M. Godon’s mineralogical observations. 153 
geognostic investigations, I never had an opportunity of verifying 
that arrangement of superposition in primordial rocks, from which is 
inferred the order of antiquity, supposed by some systems introduc- 
ed in Europe. i aS i 
A peculiar interest in the study- of this part of America arises 
from the relation, which exists between its rocks and those, which 
were in great repute among the people of Asia, Greece, and Italy. A 
view of the table, which accompanies this memoir, will indicate that it 
includes almost every stone, which had celebrity among those nations. 
We may therefore infer, that a description of this part of Massachu- 
setts would agree with the place, now unknown, where the Greeks 
and Romans procured those articles, which their luxury has transmit- 
ted to the moderns. 
With respect to social utility, we observe, that metals, which form 
so extensive a part of the national riches of a country, appear by no 
means abundant in this soil. [ron and copper in particular, so plenti- 
fully distributed in other parts of America, are quoted here merely as 
mineralogical notes. But some other substances, found here, and neg- 
lected as_ useless, may be employed in society ; one mineral, which 
may replace the turkcy stone ; another, which may be used in painting ; 
_ aset of rocks, susceptible of an high polish, fit for elegant ornaments, 
whose hardness and durability may render them useful for many oth- 
er purposes, and which may even form articles of export, when some 
process of cutting and polishing them in a large and cheap way shall 
I conclude here the account of, those minerals, which recal to my 
mind he pleasant. moments I have spent in this part of America. f 
“hope their description may have some interest for the respectable cit-_ 
izens of New England, from whom particularly I have received 9° 
