PRIMITIVE LIMESTONE. 37 



but are lost in the words of a description, and unsusceptible of transfer by the pencil of the 

 artist. 



The points which may be visited with interest in the region of the Adirondack, are too 

 numerous to be mentioned in this place. A fine distant view is obtained from Harrington's 

 hill near Warrensburgh, and also from Mr. Roosevelt's farm in Johnsburgh. A view of the 

 same kind, but from a different direction, may be obtained from Charlotte m Vermont, or from 

 Burlington. The invalid, or man of leisure, who wishes to enjoy the mountain scenery, may 

 visit Johnson's at Clear pond, in Essex county ; and, if disposed, may easily ascend the 

 neighboring hills or mountains, by which the whole group will be brought into view. The 

 finest view in this neighborhood is from Mud pond, about three miles north of Johnson's, in 

 which Nipple-top forms a very bold but unique feature in the scene. There is, however, a 

 better combination of elements of mountain scenery from Whiteface, than from any other 

 elevated position in the nothern region. From this mountain the Adirondacks are south, rising 

 in innumerable peaks. To the west appear also mountains ; but the most striking objects in 

 this field are the multitude of lakes, which lighten up the view as far as the eye can discern ; 

 on the east, directly beneath. Lake Champlain spreads out a silvery sheet, upon which vessels 

 with their white sails may be distinctly seen. 



The highest of this group of mountains is best visited by first going to Adirondack iron- 

 works in the town of Newcomb. From this point, a guide may always be obtained to the 

 summit of Mount Marcy, for a reasonable compensation. From this point, too, the whole 

 region may be explored ; and if the route is chosen, Long and Racket lakes may be visited, 

 and an exit from the wilderness effected by passing through the Fulton chain of lakes out to 

 Lewis county, or by the old State road to Lake Pleasant, and thence to Amsterdam in the 

 valley of the Mohawk. 



To conclude, I may remark that all the large lakes may be visited with pleasure, if it is 

 pleasure to see nature in her untamed and unsubdued state ; or any of the high summits in 

 the Adirondacks, if it affords pleasure to see something of the wideness of the world, and to 

 obtain some faint conception of the agitations which its surface has felt, or the deep heavings 

 it suffered when such billows were raised in its crust, as compose this gi'oup of mountains. 



3. Primitive Limestone. 



The term primitive liinestone is applied to a coarse crystalline mass, which, as a minera- 

 logical species, is easily recognized ; but as a rock, holding a definite place in the primary 

 series, is not as readily distinguished. Mineralogically or chemically considered, it is identi- 

 cal with all the coarse white limestones in any of the group of rocks ; and hence, it is impos- 

 sible to describe it lithoiogically, with a view of placing before the reader any characters by 

 which he may recognize it with certainty. It may be true, that in general it is coarser, more 

 magnesian, and more subject to decomposition, than other coarse limestones, which it so nearly 

 resembles ; to which may be added, that it may be associated with a certain class of mine- 

 rals, wliich may be confined to this particular limestone. Thus, it is not improbable that, 



