162 Miscellaneous Notices, &-c. 
Tennessee boundaries, it is a well characterized protogine 
gneiss, resembling Jurine granite of that name; but with the 
structure of gneiss. ‘To this rock, alternating at the point of 
contact, is referred the primitive clay slate, which alternates al- 
so with the transition slate, which in the southern states, is per- 
fectly analogous with the rocks containing the anthracite of 
I long ago intended to communicate to the 
American Journal a paper upon the classification of the prim- 
itive rocks, as well as the succeeding ones; but I found 
some facts which tended to a more simple classification than 
e one mentioned, and whilst seeking for others to direct 
me to the point where to stop, I found myself preparing 
to sail for Mexico. I have about one hundred observations 
of the dip of the gneiss of the southern states, all whic 
are towards the east; consequently this rock underlies the 
