Feather stonhaugfr s Geological Report. 39 



of the rocks of the United States lying above them in the 

 geological column, are found with the planes of their strata 

 making any sensible angle with the horizon ; and as all strati- 

 tied masses must be supposed to have been deposited with 

 their planes horizontal, we are necessarily compelled to in- 

 quire why the beds of the lower portion of the column dip 

 at very acute angles, and are frequently found vertical, when 



a passage from the primary to the secondary strata. This is perhaps needless, for 

 such passages are not thought necessary to be marked in other instances. Our 

 knowledge of the upper primary (transition) strata of England and Wales has 

 been very much augmented by the recent labors of Mr. Murchison." In speaking 

 of the lowest crystalline rocks, I have used, generally, the term Primordial as 

 expressing their place in the column, and being free from all theoretical allusion. 



I have been induced to make these observations by seeing, in a geological 

 report, made early in the present year, on the geology of Virginia, by a per- 

 son in the service of that State, a remark, arising out of the designation I had 

 applied to this chain, expressive of his deep regret that Mr. McClure, with others, 

 including myself, should " have indulged so much of the spirit of superficial and 

 precipitate generalization." I shall not express myself, with that writer, that it is 

 " deeply to be regretted" that he should thus voluntarily have exposed his want of 

 information on the state of the science, as we have too many instances of persons, 

 engaged in a new pursuit, endeavoring to draw the public attention from their own 

 deficiencies by rash and silly insinuations against those who have preceded them. 

 Some more experience as a practical geologist may, in the end, teach him that an 

 official report, at least, is not the proper place from whence to cast imputations at 

 his senior fellow-laborers, and that he who commits so great an error incurs the 

 risk of being deemed both superficial and presumptuous. It is to the honor of my 

 friend Mr. McClure, one of the most zealous and disinterested geologists this 

 country ever possessed, and who is now in a distant country, that his lucid under- 

 standing applied a designation, years ago, when the science was first raising its 

 head here, to the district in question, which is now found to be perfectly appropriate. 

 The decorum I feel bound to observe upon this occasion, restrains me from remark- 

 ing further upon the impropriety of converting the geological literature of this 

 country into a vehicle for impeding the progress of geological information. To 

 make the geology of the United States clearly out, there ought to be a unity of pur- 

 pose amongst our geologists, and a perfect harmony of conduct. But, returning to 

 the designation which occasioned this note, I think, for the various reasons which 

 have been given, that the term Atlantic primary chain is well adapted ; yet if, after 

 a more minute investigation of the chain in its full extent which I hope to accom- 

 plish hereafter it shall be found that the sedimentary rocks predominate, which I 

 do not believe, the term Atlantic chain may still be preserved, since it fronts the 

 Atlantic, and differs from all the other Alleghany ridges in its mineral structure. 



