15 



beck and Penobscot have, I am unable to say with any 

 degree of certainty ; but it may be presumed that they 

 have, at least, some. But the river Thames, on which 

 New London stands, cannot, I believe, claim one rod of 

 alluvial soil at its influx, at least on the eastern side. 



It may be alleged, that those rivers embrace in 

 their course so small a portion of country, that it can- 

 not be expected that so great an extent of alluvial for- 

 mation should be formed at their mouths. 



In reply to this, the Connecticut river receives, prin- 

 cipally, the auxiliary streams, from a superficies of 

 about eighty miles in breadth, by two hundred and 

 eighty in length ; or 2,400 square miles ; while the 



That it is not a mere clump of rocks out of place is certain; for 

 about twenty years ago, this ridge or spur was exposed to view, and 

 daily washed by the waves of the Hudson river, at the north west 

 corner of the battery. Not only so, but that its breadth extends 

 across to the ancient or primitive shore of the east river is certain ; 

 for I am informed that when Messrs. Penfield and Watson began 

 to erect their houses, near the battery, in 1791 or 2, they came 

 upon a fine spring of water, which, though long buried, was recol- 

 lected by the then old inhabitants, to have been many years ante- 

 rior to that time, a copious spring and excellent water ; notwith- 

 standing its being, at that time, on, or very near the shore of the 

 East river. In clearing out this spring and sinking a well, with a 

 view to secure a supply of good and wholesome water, they were 

 under the necessity of blasting several feet through solid granite 

 or gneiss. Besides which, the same rocks appear in place again, 

 I believe, at Corlear's howk, on the east side of the city. All of which 

 circumstances justify the conclusion, that the southern extremity 

 of York Island, though covered with alluvial grounds, is strictly 

 primitive, and consequently within the primitive district. 



