Description of the High Rock Spring. 341 



Where we find so much to commend, we cannot be stiong- 

 ]y disposed to censure, and the light faults of style, if such 

 they are, seem hardly worthy of notice. 



To a man, who in a cheerful and engaging manner, is con- 

 stantly imparting to us valuable and interesting information, 

 we feel little disposed to say ; sir, your style, delightful as it is, 

 is sometimes a little careless, abrupt and elliptical. It is ev- 

 idently not intended by the author, to march in stately grav- 

 ity, although on subjects of a grave and moral cast, he is con- 

 siderate and judicious, and never leaves us in doubt as to 

 his good principles. 



The freedom of the author's style, make us more and more, 

 parties to his adventures, and we feel that had we been with 

 him, we should have talked, (or wished to talk) in the same 

 animated and free style in which he has written. 



Art. XX. — Description of the High Rock Springs at Sar- 

 atoga Springs, in the County of Saratoga, and State of 

 New York, with a drawing, communicated for the Journal 

 of Science, hy John N. Steel, M. D. 



The High Rock Spring, one of the number of Medical 

 springs which have given so much celebrity to Saratoga as a 

 watering place, is very justly distinguished among the many 

 interesting natural curiosities which our country affords, and 

 is, unquestionably, entitled to a conspicuous place in the 

 scientific journals of the day ; and, although it has been dis- 

 covered, and its water in high repute for its medicinal prop- 

 erties for more than half a century, yet, 1 believe, it has nev- 

 er been noticed, except cursorily, if at all, by any of them. 



The late Dr. Valentine Seaman, of New-York, in the last 

 edition of his " Dissertation on the mineral waters of Sara- 

 toga," published in 1809, gave a very imperfect drawing of 

 the rock, which, I believe, is the only one ever published. — 

 In remarking upon it, the venerable Dr. very justly observes ; 

 " The more we reflect upon it, the more we must be convin- 

 ced of the important place this rock ought to hold among 

 the wonderful works of nature. Had it stood upon the bor- 

 ders of the Lago rf' Agnano, the noted Grotto del Cani which 

 burdens almost every book which treats upon the carbonic 

 acid gas, since the peculiar properties of that air have been 

 known, would never have been heard of beyond the environ* 



