CHAPTER XV. 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



HEN the geological structure of a territory is well understood, it 

 may be interesting to review the changes that have taken place in 

 respect to its physical dimensions, beginning with the reclamation of 

 the first foot of dry land from beneath the level of the ocean, and con- 

 tinuing the sketch with a description of the variation in its outlines, 

 whether an enlargement or contraction. Besides the increase and de- 

 crease of territory, physical history may embrace a notice of the origin 

 and arrangement of the mountain ranges intermittently arising to view, 

 changes in the character of strata brought about during a period of eleva- 

 tion, the adaptations of the successive land-surfaces to the existence of 

 life, and other related topics. 



The subject is a novel one, as very few laborers have wrought in this 

 field. Our conclusions have been drawn entirely from the induction of 

 facts obtained by observation, and not from a comparison of theories 

 propounded by eminent physicists. Our views did not spring into being 

 fully developed. At first only a glimmering of the truth appeared ; by 

 and by the light was like that of the dawn of day; then the skies 

 became brighter and brighter ; but I will not presume to say that the 

 truth is now so manifest that no more information is required to make 

 the history perfectly known. The maps illustrating the successive shapes 

 of our territory may require modification, in consequence of a better 

 knowledge of the distribution of the several formations. There is much 



