76 



stances of this kind, they bear no proportion, in point 

 of extent and magnitude, to those under considera- 

 tion. 



It would appear, that nothing but the constant and 

 irresistible force of a general current, and that too 

 issuing from the pole, could have produced such pal- 

 pable results. This opinion is strengthened by the 

 following circumstances. 



Mr. Clinton, in a work that I have already men- 

 tioned, has taken notice of several very interesting 

 geological facts, which are so intimately connected 

 with my present view of the subject, that I shall glad- 

 ly make use of them, as being, perhaps, the most au- 

 thentick and correct that have been given us by any 

 historian or traveller. 



He observes,* "The appearance of the lands be- 

 longing to the Holland company, particularly from Ba- 

 tavia to lake Erie, furnishes strong indications of the 

 recession of that lake. Near Vandeventer's tavern, 

 in ]N iagara county, about twenty- two miles from the 

 lake, there is a perpendicular descent which is said 

 to extend from the Genesee river to Black Rock ; be- 

 tween it and the stony ridge, which runs from the Ge- 

 nesee river to Lewistown, there is an immense valley 

 twenty miles across, called Tonewanto valley. The 

 precipice at Vandeventer's is from one hundred to two 

 hundred feet. u The distance, or extent of this ridge, 



* In note 7th, page 51, of his Introductory Lecture to the Lit- 

 erary and Philosophical Society. 



