This country offers 
extensive a field for voleanic rocks eir debris, as any 
recent: nor is there any volcano at present in activity; a 
fact which much surprised me, feeling almost certain, 
I came to the country, that I should see volcanos in ac: 
tivity, ‘ 
