— 
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Geology of Lake Superwr. 3 
Geology as amateurs, and our observations with regard to 
the great rock formations among which we lived, were 
viewed with interest, it is true, but also with a degree of re« 
gret, that our duties prevented us from devoting to their exa« 
mination, that degree of research which we believe to be 
due to the importance of the subject. 
From these cousiderations it at first appeared to us, as it 
possibly may to others, scarcely short of presumption to ate 
tempt to write any thing, concerning the Geology of Lake 
Superior, and it seems therefore necessary, that we should 
give our reasons, for attempting that which may otherwise 
appear a work of supererogation. 
In the first place, we believe we are the only person, having 
any knowledge of geology, however slight ours may be, who 
has completely circumnavigated Lake Superior, and visited 
all its bays and islands. This gives us the advantage of con- 
sidering the geology of thee whole lake in one view, and 
tracing the various formations, from shore to shore. 
OF the gentlemen whom I haye mentioned, Mr. School- 
craft has only visited the south coast, and even there he did 
not circumnavigate the interesting and magnificent promon- 
tory of Keewawonan.—Doctor Bigsby has only seen the 
north coast from St. Mary to the Grand Portage, and Dr. 
Richardson from St, Mary to Fort William. We have not 
mentioned the American gentlemen of Major Long’s expedi- 
tion who returned from Fort William to St. Mary, because 
their geological notices of the coast, from the rapidity with 
which they travelled, were extremely scanty. 
None of these gentlemen has visited either the immense 
bays, or the distant islands, and even were this not the case, 
itmay easily be imagined, that, in so great an extent of coun. 
try, geological phenomena may be met with by one which 
may have escaped the other, particularly when the investiga. 
tions of all have been more or less cursory, 
A2 We 
