JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 79 
sion and published a paper in 1843 on ‘‘ Niagara Falls: its 
Past, Present and Prospective Condition,’’ a copy of which he 
would send me on his return to the States, which I duly 
received. An answer to the remark made, may be noted in 
the pamphlet as follows, viz.: ‘‘ All the historical evidence 
‘that we possess upon the subject proves the falls to have 
‘receded, and although there have been no monuments estab- 
“lished yet the representation of early travelers when compared 
‘with the present condition of the falls, proves that a change 
‘‘ has taken place, though we cannot be certain of its precise 
‘“amount. The accompanying view he adds is a fac simile of 
‘‘the one published in Father Louis Henepin’s travels, 1678, 
“and though rude and fanciful it is in many points of view 
“highly interesting and important.’’ The landmarks in 
question have long since been laid down which enable us to 
note the rate of recession now. Dr. Hall shows the absurdity 
of the belief (which I can hardly fancy was ever enter- 
tained by any field geologist acquainted with Lake Erie) that 
when the river was cut back to the lake a sudden drainage 
would result in the submergence-of the country to the north 
and east. ‘This he states would leave no deluge of any import- 
ance. However interesting the work may be deemed from a 
geological point of view, we must not forget that much has 
been learned since then regarding the river and the locality, 
and doubtless subsequent writers profited largely by the 
Doctor’s suggestions, as well as by the landmarks placed by 
the New York State Geological Survey to enable us to note 
with accuracy the recent recession of the Niagara gorge. 
Probably Dr. Spencer’s survey of the district is more 
accurate than any hitherto published on the subject. What 
was once in a great measure mere conjecture now becomes 
almost a positive fact. Not a single feature of the Niagara 
gorge escapes his observation, and after what was evidently a 
most careful systematic examination he concludes ‘‘ that 
Lyell’s estimate was very nearly correct,’’ and if the Ice Age 
ended with the birth of warren water, then we can roughly 
estimate it to date back some 59,000 or 60,000 years. 
