Connecticut River Valley. 227 
proportionally extensive and intense. ‘The earthquakes produced by 
e same fires were in like degree excessive and violent, causing 
greater and more frequent fractures and chasms in the rocky crust of 
the globe. May we not reasonably believe, although no voleanic vent 
remains open in this region, that the vast fires of ancient times ex- 
tended under the sandstone formation of the Connecticut river valley? 
Admit this fact, and the trap mountains here are accounted for. The 
waves of molten, boiling rock below, might well fracture the brittle 
covering of sandstone layers above, penetrate the new formed open 
chasms, rise to the surface, flow over the upper layers of the secon- 
dary, by slow degrees acquiring the height and spreading to the 
breadth of the existing greenstone mountains. The undulations and 
expanding force of a vast quantity of melted rock below, might ele- 
vate mountains, like those of Deerfield, and Sunderland, high above 
the original surface of the secondary formation to which they belong. 
The position of the layers would be changed by the heaving of the 
liquid rock, leaving different portions of the dissevered masses at dif- 
ferent degrees of inclination, and dipping in different directions. The 
operation of these ancient fires may have continued many ages, va- 
rying the height of the superficial rocks, and forming fissures, ravines 
and chasms, to become the channels of future streams and rivers. 
The presenf channel of the Connecticut, leaving the secondary basin 
at Middletown, may have been thus formed or commenced, in a new 
direction towards the sound. Nor is it incredible that Long Island 
was anciently united to the continent, and that the concavity which 
contains the waters of the Sound, was formed by an extensive sub- 
sidence of the main land. It is not to be supposed that the internal 
fires and molten rocks were cooled suddenly : ages might and prob- 
ably did elapse before all the fractures and the present dip of the super- 
ficial strata, and the final elevation of the greenstone mountains were 
completed. 
VIII. Section. ~*~ 
The most undeniable and satisfactory proofs of diverse agencies, 
and of the order of successive operations, ‘are presented wherever a 
number of formations are seen in place, lying one above another. 
Recent excavations in constructing a canal along Enfield Falls, dis- 
closed a series of such formations, which will be described in ascend- 
ing order. One of the most complete and interesting sections was 
laid open at the bluff, situated mid-way between the head and foot 
of the canal. 
