goes far to prove, that those enormous islands of ice 

 were formed in the neighbourhood of some continent, 

 or island, it heightens the probability that they might 

 at the some time contain vast fragments of rocks. 



Mr. Bakewell, in his introduction to geology, (page 

 55 J makes the following remarks, " Vast masses of 

 rock near the sea shore, are sometimes enveloped in 

 fields of ice, and raised up and transported to distant 

 countries. Ice is specifically lighter than water ; eve- 

 ry cubic yard will support a stone of one hundred 

 pounds weight : hence we need not be surprised at the 

 insulated rocks of granite, that are sometimes found in 

 situations far remote from primary mountains. These 

 blocks have been floated over the ocean, and their angu- 

 lar points and edges defended from attrition during 

 their passage, by the surrounding ice. In this manner 

 large fragments of granite, and other primary rocks, 

 may have been brought upon our coast (England) 

 from Norway and Greenland/' 



The truth of Mr. EakewelVs opinion is strongly 

 corroborated by the following fact to which 1 was 

 an eye witness. In the winter of 1780, well known 

 for being one of the severest ever experienced in this 

 country, the ice in the Connecticut river was increased 

 to a great thickness and solidity : In many instances, 

 the water in the river was literally frozen to the bot- 

 tom. In the month of January, as usual, there came 

 a great and sudden thaw, accompanied with incessant 

 torrents of rain, which appeared to spread over an im- 

 nense extent of country. The consequences were such 



